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The Christian Life Is a Walk
Acts 8:35-40
Sermon by Rock Crandall
Grayson Baptist Church - Jan. 12, 2014
*The Christian life is a walk.
*William Ritter once said: "I recently found 382 biblical references to various forms of the word 'walk.'
There are a multitude of references that suggest how we are supposed to walk as Christians: Walk in love.
Walk in wisdom.
Walk in the light.
Walk in the path.
Walk in the Spirit.
Walk in the law of the Lord.
Walk in the way of the Lord.
Walk in the fear of the Lord.
Walk in the peace of the Lord.
Walk honestly, forthrightly, courageously, worthily and humbly."
(1)
*The Christian life is a walk.
And in this story, we can see some of the most important steps along the way.
1.
The first step is for us to believe the Bible.
*We believe what God says in the Bible.
We believe what God says about our sin, and we believe what God says about our Savior Jesus Christ.
This is the step of salvation.
And we see the Ethiopian taking this step in vs. 35-37:
35.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
36.
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water.
And the eunuch said, "See, here is water.
What hinders me from being baptized?''
37. Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may.''
And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.''
*This Ethiopian was saved, and everybody needs to be saved.
Last week we saw how this rich and powerful man from Ethiopia proves that.
The eunuch had almost everything the world can offer, but his money was not enough, his position was not enough, his power was not enough, his prestige was not enough, and his religion was not enough.
*Everybody needs Jesus!
Everybody needs to be saved.
And 1 Timothy 2:4 tells us that God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
That's why Jesus Christ was willing to die on the cross for our sins.
He took our place on the cross.
He took our punishment.
And He rose again to save anyone who will receive Him as Lord and Savior.
*Everybody needs to be saved, but this cannot happen without two key things we see in these verses.
[1] First, we have to hear the truth about Jesus.
*We have got to hear the good news of the cross.
And this is what Philip gave the Ethiopian in vs. 35: "Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him."
[2] Just like the Ethiopian, we have to hear the truth about Jesus Christ.
-- And we have to believe the truth.
*The Ethiopian showed his faith in vs. 37, when he said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
There is so much truth flowing out of this one sentence.
When he confessed his faith in Jesus, that man from Ethiopia was in effect saying: "I know I am a sinner.
I know I need a Savior.
And I believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only person who can save me.
I believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Lord of all.
I believe that Jesus is God.
And I receive Jesus as my Savior, my God and my King!"
This kind of faith is the only response that leads to salvation and a personal relationship with God.
*Evangelist Eddie Martin gave this testimony about a crusade he preached in Bluefield, West Virginia: "A well-dressed woman came forward at the salvation invitation.
I took her hand and prepared to give her a prayer to repeat after me.
*The prayer I usually give is, 'Dear Lord, I know that I am a no-good sinner.
I know I can't save myself.
I do need forgiveness for my awful sins.
I can't do without you, Jesus.
Please forgive me for my many sins.'"
*Then Eddie said, "I took this woman's hand and began to give her the prayer to repeat after me: 'Dear Lord, I know I'm a no-good sinner. .
.'
She never said a word.
I looked at her and said, 'Don't you want to be saved?'
She said, 'Yes, I do want to be saved, but I'm not a sinner.'"
Eddie replied, "Then you can't be saved, Jesus only died for sinners."
*"But."
she replied, "I'm a good sinner."
"A good sinner?!? -- Lady, there are no good sinners.
You will have to take your seat.
God can't save you until you become conscious that you are a no-good sinner and need His forgiveness."
"But, you don't understand.
I'm really not a bad sinner."
*"I told her to go back and sit down.
She held on to my hand with a vise-like grip.
Finally, she looked me in the eyes and said, 'Oh, please forgive me.
I know I am a no-good hell-deserving sinner.
I am a proud, no-good sinner.
I do need Christ to forgive me of my sins.'"
"Wonderful!" the preacher replied.
"Now, lady, you are ready to do business with God." (2)
*She was ready for the Christian life.
She was ready for the Christian walk.
And so was the Ethiopian eunuch, because he believed the Bible.
*The Christian life is a walk.
Step 1: Believe the Bible.
2. And step 2: Start living in obedience to the Lord.
*That's what the Ethiopian so wanted to do in vs. 36-38:
36.
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water.
And the eunuch said, "See, here is water.
What hinders me from being baptized?''
37. Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may.''
And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.''
38.
So he commanded the chariot to stand still.
And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
*"What hinders me from being baptized?"
I hear a passionate desire in that question.
With all his heart, the Ethiopian wanted to follow the Lord in believer's baptism.
So how did he obey?
-- Enthusiastically and immediately.
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