Which Faith Did The Apostles Have?

 

The Faith of the Apostle Paul

What was Paul's faith like? Paul, in his declaration of belief, revealed that he received a comprehensive education and thorough training under Gamaliel, an esteemed law teacher of his time, strictly adhering to the customs of his ancestors. However, he acknowledged that despite his adherence to the law, it could not save him from his sins. In truth, he had been a persecutor of Jesus, our Savior. 

One fateful day, while traveling to Damascus, he encountered Jesus and became a proclaimer of His gospel. Paul possessed unwavering faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who entered this world, received baptism from John to cleanse all sins, and suffered on the Cross to bear the judgment for those transgressions. In essence, Paul's heart was filled with faith in the redemption of sin.

In Galatians 3:27, Paul declared, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ," thus affirming his belief that Jesus' baptism was the source of his salvation.

In Hebrews 10:21-22, it is stated, "Having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." In this passage, the phrase "washed with pure water" alludes to the baptism administered by John to Jesus, which served as a purification for all the sins of humanity.

 Similarly, 1st peter 3:21,

1 Peter 3:21

[21]There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

 "There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," hence highlighting the significance of Jesus' baptism in the context of the gospel. 

What is the meaning of 1st Peter 3:21, There exists an antitype that now saves us—baptism. 

It means that to obtain God's righteousness, we must believe that Jesus was baptized and died on the Cross for our sins. In Matthew 3:15, it is stated, "For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Through the transfer of all humanity's sins onto Jesus, sinners' transgressions are completely blotted out. 

By placing faith in Jesus' baptism and His shed blood, every sinner is transformed into righteousness. Jesus Christ, having borne the burden of the world's sins, poured out the blood of judgment on the Cross, thereby atoning for all mankind's transgressions. Having faith in Jesus' baptism as the means by which He assumed the world's sins and received vicarious judgment on our behalf, we embrace the truth that leads to God's righteousness for believers.

 

The Apostle John said that Jesus Christ came to this earth by the water, the blood, and the Spirit. He said, “And there are three thatbear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:8). He believed that although Jesus Himself was the true God, He came to this earth incarnated in the flesh for our salvation (the witness of the Holy Spirit), took upon all the sins of the world by being baptized (the witness of the water), and atoned for all those sins with His blood on the Cross (the witness of the blood). 

 John 1:29 proclaims, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Jesus, as God's Son and our Creator, fulfilled the promise of circumcision by taking upon Himself the sins of all sinners. This genuine faith brings forth in our hearts the spiritual circumcision, which is God's righteousness. Jesus is our true source of righteousness, and we should express gratitude to Him for His baptism and blood, which allow us to receive the spiritual circumcision.

Therefore, the disciples of Jesus firmly believed that His baptism by John and His Blood shed on the Cross were the means by which their sins were forgiven. Paul shared this same faith with the disciples and, as a result, he was saved from all his transgressions. The disciples of Jesus held the conviction that His baptism by John cleansed for all the sins in the world. By embracing this truth, they were forgiven for their transgressions and freed from the burden of the curse of the law

https://medium.com/@bornagainofwaterandspirit/what-is-true-repentance-acts-2-38-7065a76bb05a