Faith & Reason Nexus

These examples illustrate how different people in the Bible responded to the gospel, following the steps of hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized.

1. Day of Pentecost

• Acts 2:36-42
  • Heard: Acts 2:37 – The people were convicted by Peter’s message.
  • Believed: Acts 2:37 – They asked, “What shall we do?” in response to the gospel.
  • Repented: Acts 2:38 – Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized.
  • Confessed: Acts 2:36 – Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Christ.
  • Baptized: Acts 2:38-41 – About 3,000 were baptized.

2. Samaritans

• Acts 8:5-13
  • Heard: Acts 8:6 – The Samaritans heard Philip’s preaching.
  • Believed: Acts 8:12 – They believed Philip’s message about the kingdom of God.
  • Repented: Acts 8:12 – They turned to God.
  • Confessed: Acts 8:12 – They professed faith in Christ.
  • Baptized: Acts 8:13 – They were baptized, both men and women.

3. Simon (The Sorcerer)

• Acts 8:13
  • Heard: Acts 8:6 – Simon heard Philip preach.
  • Believed: Acts 8:13 – He believed Philip’s teachings.
  • Repented: Acts 8:22 – Peter called Simon to repent for his sins.
  • Confessed: No explicit confession recorded, but repentance was urged.
  • Baptized: Acts 8:13 – Simon was baptized.

4. Ethiopian Eunuch

• Acts 8:35-41
  • Heard: Acts 8:35 – Philip preached to him from the Scriptures.
  • Believed: Acts 8:37 – The eunuch confessed his belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
  • Repented: His faith suggests a turning away from sin.
  • Confessed: Acts 8:37 – He confessed Jesus as the Son of God.
  • Baptized: Acts 8:38 – He was baptized immediately.

5. Philippian Jailor

• Acts 16:34
  • Heard: Acts 16:32 – Paul and Silas preached the word to him.
  • Believed: Acts 16:31 – The jailor believed in Jesus Christ.
  • Repented: His faith in Jesus reflected repentance.
  • Confessed: No specific confession recorded, but belief in Jesus indicates a confession.
  • Baptized: Acts 16:33 – He and his family were baptized.

6. Saul (Paul)

• Acts 9:1-9; 22:6-16; 26:12-18
  • Heard: Acts 9:7 – Saul heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus.
  • Believed: Acts 9:20 – Saul believed Jesus was the Christ.
  • Repented: Acts 9:9 – Saul fasted and prayed after being blinded.
  • Confessed: Acts 22:16 – Saul was told to be baptized and wash away his sins, calling on Jesus’ name.
  • Baptized: Acts 9:18 – Saul was baptized after his vision.

7. Cornelius

• Acts 10:25-48
  • Heard: Acts 10:33 – Cornelius and his family heard Peter’s preaching.
  • Believed: Acts 10:43 – Cornelius believed in Jesus for forgiveness.
  • Repented: The Holy Spirit fell upon them, indicating repentance.
  • Confessed: Implicit in their faith and repentance.
  • Baptized: Acts 10:48 – They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

8. Lydia

• Acts 16:13-15
  • Heard: Acts 16:14 – Lydia heard Paul preach by the river.
  • Believed: Acts 16:14 – She was baptized after believing.
  • Repented: Implied by her faith.
  • Confessed: Implied in her belief and baptism.
  • Baptized: Acts 16:15 – Lydia and her household were baptized.

9. The Corinthians

• Acts 18:8
  • Heard: Acts 18:8 – The Corinthians heard Paul’s preaching.
  • Believed: Acts 18:8 – Many Corinthians believed and were baptized.
  • Repented: Implied in their belief.
  • Confessed: Implicit in their belief.
  • Baptized: Acts 18:8 – They were baptized.

10. 12 Men at Ephesus

• Acts 19:1-7
  • Heard: Acts 19:5 – They heard the gospel from Paul.
  • Believed: Acts 19:5 – They believed in Jesus Christ.
  • Repented: Implied in their belief.
  • Confessed: Implicit in their faith.
  • Baptized: Acts 19:5 – They were baptized in the name of Jesus.

Key Scriptures on Salvation

• Faith:
  Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?”
  Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”
• Repentance:
  Luke 13:3, 5 – “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
  Acts 2:38 – “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
• Confession:
  Romans 10:10 – “With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
  Matthew 10:32-33 – “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father.”
• Baptism:
  1 Peter 3:21 – “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism.”
  Mark 16:16 – “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”

Conclusion:

The conversion examples in Acts show the consistent pattern of hearing the gospel, believing in Jesus Christ, repenting of sins, confessing Christ as Lord, and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins. These steps are central to the Christian experience, as they are emphasized throughout the New Testament as the way to receive salvation.