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Acts 2:40-47 – When Does God Add Us To His People?
Is baptism necessary for salvation? Another way of asking this is, “When does God save us and add us to His people?” Notice the beginning and end of Acts 2:40-47:
A – vv.40-41 – (40) And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” (41) So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.
A’ – v.47c – And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
The chiasm begins and ends with the inclusio showing God “saves” people (vv.4-41,47). Notice these couplets tie in nicely with vv.37-38. Please notice the important repetition of not only “saved” but “added”:
• V.40-41 – Those who accepted the message were baptized; after they were baptized; they were “added” to the them (i.e. the “saved”).
• V.47 – Every day the Lord added to them (the “saved”).
• Do you see the progression: 1) Message preached; 2) Messaged accepted; 3) Baptism; 4) The Lord adds to those who were saved.
• Who did the Lord add? Those who listened, accepted, and were baptized.
• When did the Lord add? After those who listened, accepted, and were baptized.
Is baptism necessary for salvation? It is when you see baptism is when God adds us to His people!
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