WEBVTT

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 Alright, please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Acts chapter 8.

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! After a week off with a commissioning service, it's good to be back into our verse-by-verse exposition of Acts chapter 8.

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 Our text for this morning is verse 26 through verse 40.

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 Before I read this on our behalf, let me remind you that this is God's Word,

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 that it was written for His glory and our good,

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 that we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.

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 Now, as I read the text this morning, I'm going to stop and just make a couple of notes.

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 For our benefit of understanding the text, I don't need to go back and do it at a later time.

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 I am going to try to keep my comments brief.

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 I think that's maybe a laughable statement on my part at this point.

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 But I am going to try, at very least, because we do have some other matters to get to in our service today.

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 But let me ask that we just quiet our hearts and our minds for a moment

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 as we hear what God would say to us from His Word, beginning in verse 26.

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 Now, an angel of the Lord said to Philip,

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 Rise and go toward the south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

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 This is a desert place.

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 Now, this is the road that would have run from Jerusalem to Egypt.

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 And there were two roads in this day that did so.

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 One ran along the coast and the other through the desert.

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 That's why Luke includes that insertion.

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 This is a desert place.

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 And that was to say that this was the least traveled path.

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 An unlikely place to encounter another traveler.

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 Verse 27.

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 And he, being Philip, rose and went.

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 And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians,

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 who was in charge of all her treasure.

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 Now, in this day, Ethiopia was a larger kingdom than the modern-day country of Ethiopia.

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 And it expanded just south of Egypt.

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 So you think the journey from Israel to Egypt, Ethiopia being just south of this.

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 The queen that this Ethiopian eunuch is a servant of, they call here Candace.

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 This is not a proper name, but more like a title, like Caesar or Pharaoh.

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 And he held a very powerful position.

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 He was like the secretary of the treasury.

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 And he had come to Jerusalem to worship.

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 Last part of verse 27.

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 Verse 28.

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 And was returning, seated in his chariot.

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 And he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

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 And the Spirit said to Philip,

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 Go over and join this chariot.

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 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading.

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 It was customary in this day to read aloud.

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 He was reading Isaiah the prophet and asked,

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 Do you understand what you are reading?

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 And I picture this caravan traveling down the road and Philip running up to it,

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 hearing him as he's running to it,

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 and calling out to him,

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 Do you understand what you're reading?

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 And the caravan comes to a screeching halt.

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 Verse 31.

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 And he said,

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 How can I unless someone guides me?

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 And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

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 Now, the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this.

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 Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,

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 and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

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 so he opens not his mouth.

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 In his humiliation, justice was denied him.

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 Who can describe his generation?

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 For his life is taken away from the earth.

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 And this is from Isaiah 53, verse 7 and 8.

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 Verse 34.

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 And the eunuch said to Philip,

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 About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this?

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 About himself or about someone else?

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 Then Philip opened his mouth,

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 and beginning with this scripture,

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 he told him the good news about Jesus.

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 And as they were going along the road,

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 they came to some water.

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 And the eunuch said,

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 See, here is water.

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 What prevents me from being baptized?

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 And he commanded the chariot to stop,

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 and they both went down into the water,

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 Philip and the eunuch,

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 and he baptized him.

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 And when they came up out of the water,

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 the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away,

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 and the eunuch saw him no more,

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 and went on his way rejoicing.

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 But Philip found himself at Azotus,

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 and as he passed through,

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 he preached the gospel to all the towns

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 until he came to Caesarea.

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 Now, just as an interesting aside,

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 there's some debate about whether

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 Philip is Philip the Apostle,

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 or Philip the Deacon,

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 chosen amongst the men in chapter 6.

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 I will argue that he is Philip the Deacon,

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 because in Acts chapter 21,

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 Paul visits his house in Caesarea.

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 And there he's called Philip the Evangelist,

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 not Philip the Apostle.

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 So either he travels from Azotus to Caesarea,

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 where his home already was,

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 preaching the gospel as he goes,

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 or he arrives there and decides

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 it's a good place to settle.

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 And that's where he stays and establishes a home.

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 He's married.

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 He has four daughters,

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 Acts 21 tells us.

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 Now, as we look at this text this morning,

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 the structure for our study

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 will be as follows.

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 Number one, and I'll repeat these for you.

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 Number one, the means of God's saving grace.

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 Number two, the recipient of God's saving grace.

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 And number three, the signs of God's saving grace.

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 Or if you prefer, the evidences of God's saving grace.

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 This morning, we have the privilege

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 of observing the ethnic diversity

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 of God's saving grace.

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 Now, we timed out doing baptisms

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 to this text this morning.

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 I could not have possibly timed out

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 the preaching of this text

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 for some of the things that are happening

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 in our country today.

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 We have to look at the ethnic diversity

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 of God's saving grace.

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 He reaches across all ethnic barriers.

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 God has always had a gracious purpose

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 for all mankind.

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 All mankind having rejected God's righteous rule,

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 all deserving of damnation,

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 all deserving of His wrath.

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 He has always had a gracious purpose.

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 Beloved, we should rejoice in that this morning.

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 As I look across the room,

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 I don't know if there are many

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 or any ethnic Jews here this morning.

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 I think we're all from a latitude

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 a little higher than where Israel is located.

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 Most of us.

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 We're all beneficiaries of God

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 having a gracious purpose for all mankind.

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 For extending His mercy

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 beyond the borders of ethnic Israel.

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 He has never intended to only have a saving relationship

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 with ethnic Israel.

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 The presentation of this reality begins

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 with the Abrahamic covenant

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 in Genesis chapter 12,

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 verses 1 through 3.

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 The promise I've been talking about

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 with the children in the Big Picture Story Bible,

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 the promise that's going to be fulfilled in Christ,

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 starts with that promise

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 that God makes to Abraham

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 who becomes Abraham.

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 He says in Genesis 12, verse 1,

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 The Lord said to Abraham,

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 Go from your country and your kindred

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 and your father's house

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 to the land I will show you.

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 And I will make of you a great nation.

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 And I will bless you and make your name great

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 so that you will be a blessing.

