Steps of Salvation?

I believed for a long time of a formula for salvation - you heard, you believed, you repented, you confessed, you were baptized - your sins were washed away, then you recieved the Holy Spirit, you were in a "saved" relationship with Christ. But - it had to be in that order. I find myself rethinking the formula in light of a careful study of the book of Acts. Edward Fudge addresses this very issue in this timely post in his "gracEmail" of a few days ago. I wanted to share it with you.


gracEmail (BAPTISM BEFORE SALVATION?)
Edward FudgeJul 4, 2005
A gracEmail subscriber asks whether there are any examples after Acts chapter 2 of people being saved before they were baptized in water.
* * *I believe you will find a clear example of this in the case of Cornelius and his family and friends. Notice the order of events as described by both Peter and Luke. Peter tells the listeners at Cornelius' house about Jesus and promises them that whoever believes in Jesus has remission of sins (10:43). Those present do believe in Jesus (11:17; 15:9). God sees their faith and purifies their hearts (15:8-9). God then baptizes them in the Spirit and gives them the Holy Spirit as a witness of his acceptance of them (11:15-18). They speak in tongues (10:44-46). When Peter sees that God has accepted these people, he commands them to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ (10:47-48).
Is this the exclusive pattern for every situation? Not at all. Nor can it be explained away as an exception to some otherwise-exclusive rule. Conversion involves a personal encounter with Christ and a relationship with the living God. Conversions throughout the Book of Acts regularly involve a cluster of realities -- repentance and faith, water baptism, the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins -- but these realities unfold in a nvariety of sequences depending on the people involved and their particular circumstances.
On Pentecost the people are told to repent and be baptized for remission of sins and reception of the Spirit (Acts 2). However, the Samaritans receive water baptism but not the Holy Spirit until Peter and John lay hands on them (Acts 8). Nor do all saved persons speak in tongues -- even those who are Spirit-filled -- though some certainly do. God is not bound by any fixed order nor plan -- although he is always faithful to do whatever he promises in any situation. Let us be content to fulfill the Great Commission -- sharing the good news of Jesus, making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to follow Jesus. God will do the forgiving, Jesus Christ will do the baptizing in the Spirit. Together they will give whatever gifts they see fit to all God's people. We can keep busy enough doing what God has told us to do. We do not need to try and take on God's job as well. ___________________ © 2005 by Edward Fudge. Unlimited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. For encouragement and spiritual food any time, visit our multimedia website at www.EdwardFudge.com