INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. Hear of the faith.
2. Believe in the gospel.
3. Repent of sins.
4. Confess faith in Christ.
5. Be Baptized into Christ.
Introductory Remarks.
1. The "gift" of salvation is given to all by God's grace, not by our faith or works of merit. Salvation is not given merely upon our faith in Christ; but, in our obedience through the faith in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace is a precious gift. It is not deserved or earned; but divinely given to all who accept Christ by faith and obedience to the gospel, Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:16-18. The gospel of Christ is not obeyed "in the heart." But, "from the heart," Romans 6:17-18. It is more than a confession of faith, Romans 10:9-10. It is our obedience to the faith, Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Romans 15:18-19.
2. Salvation by grace must be accepted on God's terms of pardon, through our belief and obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, Romans 10:16-18. Most Baptists and Evangelicals argue: that salvation is by grace alone. They leave no room for obedience in their view of God’s salvation by grace. However, we will demonstrate faith and obedience are both necessary for one to be saved by grace. God’s grace is offered, but believers must accept it on His terms. And here is the problem: these denominational preachers want to accept and preach God's offer of grace on their terms. However, Paul’s preaching of “God’s grace” included faith and obedience to the gospel: as taught in Isaiah’s report, Romans 10:16-18.
3. This pattern was not imparted unto the world until after Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens, Acts 1:8. The God of heaven then uncovered His pattern of conversion, through which all believers could be called into His grace.
4. The calling of grace is through the hearing of the faith, belief in the gospel, repenting of all past sins, confessing Christ to be the Son of God, and by being baptized: in the name of the Lord Jesus: “for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:36-41; Acts 22:16. Let’s consider Philip’s preaching of Christ to the Ethiopian treasurer on the road to Gaza.
BODY OF LESSON
I HEAR OF THE FAITH
A. Preaching of the faith. The faith is being preached throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and now Samaria. We find Philip finishing up his work in Samaria, now being called to: “go down unto Gaza, to find a man there to preach Christ unto him.” When preaching Christ, the audience will change, but the message will remain the same. Philip has just concluded a "gospel meeting" in Samaria; the Holy Spirit is now summoning him to go down to Gaza, to preach the message of grace to a man of color, of financial means, position, and education.
B. God is no respecter of persons. His call of grace is given unto all: “that call upon the name of the Lord to be saved,” Romans 10:13. Jesus died and shed His blood to save both Jews and Gentiles by the grace of God, through the faith in Christ Jesus, Acts 2:39; Acts 10:34-35.
C. Angel of the Lord. “Spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert,” Acts 8:26.
D. Philip’s response: “And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and he came to Jerusalem for to worship, (he) was returning, and sitting in his chariot read(ing) Esaias the prophet,” Acts 8:27-28.
E. Spirit said unto Philip: "Go near and join thyself to this chariot," Acts 8:29. The picture being painted in the text is a man of authority is reading the prophet Esaias while traveling from Jerusalem back to Ethiopia. Philip has been sent down to Gaza to join him, to preach Jesus unto him. Any person interested in learning of Jesus will be willing to read or hear of Him from the man of God. It was customary to read the scriptures aloud that others might hear. This Ethiopian is reading Esaias aloud so his chariot driver might hear and be enlightened by the prophet's words of the Messiah. This is the Messiah of Isaiah’s prophecy, Romans 10:16-18. His work of redemption included all nations, even the Ethiopians. Let’s see how God brings this all together.
II BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL
A. Philip’s work begins. Luke continued: “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said: Understandest what thou readest?” Acts 8:30.
B. The treasurer responded: "How can I, except some man, guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him," Acts 8:31. We don't know how long this man was trying to understand the scriptures. It could have begun in Jerusalem, after the worship service. Maybe he recently purchased his copy of Esaias the prophet. God knew that he needed help in understanding the prophet. God will make way for you to understand His word, Matthew 7:7-8.