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 I will bless those who bless you

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 and him who dishonors you I will curse.

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 And in you,

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 all the families of the earth

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 shall be blessed.

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 We're the wonderful recipients

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 of that promise

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 made to Abraham on that day.

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 And how did God intend to bless

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 all the families of the earth

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 in Abraham?

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 With the saving grace,

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 grace that comes through a descendant of Abraham,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Now let me remind you

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 or catch you up

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 if you haven't been with us,

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 a bit of a summary of Acts to this point.

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 If you want to flip,

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 you can look at chapter 1.

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 Jesus ascends.

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 This is after he spent 40 days

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 with the apostles.

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 He ascends and he leaves a command

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 for them to stay in Jerusalem

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 and wait for the Spirit.

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 Stay until the Spirit of God comes.

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 Chapter 2, this happens.

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 Ten days later,

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 on the day of Pentecost,

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 they receive the Spirit.

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 They preach in various known languages.

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 And as the people are amazed by it

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 and confused by it,

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 they say,

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 what does this mean?

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 And in the rest of chapter 2,

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 Peter preaches.

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 Many are saved.

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 Thousands come to faith in Jesus Christ.

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 And we get a bit of a taste

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 of the fellowship of the church

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 at the end of chapter 2.

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 The way in which they loved each other

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 and the way in which they had favor

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 with the people in Jerusalem.

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 In chapter 3,

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 God orchestrates yet another stage

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 for Peter to preach the Gospel on

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 through the healing of a lame beggar.

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 Peter and John going up to the temple

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 just to pray,

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 heal a lame beggar,

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 and a crowd gathers.

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 And once again,

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 the Gospel is preached.

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 Many respond in faith.

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 But as a result of this,

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 chapters 4 and 5,

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 Peter and John are arrested

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 and persecution begins in Jerusalem

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 of the Christian faith.

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 They're charged not to speak anymore

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 in the name of Christ.

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 Chapter 5, we see the arrest of the apostles.

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 This time they're now beaten,

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 charged again,

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 and released.

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 Chapter 6,

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 the unity of the church

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 is not functioning so well any longer.

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 And there's some complaints arising.

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 And so some deacons are selected

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 to help serve food.

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 And one of those deacons,

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 a man named Stephen,

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 is boldly proclaiming the Gospel.

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 And he's debating in the synagogues.

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 And he is arrested.

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 He has a very brief trial

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 in which he gives a rather rousing speech.

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 I encourage you to read in chapter 7

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 if you're not familiar with this.

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 And then he's martyred.

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 He's taken outside the city

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 and he's stoned to death.

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 And this is Stephen's speech.

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 Stephen's martyrdom

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 becomes this moment

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 where the Gospel goes

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 out of the walls of Jerusalem

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 and to the nations.

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 It begins at this point

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 in the church's history.

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 The persecution ramps up

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 in chapter 8.

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 And as a result,

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 the church there in Jerusalem

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 is scattered.

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 And the Gospel goes forth.

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 I've said to you that Stephen's martyrdom

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 is the hinge that the gates swing on.

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 And now the Gospel has expanded outward.

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 Acts 1.8.

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 Jesus says this to the disciples.

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 You will receive power

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 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you

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 and you will be my witnesses

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 in Jerusalem

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 and in all Judea

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 and Samaria

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 and to the end of the earth.

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 You will find it interesting

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 that to this time

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 and in this world,

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 to the Romans,

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 Ethiopia was the end of the earth.

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 They had not yet traveled

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 beyond that place.

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 And I'm not suggesting

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 that the Ethiopian eunuch

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 coming to faith in Christ

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 is the fulfillment of Acts 1.8.

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 But in their thinking,

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 boy, has the Gospel gone out.

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 So let's look first

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 at the means of God's saving grace.

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 How is it that God works

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 His purpose in the world?

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 How is it that God brings about

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 the salvation of His people?

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 Now hear me,

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 this is a work of God.

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 It's wholly a work of God.

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 But He uses means.

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 And we can see all of those means

00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:49.819
 at play in this text.

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 So the first mean

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 that God uses

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 is that third part of the Trinity

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 we call the Holy Spirit.

00:12:58.779 --> 00:12:59.919
 The Spirit.

00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:04.799
 We can see God's divine orchestration

00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.179
 in saving the Ethiopian eunuch.

00:13:08.319 --> 00:13:10.919
 What a divine encounter this is

00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:12.399
 that Philip has.

00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.059
 And it's given to him

00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:15.539
 by instruction.

00:13:17.199 --> 00:13:18.079
 An angel of the Lord

00:13:18.079 --> 00:13:18.980
 says to Philip,

00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:21.179
 rise and go toward the south

00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:22.419
 to the road that goes down

00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:24.360
 from Jerusalem to Gaza.

00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:25.199
 Beloved, if you were given

00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:25.679
 this command,

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.139
 you would say,

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.539
 why in the world

00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:29.579
 would I go do such a thing?

00:13:29.939 --> 00:13:31.220
 There's no reason for me

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.360
 to go to this place.

00:13:32.419 --> 00:13:33.399
 It's a desert place.

00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:35.399
 No one will be there.

00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.079
 Verse 29,

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:38.059
 the Spirit says to Philip

00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:40.819
 as the Ethiopian eunuch

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.659
 is going by,

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:46.100
 go over and join this chariot.

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.620
 We even see the spirits

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:51.819
 working in the eunuch's baptism.

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.740
 Going along.

00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:56.259
 Presumably being discipled by Philip.

00:13:56.339 --> 00:13:58.639
 Having responded in faith to Christ.

00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.959
 He's now teaching him

00:13:59.959 --> 00:14:01.860
 how it is that he should be obedient

00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:02.819
 to that faith.

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.240
 Now that you've believed in Christ,

00:14:04.339 --> 00:14:05.319
 you should be baptized.

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.339
 And just then they roll past

00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:08.379
 a body of water.

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:11.120
 The eunuch says,

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.039
 what's stopping me

00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:12.860
 from being baptized

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.840
 even now?

