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What do you consider "wishful thinking" about the testimony of the Savior?
John 5:28-29---King James Version (KJV)
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of ****ation.
If the testimony is contrary to the Bible it is false and not to be relied on. (See Isaiah 8:20)
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And was this their belief?
(Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.)
Acts 16:32-34---King James Version (KJV)
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Acts 10:34-35---King James Version (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
It most definitely was their belief. Paul went on to write Ephesians 2:8 and 9, so he was not advocating that the people be baptized to gain salvation, but be baptized because they had salvation from the very second that they had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, just as Paul and Silas had told them in reply to the question, What must I do to be saved?