A Faith That Does Save Series

Introduction

John Newton was born in 1725 in England and lived a rebellious life.

As a young man, he worked on ships, including slave ships, transporting enslaved people across the Atlantic.

He was notorious for his wild behavior, harsh personality, and lack of faith.

His life, dominated by greed, sin, and the brutal slave trade, left him spiritually hardened.

In 1748, while aboard a ship bound for England, a violent storm hit. It was so severe that Newton and the crew thought they were going to die.

In that desperate moment, Newton cried out to God for mercy, even though he had long rejected the faith of his upbringing.

Miraculously, the ship survived the storm, and that moment of near-death experience caused Newton to think more seriously about Jesus and eternity.

After the storm, Newton began to read the Bible and seek God earnestly.

Though his conversion wasn’t instant, over the next few years, he experienced a deep transformation as he turned away from his sinful past and finally surrendered his life fully to Jesus Christ.

He gradually abandoned the slave trade and became a strong advocate against it.

Newton was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and peace that came from his newfound relationship with Jesus.

He later became a minister of the gospel in the Church of England, preaching God’s grace and mercy.

The joy of his salvation was so profound that it inspired him to write the hymn “Amazing Grace,” which reflects his gratitude for God’s forgiveness and redemption. The words of the hymn reveal the joy and relief Newton experienced:

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

was blind but now I see.”

John Newton was powerfully converted to Jesus Christ.

He had a true faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Despite his past, he was transformed by Jesus Christ, and his life and writings have impacted countless people since.

Today, we are going to examine the story of Philip the Evangelist and the Ethiopian eunuch who came to faith in Jesus Christ as a result of Philip’s proclamation of the good news to him.

Last week, we examined the story of Simon the magician. He had a faith that did not save.

In contrast, the Ethiopian eunuch, whose name we do not know, had a faith that did save.

The Ethiopian eunuch’s faith was like the faith of John Newton.

So what is it that characterizes a faith that does save?

Today, we are going to examine a faith that does save.

Scripture

Let’s read Acts 8:26-40:

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opens not his mouth.

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Lesson

Acts 8:26-40 teaches us about a faith that does save.