00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.720
 And once he's baptized,

00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.620
 the Spirit,

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.539
 this is verse 39,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.179
 the Spirit of the Lord

00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:22.159
 carries Philip away.

00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.320
 We don't know exactly

00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:23.879
 what that means,

00:14:23.939 --> 00:14:24.460
 but it would seem

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.620
 that he snatched him.

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.139
 He's gone.

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:28.100
 And he reappears

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:30.500
 in another place.

00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:32.439
 So the Spirit of God

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:34.340
 is used by God

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:36.439
 as part of the Trinity

00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:37.679
 to bring about

00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.360
 the salvation

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:40.159
 of his people.

00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:41.759
 Beloved,

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:44.039
 all of us

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.659
 who have responded

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.679
 in faith to Christ

00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.899
 have experienced

00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:48.000
 this same miracle.

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.840
 Maybe not in the same way.

00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:50.600
 I've never traveled

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.159
 a desert road

00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:51.759
 in a chariot

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.779
 and had a man

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.799
 meet me,

00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:54.480
 baptize me,

00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.200
 and then disappear.

00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:57.379
 But all the same,

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.659
 it's just as miraculous.

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:01.620
 We should rejoice

00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.639
 in the great way

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.220
 that God orchestrated

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:05.840
 our salvation.

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.360
 The second meaning

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.580
 of God's saving grace

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.960
 is a servant.

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.139
 With the Spirit,

00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:13.840
 we have a servant.

00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.179
 God employs

00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:17.379
 the obedience

00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:19.179
 of his servants

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:20.620
 in the salvation

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:22.080
 of his people.

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:26.200
 God employs

00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:26.860
 the obedience

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:28.080
 of his servants

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.539
 in the salvation

00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:30.320
 of his people.

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.100
 If you have been

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:33.399
 around CFC much,

00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.679
 you have heard me say

00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:36.519
 that God does not

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.299
 need you.

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.179
 Don't belittle God

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:39.700
 by thinking

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.740
 that you're so important

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.700
 that he needs you

00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:42.120
 to bring about

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.519
 the salvation

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.080
 of his people.

00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:45.580
 But because he loves you,

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:46.820
 he uses you

00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.820
 in that process.

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.320
 He wants you

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.379
 to experience

00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.780
 his goodness

00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:53.160
 in his saving work.

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.360
 And so he uses you

00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.460
 to accomplish

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:56.420
 that very thing.

00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.180
 So he uses a servant.

00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.080
 In this case,

00:15:59.760 --> 00:16:00.500
 it's Philip.

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.480
 And Philip is obedient.

00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:04.160
 Verse 27 says,

00:16:04.260 --> 00:16:05.000
 And he rose

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.980
 and went.

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:06.700
 Luke doesn't record

00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.360
 any hesitation

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.000
 on his part.

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.060
 He's commanded to go.

00:16:09.420 --> 00:16:10.360
 And he goes.

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.040
 In verse 30,

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.520
 I love,

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.180
 as he's told to go

00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:13.280
 join the chariot,

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.640
 Philip runs to him.

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.560
 That's where I get

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.419
 this picture in my mind

00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.739
 that he had to catch up

00:16:18.739 --> 00:16:19.479
 to what was happening.

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:22.319
 But Philip runs to him.

00:16:23.619 --> 00:16:24.699
 Here's what's happening.

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.019
 He's reading from the Scripture

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:28.959
 and he engages him immediately.

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:32.159
 Do you understand

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.399
 what you are reading?

00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:37.000
 Philip likely is a very humble man,

00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.179
 not a man of great education,

00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:39.559
 not a man of great training.

00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:41.179
 And here's this man,

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.679
 the secretary of the treasurer

00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.099
 for Ethiopia.

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:46.439
 Picture that he's likely

00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:47.939
 in a large caravan

00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:49.719
 with soldiers protecting him.

00:16:49.739 --> 00:16:51.639
 He's traveled a great distance.

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.339
 And Philip,

00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:54.979
 emboldened by the Spirit,

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.399
 runs up and yells out,

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.139
 Do you understand

00:16:58.139 --> 00:17:00.379
 what you are reading?

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.120
 And then he's used by God

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.639
 to explain the Scripture to him

00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:06.119
 to present the good news

00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:08.379
 of Jesus Christ.

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.059
 Beloved,

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.559
 in the same way

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.279
 we're to be used by God,

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.379
 we're to be obedient.

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.139
 Let me point out to you

00:17:15.139 --> 00:17:17.519
 that Philip begins

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.599
 by asking a simple,

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.779
 pointed question.

00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:25.420
 He just asks a question.

00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:26.339
 Let me say,

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.019
 for those of you

00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.460
 who have such a discomfort

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.599
 in sharing the Gospel,

00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:30.960
 I wish that wasn't true.

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.220
 I wish that it worked

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.759
 in your heart

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.460
 in such a way

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.660
 that it had to bubble out.

00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.779
 You had to speak about it.

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.480
 You just were looking

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.759
 for every possible opportunity

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.839
 to share the good news

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:40.099
 of Jesus Christ.

00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.599
 But I know that sometimes

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.339
 it's uncomfortable.

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.259
 I know that sometimes

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.359
 we have to push in

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.980
 to those conversations.

00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:47.000
 Let me just encourage you

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:50.119
 to ask pointed questions.

00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:53.099
 Ask people what they believe

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:54.959
 and press at them

00:17:54.959 --> 00:17:57.719
 to defend what they believe.

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.779
 A week ago today,

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.819
 Sunday afternoon,

00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:02.199
 we did an Independence Day thing

00:18:02.199 --> 00:18:03.000
 with Sam's family

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.480
 and she has a cousin

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.480
 and her husband

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.980
 that are spiritual.

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.440
 They often seem confused

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.640
 about what they believe.

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.940
 And I got into a question

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:14.539
 with her cousin Bonnie

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.839
 and she used the term

00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.059
 I'm Catholic.

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.740
 Catholic-ish

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:20.400
 is what she was saying.

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.000
 I'm Catholic.

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.299
 And I just said,

00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.400
 that is a fascinating term.

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.220
 I want to know

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.279
 what you mean by that.

