Certainly I do think it was appropriate and wise for Phillip to say this to the eunuch, that he should first believe with his entire being. Here was a man who would be taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to a foreign people in a distant land. Please do not misunderstand me, I am not attempting to diminish the importance of baptism -- or belief, for that matter. I am simply putting them into what I believe to be a biblical perspective. What would it benefit a man who does not believe in Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man, to baptize him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? It would not benefit him at all; in fact if he submitted, it could only confuse him. It is not water that saves. Washing someone with water who does not believe in Jesus Christ can only complicate the simple truth of the Gospel, if not give him false hope -- trusting in baptism to save. No. Baptism makes visual the Gospel, the truth of our Salvation, that we died with Christ, were buried with Christ, and raised with Christ; and that we are alive in Christ. Does he believe this? Good, that is Good News! Let him be baptized into this truth.
If the eunuch was to be the bearer of Good News to the African world, Phillip wanted to be confident that he got it. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 8:06 PM Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] On Colossians 2.9-15 > Bill, > > When the Ethiopian eunuch desired baptism, Philip said he could if he > believed with all his heart. Why do you think Philip insisted on faith > in order for him to be baptized? Was this a wise thing on Philip's > part, or was he mistaken? > > Peace be with you. > David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. > ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