C. Esaias’ prophecy of the Messiah. Luke recorded: "The place of the scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before his shearers, so opened he, not his mouth: In His humiliation, they took away judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For His life was taken from the earth,” Acts 8:32-33.
D. The treasurer’s question: "And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this, of himself, or some other man?" Acts 8:34. This identity of the man in the prophecy was troubling the treasurer. The Holy Spirit will reveal unto the preacher and the treasurer who the prophet was writing about in the text. We know it was Jesus!
E. Philip’s answer: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus,” Acts 8:35. Now, that's what the preacher does, with the word of God before him; he opens his mouth and preaches Jesus, unto the seeker of the grace of God. Philip began teaching the treasurer, explaining who: "Christ was the one mentioned in Esaias report,” Acts 8:35; Romans 10:16-17; Isaiah 53:1ff. Phillip built on the treasurer’s faith and devotion to God. He "preached unto him, Jesus.” The Messiah, and Savior of the world,” John 4:41-42.
III REPENT OF SINS
A. Repentance is a part of the believer’s response to the gospel, Acts 3:19. To some, it is immediately evident, yet, to others, it is not. In this case, the treasurer was not commanded to repent, as in other conversion examples. However, Repentance is necessary to all because all have sinned. There is “none righteous, no not one,” Romans 3:10.
B. Preaching Jesus involves. In Luke’s account of the Great Commission, Jesus commanded the apostles to: “Preach repentance and the remission of sins in His name,” Luke 24:46-47. The Lord: “Came not to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance,” Luke 5:32; Although not mentioned in our text, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
C. Paul preached and testified: “To both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,” Acts 20:21. Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change in life. After Peter's return from Caesarea, the brethren of Jerusalem acknowledged: "That God also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life,” Acts 11:18. Repentance, of course, would include this man, to whom Philip is now preaching the grace of God. Clearly, repentance and faith are part of gospel preaching.
D. Godly sorrow worketh repentance. Paul wrote: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death., 2 Corinthians 7:10. I might add here, being sorry about your sin is not repentance. Repentance, means you are willing to turn from your sins and submit your life unto God, Acts 3:19; Acts 26:20.
E. God commands repentance. Luke wrote: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom God hath ordained; of which He hath given assurance unto all men, in that, He hath raised him from the dead,” Acts 17:30-31. The question now for us all, are we willing to repent and be obedient to the will of God? Let's see if this treasurer was willing to accept God’s grace on His terms.
IV CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST
A. The treasurer’s response. Luke continued: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Acts 8:36. When one preaches Christ, they must also preach the need to confess Him as the Son of God and be baptized. We will now speak of the treasurer's confession of faith in Christ as being the Son of God.
B. Jesus taught: “Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, he will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men; he will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33.
C. Confess Jesus as the Christ. Paul wrote: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation,” Romans 10:9-10.
D. Jesus is the Son of God. The confession the repentant believer makes before being baptized is: "That Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37. When asked about being baptized, the treasurer was told: “If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest,” Acts 8:37.
E. Confession of faith. The treasurer responded: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Acts 8:37. The believer’s first confession is with their mouth that Jesus is the Son of God. The confessions after that will be a "profession of their faith." Paul wrote Timothy: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, and humility. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses,” 1 Timothy 6:11-12. You will tell the world now; you believe Christ is the Son of God. But, for the rest of your walk with Him, you will profess your faith and trust in Him as your Savior and Lord. Let’s notice now how Philip’s preaching to the treasurer concluded.
V BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
A. The treasurer’s baptism: “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing,” Acts 8:38-39. The treasurer found the “greatest treasure”: Jesus Christ, when he heard Philip’s preaching of Jesus, confessed Him as the Son of God, baptized to be saved, to go on his way rejoicing. This you can also do today!
B. Baptism was part of the treasurer’s obedience. He asked: "What doth hinder me to be baptized? I'm asking you a sincere believer in Christ. What doth hinder you? Acts 8:36. If you have not been baptized: you are yet in your sins. Hearing the gospel (Christ's death, burial, and resurrection), believing it, repenting of your sins, confessing your faith in Jesus as being the Son of God, and being baptized: is for the remission of your sins and necessary for your salvation.