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:28.339
 And so she told me

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.579
 and she launched into it

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.240
 and I just continued

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.220
 to ask her questions.

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.000
 I just kept saying,

00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.120
 but do you believe?

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.380
 But what about?

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.380
 And I quoted the scripture to her

00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.180
 and I just continued.

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.440
 And praise the Lord

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:38.960
 at the end of that.

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.660
 I do actually think

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.460
 that she's in the faith.

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:42.120
 I think she properly believes

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.900
 that her justification

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:44.559
 is found in Christ alone.

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.660
 But in the midst of that,

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.100
 her husband sat with us

00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:47.980
 and he listened to everything

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.920
 that we had to say.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:49.940
 At the end of this,

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.860
 he thanked me

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:52.100
 for the conversation that we had.

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.360
 I've got all kinds of plans

00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:54.200
 for things to give them

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.600
 and literature

00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:56.660
 to pile up on them.

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.700
 But it was just simple,

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:01.480
 pointed questions.

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.180
 Just ask questions.

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:05.460
 You see Philip do that here.

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.759
 And then in verse 40,

00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:08.440
 after he's snatched away

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.039
 from this place,

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.480
 he finds himself in Azotus,

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:12.900
 he continues to preach the gospel.

00:19:13.080 --> 00:19:14.840
 He goes to all the towns

00:19:14.840 --> 00:19:16.279
 the way Luke records it,

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.680
 which I love that phrasing

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.580
 until he came to Caesarea.

00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:22.539
 So we have the Spirit,

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:24.779
 we have a servant,

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.119
 and we have the Scripture.

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.000
 And we have the Scripture.

00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.799
 And recall that the eunuch

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:33.460
 is returning from Jerusalem.

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.740
 He's traveled this great distance

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.559
 to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.319
 He's returning.

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.599
 He's reading the prophet Isaiah.

00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.579
 He's reading it out loud,

00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:43.259
 which was customary to do so.

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:46.319
 And he reads from Isaiah 53.

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.319
 It's verse 7 and 8.

00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.599
 Like a sheep who was led to the slaughter,

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:50.240
 and like a lamb before its shears,

00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.759
 is silent,

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.339
 so he opens not his mouth.

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.240
 In his humiliation,

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.440
 justice was denied him.

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.379
 Who can describe his generation?

00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:00.059
 For his life is taken away

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.980
 from the earth.

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.819
 And what does Philip do?

00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.099
 Verse 35.

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.319
 He opens his mouth.

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.960
 He doesn't launch into

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:11.119
 a philosophical debate with him.

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.519
 He begins with this Scripture,

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.059
 and he tells him the good news

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:18.680
 about Jesus.

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:20.220
 Beloved,

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.019
 our preaching of the Gospel,

00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:23.019
 the means that God uses,

00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:23.880
 right,

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.460
 is the good news of Jesus Christ

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:28.140
 found in the Scripture.

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.400
 That doesn't mean you have to quote it exactly,

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.580
 although I would encourage you to do so.

00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:35.180
 But you need to speak the Bible to people,

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:37.480
 the Word of God to people.

00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:38.600
 Ephesians 6.17,

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:40.400
 Paul encourages us to take up

00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.940
 the sword of the Spirit,

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:46.100
 which is the Word of God.

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.900
 This is the tool

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:50.400
 that the Spirit of God wields

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.120
 to bring people to faith

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:53.100
 in Jesus Christ.

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.779
 The way in which God displays

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.900
 His gracious,

00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:57.160
 saving work

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:59.840
 is using the Scripture.

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.059
 Recall, beloved,

00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:03.680
 when Paul says in Romans 1.16,

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.160
 for I am not ashamed of the Gospel.

00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.100
 Why?

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.559
 For the same reason,

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:09.059
 we should not be ashamed of the Gospel.

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:10.379
 Speak the truth of God

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:12.460
 to God's people from the Scripture,

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:15.559
 for it is the power of God

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.799
 for salvation

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.139
 to everyone who believes.

00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:19.339
 The Jew first,

00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.859
 and also the Greek,

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.919
 and the Ethiopian,

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.359
 and those of us

00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.779
 from high latitudes

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:27.399
 of this planet.

00:21:28.179 --> 00:21:29.700
 It's the Gospel message

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:32.720
 that God uses to save people.

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.980
 So we see these means of God

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.579
 saving grace.

00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.059
 The Spirit,

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.500
 a servant,

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.960
 and the Scripture.

00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.639
 Secondly,

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.099
 let's take a closer look

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.919
 at the recipient

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:45.039
 of God's saving grace.

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.740
 Let's take a closer look

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:48.960
 at the eunuch.

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.579
 There's some distinguishing things

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.159
 about him.

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:52.879
 First,

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.299
 that he's African.

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.019
 A wonderful thing.

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.759
 The first,

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.099
 to our knowledge,

00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:02.859
 the first African convert.

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.220
 I would love to know,

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.139
 and there may be some sources

00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:05.519
 out there

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.279
 that I have not had time

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.679
 to look at,

00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.419
 but what happened

00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:07.980
 as a result

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.759
 of this man

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.519
 taking the Gospel

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:11.500
 back to Ethiopia.

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.339
 The Gospel shatters

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.319
 all divides,

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:17.900
 real or imagined.

00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.360
 It tears down

00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:20.160
 dividing walls

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.740
 of ethnicity,

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.599
 culture,

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.360
 gender,

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.940
 and skin color.

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:26.220
 Praise God for that.

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.620
 He was an African.

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.259
 He was a seeker.

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:30.599
 Right?

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:30.920
 Remember,

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.240
 first,

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.160
 he's reading the Scripture.

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.140
 He's got a copy

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.559
 of the Scripture.

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.059
 He's obtained.

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.160
 He's reading the Scripture.

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:36.720
 Secondly,

00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:37.640
 he's traveled

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.660
 this great distance.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.380
 It's more than

00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.839
 a thousand miles

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.660
 that he's journeyed.

00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:43.120
 It'd be a week plus

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.799
 at least

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.279
 for this man

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:44.740
 to have traveled

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.500
 to Jerusalem

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:47.240
 for the worship of God.

