Sermon 14

The Faith That Does Save

Acts 8:25-40

Throughout history, God has poured out His blessings to mankind through the channel of Israel, His covenant people. God never intended Israel to be a sponge, a reservoir, storing up divine blessings for themselves. Instead they were to be funnel through which those blessings could be dispersed to a lost world. Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (This is a quotation of Genesis 12:3). God intended to bless all nations through Israel. Isaiah 42:6 says "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness ... for a light of the Gentiles."

But Israel failed to be missionary. She tended to either be so "separated" that she would have no contact with Gentile nations (Jonah's attitude) or so compromising (falling into pagan idolatry) that they had no testimony.

Because Israel rejected Jesus as her Messiah and because she failed to be missionary, God cut a new channel through which His blessings could reach the world - the church. Unlike the institution of national Israel, the institution of the church embraces all nations.

In Acts 8, we find the church, at first, forced out of Jerusalem and its exclusive Jewish evangelism - reaching out to the Samaritans and a Gentile as Christ had commanded (Acts 1:8). This particular Gentile was a high official in the court of Ethiopian queen. Through him, the gospel reached the continent of Africa.

In contrast to Simon, whose faith would not save, we meet tonight in Acts 8:25-40, the Ethiopian eunuch whose displayed saving faith.

There were three elements that led to this man's salvation.

The Proper Preparation, 8:25-30a.

Every good farmer knows that before you can ever plant the seed, you need first to prepare the soil. Hard ground must be plowed and tilled until it is good ground, ready for planting.

Before the gospel seed was ever planted in the heart of this Ethiopian eunuch, there was preparation.

There was the work of the Holy Spirit, vs. 25-26. No one will ever be saved without the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it bluntly in John 6:44 - "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." Man is spiritually blinded by Satan (II Corinthians 4:3-4) and spiritually dead because of sin (Ephesians 2:1). "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit" (I Corinthians 2:14). The Spirit must do His work of preparation.

In this instance, the Spirit began His preparatory work by maneuvering Philip into a strategic position. The comment in verse 26 reveals that this is the secondary and much less traveled road, underscoring that this is Spirit's work. The Spirit made sure that Philip was in the right place.

Verse 29 indicates that Philip is sensitive to the Spirit's leading and verse 27, submissive to the Lord's command. The Lord has arranged an opportunity here, but it is an opportunity literally, on wheels. Philip must run to the chariot to have the opportunity.

The work of the Spirit also involves the right time. It is clear that this man is searching for the truth. According to verse 27, he has been in Jerusalem worshiping and was, according to verse 28, "read(ing) Isaiah the prophet." Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. In fact, the place where he was reading was Isaiah 53:3-5!

All the essentials were in place; the Spirit's work of preparation was complete. Philip was where the Spirit wanted Him to be. The eunuch's heart was seeking, prepared by reading the Scriptures. All was set for the next step.

The Proper Presentation, 8:30b-35.

The presentation was centered in scripture, vs. 30b-34.

3 good questions - "Do you understand what you are reading?" "How can I except some man guides me?" He then invites Philip to come up into the chariot to sit with him. "Of whom is the prophet speaking, himself or someone else?" Philip was knowledgeable enough in the scriptures to meet this eunuch where he was, I Peter 3:15.

The presentation was centered on Christ, vs. 35. Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah 53. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The Proper Response, 8:36-40.

See the white space between verses 35-36? This is where the Ethiopian eunuch had saving faith in Christ. Romans 10:17 - Faith cometh by hearing the word of God.

How do we know he was saved? Three responses

1. He confessed with his mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, v. 37. Romans 10:9-10.

2. He expressed a desire to be baptized, vs. 36, 38. (The pool of water is yet another indication of the Holy Spirit's timing of these events). Although this passage does not have an exhaustive explanation of the doctrine of baptism, it does demonstrate that baptism follows faith, verse 37. Verse 38 eludes to immersion. There is a proper candidate for baptism - a believer. There is the right mode - immersion. There is also proper authority to baptize - Philip ordained and authorized by the church at Jerusalem.

3. He possessed joy, vs. 39-40. Philip was snatched away by the Spirit (as had been Elijah and Ezekiel). This startling miracle served to confirm to the eunuch and his entire entourage, that Philip was a spokesman for God. He went on his way rejoicing, a mark of a true believer (Gal. 5:22).

Philip engaged in the work of an evangelist (missionary). He was an itinerant preacher, preaching the gospel in every city from Azotus to Ceasarea.

Luke does not tell us any more about this Ethiopian eunuch. But according to the writings of the church fathers, he became a missionary to the Ethiopians. What is clear is that he had a faith that does save.