C. Baptism and conversion. Baptism, then, is the final part of the conversion experience. In every act of conversion in the Book of Acts, baptism was commanded, requested, or directed. This part of the "pattern of conversion" is the most ignored or eliminated in denominational preaching and practice. This is so because their evangelist and ministers do not believe that: "Baptism is essential to salvation." Even though Christ has commanded it! Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16.
D. Philip preached baptism. Isn't it surprising that when one preaches Jesus, he also preaches baptism? Remember, it was the treasurer that first mentioned baptism. Recall: "See here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Somewhere in Philip's preaching, baptism was taught and commanded. Most Baptists and Evangelical ministers, preachers, and teachers neglect this command and example of Jesus' teaching. Will you be saved and your household today by: “obeying from their hearts that form of doctrine, that makes you free from your sins?” Romans 6:17-18; John 8:31-32.
E. Lord added to the church. We learned from previous conversion experiences that the saved are added to the church after baptism. Luke wrote: “And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls,” Acts 2:41. They were: “Praising God, and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:41; Acts 2:47 Notice, after the treasurer’s confession and baptism, “he came forth from the water, and went on his way rejoicing,” Acts 8:39. This you can do also if you desire to obey the gospel of Christ. Let me conclude this lesson by….
CONCLUSION
A. Outline
1. Hear of the faith.
2. Believe in the gospel.
3. Repent of sins.
4. Confess faith in Christ.
5. Be Baptized into Christ.
B. Summarize main points
1. The "gift" of salvation is given to all by God's grace, not by our faith or works of merit. Salvation is not given merely upon our faith in Christ; but, in our obedience through the faith in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:8-9. Grace is a precious gift. It is not deserved or earned; but divinely given to all who accept Christ by faith and obedience to the gospel, Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:16-18. The gospel of Christ is not obeyed "in the heart." But, "from the heart," Romans 6:17-18. It is more than a confession of faith, Romans 10:9-10. It is our obedience to the faith, Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Romans 15:18-19.
2. Salvation by grace must be accepted on God's terms of pardon, through our belief and obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, Romans 10:16-18. Most Baptists and Evangelicals argue: that salvation is by grace alone. They leave no room for obedience in their view of God’s salvation by grace. However, we have demonstrated faith and obedience were both necessary for one to be saved by grace. God’s grace is offered, but believers must accept it on His terms. And here is the problem: these denominational preachers want to accept and preach God's offer of grace on their terms. However, Paul’s preaching of “God’s grace” included faith and obedience to the gospel: as taught in Isaiah’s report, Romans 10:16-18.
3. This pattern was not imparted unto the world until after Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens, Acts 1:8. The God of heaven then uncovered His pattern of conversion, through which all believers could be called into His grace.
4. The calling of grace is through the hearing of the faith, belief in the gospel, repenting of all past sins, confessing Christ to be the Son of God, and by being baptized: in the name of the Lord Jesus: “for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:36-41; Acts 22:16.
C. Invitation. Jesus is still calling all to come unto Him, Matthew 11:28-30.
D. Motivation. “With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save thyself from this untoward generation,” Acts 2:40.
E. Persuasion. "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
NOTE: If you want to obey the gospel right now, reach out to any minister, preacher, or teacher of the church of Christ in your community, and tell them you want to confess Christ and be baptized. They will assist you in being baptized into Christ. Remember, today is the day of salvation! May God bless you with this decision! Let me hear from you if this lesson helped you make this decision.
NOTE: Download these lessons from SermonCentral.com by Ron Freeman.
1. Baptism For The Remission Of Sins; and
2. Baptism "for" or "because" of remission.
Ron Freeman, Evangelist
Worldwide Ministry Church of Christ.org
https://wwmchurchofchrist.org
Contact me at: wwmcoc@earthlink.net
ronald.e.freeman@wwmchurchofchrist.org