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:49.319
 He's seeking God.

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.220
 Third,

00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.039
 he's a eunuch.

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.120
 Do we all know

00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.720
 what a eunuch is?

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:58.019
 I really don't want

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.160
 to tell you

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.640
 what a eunuch is.

00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.420
 I'm going to tell you.

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.480
 A eunuch is a man

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.000
 whose male genitalia

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.600
 are removed

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.920
 either due to an accident,

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.039
 something happens

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.440
 and needs to be removed,

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.640
 or intentionally

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.539
 in order to serve

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.019
 in the role

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:15.160
 of a eunuch.

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:17.019
 This was most often done

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.880
 so that these men

00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.460
 could serve

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.319
 in close relation

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.240
 to a queen

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.420
 because he was no threat

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.319
 to the throne.

00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:23.960
 He wasn't going to

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:26.680
 bed the queen.

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.120
 So here we see

00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.680
 this eunuch

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.299
 serves the queen

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.160
 in that very way

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.039
 that we see

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:33.079
 is called Candace.

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.759
 So it's an interesting thing

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:36.160
 about this man

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.480
 that's given to us.

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.620
 On first reading,

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.660
 it seems more significant

00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.779
 to me that he's Ethiopian.

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.720
 That detail sticks out to me

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.460
 and jumps out at me,

00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:46.400
 but Luke really goes after

00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:48.740
 the fact that he's a eunuch.

00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.000
 I mean,

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:50.079
 I feel like I could have done

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:51.360
 without the detail altogether,

00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.240
 that it's not really

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.640
 that important to me.

00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:55.160
 So why does Luke

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:57.320
 repeatedly simply

00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:58.400
 call him a eunuch?

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.140
 He could have called him

00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.980
 the Ethiopian

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.740
 or Candace's treasurer

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:04.100
 or many other

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:05.080
 defining factors

00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:05.940
 about this man.

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.340
 But he simply

00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:08.080
 calls him

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:09.140
 the eunuch.

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.200
 Notice verse 27,

00:24:10.300 --> 00:24:10.920
 verse 34,

00:24:11.100 --> 00:24:12.000
 verse 36,

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.880
 verse 38,

00:24:13.020 --> 00:24:13.920
 and verse 39.

00:24:14.020 --> 00:24:16.140
 He repeats that phrase.

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.560
 But I would encourage you

00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.160
 when you're studying

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.680
 the Bible,

00:24:20.040 --> 00:24:20.620
 which I hope you do

00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:21.259
 on your own,

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.980
 and you see things

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.519
 like that,

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.980
 to pause and question it.

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.339
 Why?

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.740
 Why does Luke

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.900
 use that title

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:28.019
 for this man

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:29.839
 and use it so many times?

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.940
 He wants the reader

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.019
 to notice this man

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.519
 is a eunuch.

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.500
 We've got it, right?

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.140
 We've seen it.

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.079
 He's a eunuch.

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.619
 This man from Ethiopia

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:40.279
 serving this high position,

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.539
 he's a seeker,

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.700
 he's traveled all the way

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.519
 to Jerusalem,

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:45.140
 he's a student

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.779
 of the Bible,

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:48.599
 and he would have known

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:50.859
 and he would have experienced

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.879
 being in Jerusalem.

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:54.000
 He would have been denied

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.460
 access to temple worship.

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.440
 Deuteronomy 23,

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:56.980
 1.

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.200
 You ready for some

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.099
 more uncomfortable language?

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.819
 No one whose testicles

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.579
 are crushed

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:03.279
 or whose male organ

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.879
 is cut off

00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:05.200
 shall enter the assembly

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.660
 of the Lord.

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:10.000
 Not only is he not

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.980
 ethnically Jewish,

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.059
 he's an Ethiopian,

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:14.220
 but he's an outcast

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:16.279
 from temple worship

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:18.960
 by God's own design.

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:22.179
 Deuteronomy 23, 1.

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.740
 So Luke's telling us

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.119
 he's a eunuch,

00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:24.539
 he's a eunuch,

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.700
 he's a eunuch, right?

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.819
 And if we're familiar

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.460
 with this reality,

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.500
 Deuteronomy 23, 1,

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.000
 it's significant

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.960
 that he's reading

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.839
 in the book of Isaiah.

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.759
 In fact,

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.539
 he might have been reading

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.639
 in the book of Isaiah,

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.720
 right?

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.740
 He quotes from Isaiah 53,

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:40.279
 it's this last

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.480
 of four songs

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.759
 of the suffering servant.

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.240
 Those of us who are in Christ

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.799
 are very aware

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.940
 of who these are talking about.

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.480
 He's not.

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:47.779
 Is he talking about,

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.360
 is the prophet

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.200
 talking about himself?

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.700
 Prophets were hated.

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.460
 Is he talking about himself

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:52.140
 or is he talking about

00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:54.000
 someone else?

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.019
 And so,

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.880
 he was likely familiar

00:25:57.880 --> 00:26:00.079
 just a couple of chapters later

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.880
 and I want you to turn there

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:02.700
 with me to Isaiah 56.

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:17.680
 So try to place yourself

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.259
 in his shoes,

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:21.339
 at least in his feelings.

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.720
 He's not ethically Jewish.

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.099
 He's an Ethiopian.

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.440
 He's a eunuch.

00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.559
 He's been forbidden

00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.819
 from temple worship.

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.039
 And he picks up

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.880
 a copy of Isaiah

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.460
 and he reads

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.519
 chapter 56,

00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:38.059
 beginning in verse 3.

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.579
 Let not the foreigner

00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:41.639
 who has joined himself

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.460
 to the Lord say,

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.779
 The Lord will surely

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.579
 separate me

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.319
 from His people.

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:49.000
 And let not the eunuch say,

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.339
 Behold,

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:52.019
 I am a dry tree.

