serm19

SUB: THE CONVERSION OF AN ETHIOPIAN

TEXT: Acts 8:26-40.

Intro: i) One of the purposes of the Bible is to instruct us.

ii) Phillip doing missionary work.

1. THE INTERNATIONALITY OF CHRISTIANITY. This convert was "a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship" (v.27). It is generally agreed that he was a native Ethiopian, black man, who had become a proselyte to the Jewish faith (not a Jew of the Diaspora residing in Ethiopia.

A. His conversion illustrates the universality of Christianity. The first Christian converts were Jews. But later were added converts "of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues" (Revelation 7:9). Christianity is international, not restricted to one race (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15f; Acts 1:8).

11. THE NECESSITY OF A GOSPEL PREACHER. "So Philip [a gospel preacher] ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said to him, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him" (vv.30f).

A. Here is illustrated the truth declared in Romans 10:13-15

i) It is for this reason that the Holy Spirit sent Philip to this man who was reading the Scriptures but not understanding them (vv.26,29; see Corinthians 2:14).

111. THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES. "The place in the Scripture which he read was this Isaiah 53:(Read) So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him" (vv.3 35).

A. Jesus Christ is the theme of all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27; John 5:39). A

gospel preacher will therefore take any text placed before him and head

straight for Christ. The text Isaiah 53:7f was placed before Philip.

i)Unlike the theological liberal, he did not waste his time trying to prove "which Isaiah" wrote this text.

ii)Unlike the sectarian, he did not waste his time trying to find his denomination or pet doctrine in this text.

iii) Unlike the mere expositor, he did not merely explain the meaning of the words in this text. As the ancients realized "All roads lead to Rome," gospel preachers realize "All texts lead to Christ."

1V. THE PROPER CANDIDATE FOR BAPTISM. (vv.36-38).

A.The proper candidate for baptism is a believer.

i) A mere believer: "If you believe ..., you may." Baptism is for only those who would be saved and justified by faith alone, apart from any other duty or requirement.

ii) A personal believer: "If you believe ..., you may." Baptism is for only those who themselves believe.

This truth annuls the baptism of infants on the basis of their parents' faith. And it annuls the Mormon doctrine of "baptism for the dead."

iii) A whole-hearted believer: "If you believe with all your heart, you may." God will have no half-hearted disciples.

CONCL: 1)An event in the life of a missionary where the sovereign power of God is revealed in the salvation of God's elect.

2) In my ministry the Lord has used me in this magnificent work of bringing His elect to the fold. It is a truly wonderful work.

3) It is even more wonderful when we see the salvation of God's elect demonstrated by the readiness for scriptural baptism.

APP: 1) Will you follow the example of the Ethiopian.

2) Have you followed the example of this Ethiopian?

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	SUB: THE CONVERSION OF AN ETHIOPIAN TEXT: Acts 8:26-40. Intro: i) One of the purposes of the Bible is to instruct us. ii) Phillip doing missionary work. 1. THE INTERNATIONALITY OF CHRISTIANITY. This convert was "a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship" (v.27). It is generally agreed that he was a native Ethiopian, black man, who had become a proselyte to the Jewish faith (not a Jew of the Diaspora residing in Ethiopia. A. His conversion illustrates the universality of Christianity. The first Christian converts were Jews. But later were added converts "of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues" (Revelation 7:9). Christianity is international, not restricted to one race (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15f; Acts 1:8). 11. THE NECESSITY OF A GOSPEL PREACHER. "So Philip [a gospel preacher] ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said to him, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him" (vv.30f). A. Here is illustrated the truth declared in Romans 10:13-15 i) It is for this reason that the Holy Spirit sent Philip to this man who was reading the Scriptures but not understanding them (vv.26,29; see Corinthians 2:14). 111. THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES. "The place in the Scripture which he read was this Isaiah 53:(Read) So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him" (vv.3 35). A. Jesus Christ is the theme of all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27; John 5:39). A gospel preacher will therefore take any text placed before him and head straight for Christ. The text Isaiah 53:7f was placed before Philip. i)Unlike the theological liberal, he did not waste his time trying to prove "which Isaiah" wrote this text. ii)Unlike the sectarian, he did not waste his time trying to find his denomination or pet doctrine in this text. iii) Unlike the mere expositor, he did not merely explain the meaning of the words in this text. As the ancients realized "All roads lead to Rome," gospel preachers realize "All texts lead to Christ." 1V. THE PROPER CANDIDATE FOR BAPTISM. (vv.36-38). A.The proper candidate for baptism is a believer. i) A mere believer: "If you believe ..., you may." Baptism is for only those who would be saved and justified by faith alone, apart from any other duty or requirement. ii) A personal believer: "If you believe ..., you may." Baptism is for only those who themselves believe. This truth annuls the baptism of infants on the basis of their parents' faith. And it annuls the Mormon doctrine of "baptism for the dead." iii) A whole-hearted believer: "If you believe with all your heart, you may." God will have no half-hearted disciples. CONCL: 1)An event in the life of a missionary where the sovereign power of God is revealed in the salvation of God's elect. 2) In my ministry the Lord has used me in this magnificent work of bringing His elect to the fold. It is a truly wonderful work. 3) It is even more wonderful when we see the salvation of God's elect demonstrated by the readiness for scriptural baptism. APP: 1) Will you follow the example of the Ethiopian. 2) Have you followed the example of this Ethiopian? Back to Sermons