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:54.440
 For thus says the Lord,

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.019
 To the eunuchs

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.339
 who keep my Sabbaths,

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:58.579
 who choose the things

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.359
 that please me

00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.659
 and hold fast my covenant,

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:03.039
 I will give in my house

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.240
 and within my walls

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.140
 a monument and a name

00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:07.880
 better than sons

00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.640
 and daughters.

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.299
 I will give them

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.900
 an everlasting name

00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:13.120
 that shall not

00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:14.620
 be cut off.

00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.920
 And so he finds

00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.779
 in Isaiah 56

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.420
 this beautiful promise

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:21.279
 and as he backs up

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.759
 and he's reading

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.799
 Isaiah 53

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.799
 and trying to understand

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.180
 how these things

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.240
 come to pass,

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.019
 he reads a song

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.859
 of the suffering servant.

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.200
 And so we ask the question,

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:33.759
 Who is the suffering servant?

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.619
 Is it the prophet

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.920
 or is it someone else?

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.319
 And Philip says to him,

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.299
 It is Jesus,

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.379
 the Christ.

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.279
 Isn't that incredible?

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.879
 Wonderful to know

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.259
 the broader context

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:47.319
 of the Scripture itself.

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:50.759
 This recipient of God's

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:52.900
 saving grace.

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.200
 And for those of us

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.740
 who are in Christ,

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.700
 we just should be astounded

00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.259
 by this.

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:58.059
 We should just have

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:59.059
 our hearts warmed

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.660
 by the great deal of love

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:02.240
 that God pours out

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.779
 for people of all kinds.

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.460
 The outcasts.

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.579
 He brings them in.

00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.099
 Many of us

00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:12.380
 have felt that

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:14.160
 and rejoice in the fact

00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:15.339
 that we've been brought in.

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.279
 If anyone in this room

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.339
 is not in Christ,

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:21.099
 an Ethiopian eunuch

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:22.000
 was saved by God.

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.839
 You are not beyond

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.900
 His mercy.

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:28.820
 So the means of God's

00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:29.259
 saving grace.

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.620
 Secondly,

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.140
 the recipient of God's

00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:31.660
 saving grace.

00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:32.340
 And third,

00:28:32.800 --> 00:28:33.440
 and lastly,

00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:35.400
 the signs of God's

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.800
 saving grace

00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:38.380
 or the evidences

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:41.460
 of God's saving grace.

00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.320
 And there's three

00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:43.160
 found in our text.

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.460
 Number one,

00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.920
 there is a response

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.740
 to the gospel,

00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.560
 to the good news

00:28:48.560 --> 00:28:49.400
 preached.

00:28:49.540 --> 00:28:50.900
 There's a response.

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.380
 response.

00:28:51.780 --> 00:28:52.900
 And we see that.

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.900
 We get a hint of that

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.600
 in the fact

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.820
 that the eunuch

00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:57.040
 wants to be baptized.

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.740
 Philip has gone on

00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.080
 to explain to him

00:29:00.080 --> 00:29:01.880
 what ought to now happen

00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:03.360
 because he's placed faith

00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.660
 in Jesus Christ.

00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:05.540
 Now,

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.580
 just quickly,

00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.740
 group participation.

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.740
 How many of your translations

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.960
 have a verse 37?

00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:11.340
 And you noticed

00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.820
 when I read it

00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:12.540
 that I jumped over.

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.740
 Anybody?

00:29:15.540 --> 00:29:16.019
 Anybody?

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.460
 Man, we have great translations.

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.160
 Good for you.

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:18.780
 Oh, we got one.

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:20.799
 Sometimes it'll be

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.420
 in a parenthesis

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:22.200
 with an explanation,

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.039
 a little parenthetical

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.799
 or bracketed.

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.240
 Verse 37

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.500
 will likely say

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.799
 something like this.

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.220
 And Philip said,

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.019
 this is a response

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.759
 to verse 36,

00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:34.720
 See, here is water.

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.559
 What prevents me

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.299
 from being baptized?

00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:37.200
 Verse 37.

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.039
 And Philip said,

00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.139
 If you believe

00:29:39.139 --> 00:29:39.879
 with all your heart,

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.500
 you may.

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:42.399
 And he answered and said,

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:44.359
 I believe that Jesus Christ

00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:46.200
 is the Son of God.

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.519
 And then verse 38.

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.240
 And he commands

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.740
 the chariot

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.200
 to stop.

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.039
 Now,

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.599
 the reason that it's not in,

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.099
 notice those little numbers

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.539
 as you're reading

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.200
 down through there,

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.880
 that it's not in many

00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.460
 of your translations

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.279
 but it is in some

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.920
 or it is in there

00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.700
 with some brackets

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.640
 and an explanation,

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.359
 is because the earliest

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:04.039
 and the most reliable

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:04.740
 transcripts

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.420
 do not include

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.220
 verse 37.

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.660
 Some later

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.740
 copy of copy.

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.859
 And translators

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.500
 are very faithful

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.019
 to the scripture.

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.120
 They're very careful

00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.859
 about what they do

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:15.480
 and don't include.

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.160
 And I would argue

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.000
 that it should be omitted

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:18.240
 because those earliest

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.160
 and most reliable

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.960
 transcripts

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.720
 do not have

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.180
 that verse in there.

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.420
 But,

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.400
 all the same,

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.960
 all the same,

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.279
 he must have made

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.500
 some profession

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.920
 of faith.

00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.019
 Baptism

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.440
 is not salvific.

00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.259
 It's a symbol.

00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.440
 It's a picture.

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.579
 We're meant to see it

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.099
 as that.

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.579
 Something to rejoice in.

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:41.799
 It's a beautiful thing

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.099
 to do

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:43.799
 but it's not salvific.

00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.159
 Simply being

00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:46.779
 dunked underwater

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.419
 or sprinkled

00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:47.839
 or anything,

00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:49.279
 any nature of baptism

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:51.659
 is not salvific.

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.099
 Romans 10,

00:30:53.639 --> 00:30:54.379
 9 and 10.

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.679
 Paul says,

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.319
 if you confess

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:56.960
 with your mouth

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.639
 that Jesus is Lord

00:30:58.639 --> 00:31:00.279
 and believe in your heart

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:01.220
 that God raised him

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:01.779
 from the dead,

00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:03.879
 you will be saved.

00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:05.620
 For with the heart

00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.660
 one believes

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.480
 and is justified

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.500
 and with the mouth

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:10.140
 one confesses

00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:12.420
 and is saved.

00:31:13.060 --> 00:31:13.500
 So,

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.140
 a proper

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:16.260
 sign of God's

00:31:16.260 --> 00:31:16.820
 saving grace

00:31:16.820 --> 00:31:17.760
 is a response.

00:31:18.280 --> 00:31:19.220
 A response

00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:20.420
 proclaiming

00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:20.940
 that Jesus

00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:22.000
 is the Christ,

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:22.760
 believing in

00:31:22.760 --> 00:31:23.760
 his person

00:31:23.760 --> 00:31:24.100
 and

00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:25.720
 his work.

00:31:26.760 --> 00:31:27.520
 A second sign

00:31:27.520 --> 00:31:28.940
 of God's

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.520
 saving grace

00:31:29.520 --> 00:31:30.540
 is obedience

00:31:30.540 --> 00:31:32.460
 to the gospel.

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.120
 Response

00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:33.599
 to the gospel.

00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:34.839
 Obedience

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.419
 to the gospel.

00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:37.419
 So,

00:31:37.479 --> 00:31:37.779
 what does he do?

00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.559
 He sees water.

00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.259
 Again,

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:39.939
 I would argue

00:31:39.939 --> 00:31:40.859
 by the Spirit's

00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.699
 great orchestration,

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:43.419
 he sees water

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:44.639
 and he commands

00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.599
 the chariot to stop

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.099
 and they both

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.679
 went down

00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.739
 into the water.

00:31:49.439 --> 00:31:50.259
 Philip and the eunuch

00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:51.879
 and he baptized him

00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:53.559
 and then he came up

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:54.139
 out of the water.

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:54.759
 So,

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.199
 there's obedience

00:31:55.199 --> 00:31:55.719
 to the gospel

00:31:55.719 --> 00:31:56.339
 and we see that

00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:57.079
 on Philip's part

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.639
 as well.

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.379
 Matthew 28,

00:31:58.459 --> 00:31:59.719
 18 through 20.

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.439
 And Jesus came

00:32:00.439 --> 00:32:01.139
 and said to them,

00:32:01.239 --> 00:32:01.739
 people know this

00:32:01.739 --> 00:32:02.439
 as the Great Commission,

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.019
 all authority

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.519
 on heaven and earth

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.100
 is given to me.

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.539
 Go therefore

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.779
 and make disciples

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.779
 of all nations.

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.519
 Here's Philip,

00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.720
 part of that process,

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:10.440
 the Spirit of God

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.160
 using him,

00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:12.559
 baptizing them

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.160
 in the name

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.740
 of the Father

00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.200
 and the Son

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.980
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.240
 Teachings to observe

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.100
 all that I've commanded you

00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:17.559
 and behold,

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.799
 I'm with you always

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:20.140
 to the end of the age.

00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.620
 Philip is obedient

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:24.000
 to the gospel.

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.860
 This man professes

00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.580
 faith in Christ,

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.740
 Philip says,

00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.400
 you need to get baptized.

00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.360
 The man says,

00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:31.059
 there's water

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:32.099
 and they do it.

00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:33.599
 There's obedience

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:36.199
 on the eunuch's part.

00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.799
 Matthew 3,

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.279
 13 through 15.

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.299
 Jesus,

00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:44.319
 the very beginning

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:45.179
 of his ministry,

00:32:45.699 --> 00:32:47.159
 comes from Galilee

00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:47.799
 to the Jordan

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.539
 to John.

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.500
 The John we know

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.299
 is John the Baptist.

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.000
 There was not

00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.919
 a Baptist denomination

00:32:51.919 --> 00:32:52.699
 in that day.

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.439
 Some will call him

00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:55.559
 John the Baptizer.

00:32:55.679 --> 00:32:56.619
 I appreciate that.

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.039
 He comes to Jordan

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.859
 to John

00:32:58.859 --> 00:33:00.240
 to be baptized by him.

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:01.139
 Jesus, right?

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.059
 Righteous, perfect.

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.879
 He comes to John

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.960
 to be baptized by him.

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.960
 This was a baptism

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:07.579
 of repentance, right?

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.159
 It was meant to be

00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:09.440
 a picture of that.

00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:12.680
 14, Matthew 3.

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.399
 John would have

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.399
 prevented him saying,

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.420
 I need to be baptized

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.099
 by you.

00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:18.259
 And do you come to me?

00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.420
 But Jesus answered him.

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.899
 So this is Jesus

00:33:21.899 --> 00:33:24.619
 in the Jewish faith,

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.639
 a follower of God,

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.839
 has not sinned.

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:27.839
 He's not become

00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.559
 regenerate at this point.

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.359
 Right?

00:33:30.439 --> 00:33:31.279
 But Jesus says,

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.199
 let it be so now,

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.799
 for thus it is fitting

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:36.079
 for us to fulfill

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:38.299
 all righteousness.

00:33:39.159 --> 00:33:39.939
 And the text says,

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.939
 then John consented.

00:33:42.439 --> 00:33:42.559
 Right?

00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:44.720
 Jesus, our Lord,

00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:46.819
 set for us an example

00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:48.339
 in believer's baptism.

00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.019
 Right?

00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:49.819
 Professing faith

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.599
 in Jesus Christ

00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.980
 and then being baptized

00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.919
 as a picture

00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:55.059
 of what has happened.

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:55.519
 Right?

00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.279
 That we've been

00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:59.000
 laid to death,

00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.819
 our old self,

00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.579
 and that we've risen

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:02.660
 to have life in Him.

00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:05.519
 So there's obedience

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.339
 on Philip's part,

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.240
 on the eunuch's part.

00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.880
 And then they were

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.519
 obedient to the method.

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.900
 They were obedient

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.519
 to the method.

00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:14.480
 Now hear this.

00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:15.659
 They would have had

00:34:15.659 --> 00:34:16.579
 water with them.

00:34:17.300 --> 00:34:18.199
 They were traveling

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:19.259
 the desert road.

00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:21.380
 And they could have

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:23.400
 maintained their momentum

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:25.940
 and Philip could have

00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:28.260
 sprinkled the eunuch.

00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:29.580
 Right?

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:31.140
 That could have happened.

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:31.540
 Right?

00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.400
 Lean your head back here.

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.180
 Splash a little water

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:34.260
 on your head.

00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:36.080
 But they stopped.

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.760
 They saw water

00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:38.940
 and they stopped.

00:34:39.140 --> 00:34:40.280
 And the text says

00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.540
 that they went down

00:34:41.540 --> 00:34:42.600
 into the water

00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.700
 and then they came

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.700
 up out

00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:45.980
 of the water.

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.059
 water.

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:49.500
 The Greek word

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:51.240
 to baptize,

00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:51.900
 baptizo,

00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.840
 means to plunge

00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:55.460
 or immerse.

00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.619
 Some Greek scholars

00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:59.780
 who aren't Baptists,

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.340
 I want to add.

00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.360
 Greek scholars,

00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.420
 not Baptists,

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:04.099
 of different traditions

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.860
 that don't do this

00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:05.300
 this way,

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.539
 have rendered the word

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:09.820
 to dunk repeatedly

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:12.179
 or drown.

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:19.699
 My addition

00:35:19.699 --> 00:35:22.359
 to that argument,

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.319
 and I'm not upset

00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:23.679
 about it,

00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:24.219
 it doesn't matter,

00:35:24.259 --> 00:35:24.759
 I'm just telling you

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.399
 why we go through

00:35:25.399 --> 00:35:25.980
 all the trouble

00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:27.779
 of filling this

00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:29.319
 giant cattle trough

00:35:29.319 --> 00:35:30.440
 with so much water

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:32.480
 and cleaning up

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.339
 afterwards.

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.719
 It's meant to be

00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.399
 a picture of what's

00:35:36.399 --> 00:35:36.659
 happened.

00:35:36.799 --> 00:35:37.819
 We've been buried

00:35:37.819 --> 00:35:39.219
 with Christ

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:40.259
 in his death

00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:41.200
 and we've been

00:35:41.200 --> 00:35:42.980
 raised to walk

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.300
 in newness of life.

00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:45.900
 It pictures that

00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:47.400
 more clearly.

00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:48.480
 Tongue in cheek,

00:35:48.580 --> 00:35:49.180
 I've joked with you

00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.000
 that when we begin

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.700
 to lay people

00:35:50.700 --> 00:35:51.100
 on the ground

00:35:51.100 --> 00:35:51.700
 when they die

00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:52.980
 and splash dirt

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:53.580
 on their face,

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.220
 and that's our method,

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.060
 maybe we'll go

00:35:56.060 --> 00:35:57.000
 with that route.

00:35:58.060 --> 00:35:59.000
 But until then,

00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.340
 the picture is

00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:01.400
 so much clearer

00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.280
 and that's what people

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:02.980
 are professing

00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:03.580
 when they're baptized.

00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:05.200
 I have placed

00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:05.920
 believing faith

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:07.140
 in Jesus Christ.

00:36:07.680 --> 00:36:08.060
 I've been buried

00:36:08.060 --> 00:36:08.820
 with him in his death,

00:36:09.060 --> 00:36:09.620
 I've been raised

00:36:09.620 --> 00:36:09.900
 with him,

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.639
 I've been set free

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.000
 from sin and guilt

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.200
 and all that accompanies it.

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.539
 I've been reconciled

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.079
 to God

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:16.500
 in Christ.

00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:18.460
 So we see

00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:20.460
 response to the gospel,

00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.579
 obedience to the gospel,

00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.800
 and finally we see

00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.740
 rejoicing in the gospel.

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.019
 The last part

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.800
 of verse 39,

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.280
 Philip's taken away

00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:28.900
 and the eunuch

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.539
 saw him

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.820
 no more,

00:36:31.160 --> 00:36:31.740
 which is just such

00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:33.019
 an interesting factual thing

00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.860
 that Luke records.

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.260
 He's not astounded,

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:36.260
 he just doesn't see him anymore,

00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:38.360
 and he went on his way

00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:39.840
 rejoicing.

00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.440
 He goes on his way

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.400
 rejoicing.

00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.160
 Beloved,

00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:43.840
 those who place

00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.820
 believing faith in Christ

00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:45.740
 will rejoice

00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:47.680
 for that renewal

00:36:47.680 --> 00:36:48.980
 in their lives.

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.380
 Baptism

00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:52.300
 was an outer symbol

00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:53.820
 of an inner reality,

00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:55.180
 and you can already see

00:36:55.180 --> 00:36:56.660
 in the life of this man

00:36:56.660 --> 00:36:57.960
 who's reading from Isaiah,

00:36:58.160 --> 00:36:58.940
 and he's troubled

00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.640
 by the text,

00:36:59.700 --> 00:37:00.640
 he gets an answer to it,

00:37:00.660 --> 00:37:01.400
 he responds in faith,

00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:01.860
 he's baptized,

00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:04.240
 and now he rejoices.

00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:08.419
 Romans 6, 3 and 4.

00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.239
 Paul says,

00:37:10.319 --> 00:37:11.039
 Do you not know

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:12.339
 that all of us

00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:13.139
 who have been baptized

00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:14.539
 into Christ Jesus

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.919
 were baptized

00:37:15.919 --> 00:37:17.339
 into his death?

00:37:17.859 --> 00:37:18.759
 We were buried,

00:37:18.959 --> 00:37:19.119
 therefore,

00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:20.259
 with him by baptism

00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:20.939
 into death

00:37:20.939 --> 00:37:21.679
 in order that,

00:37:21.839 --> 00:37:22.639
 just as Christ

00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:23.859
 was raised from the dead

00:37:23.859 --> 00:37:25.759
 by the glory of the Father,

00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:27.759
 we too might walk

00:37:27.759 --> 00:37:29.759
 in newness of life.

00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:31.320
 Let's pray together.