Going On

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Acts 8:36-39

 

It sure looks as though we are back with the eunuch again, does it not. Last time we left him, Phillip was just getting through with preaching Jesus. When you do not know what to say or even do, his name is the one you should call more than anything else. He alone can save and protect like no other. For as Philippians 2:9 says, his name has been given him above all others. Call 1-800-JE-SUS today; he will never leave you disappointed. It should be seen that water baptism in itself does not save. Rather it is so identifying with new life in Christ that we are buried in the likeness of his death and raised in the likeness of his resurrection and his blood just keeps on cleansing us from all sins. Then too at the first as at the last, there remains the baptism by water and by spirit. Even so Mark 10:38-39 testifies itself of such to what fashion he was baptized after. Notice too that 1 Peter 3:21 reminds us all of this. See, water in and of itself cannot save, lest happily by chance I should be found righteous each time the heavens rain. Such is frankly nonsense, my friends. It seems as in the text that something else then should go along with it. See the belief in Christ Jesus mentioned in all of Scripture. Such is important not to miss. See, we are not by our works testifying to the fact that when he appears we will be like him for we will see him as he is. Rather there should be seen the overriding purpose of God. It stops all mouths, ceases all argument. Even the chariot with its horses and its rider must stand still till all be fulfilled. His power is one that brooks no others nor suffers any to stand up in his place. Notice here that the baptism came after the manner of Christ himself, called down into the water to witness of himself. While he was there though, as told of in Luke 3:22, the Spirit came down and completed his work. Notice how it abode on him there signifying his pleasure or one with himself. For in him we work both to will and to do all his good pleasure. This is the fourth dwelling upon then if you will, a triumph even over judgement. For so does Nicodemus testify to this, in all his trying and his striving. It seems he wanted only to be born again, but in his quest he found only the Lord he missed. It is after this fashion then by water and by Spirit that being born again occurs. Here all Phillip had to do was be faithful in his task. He preached Jesus, baptized the man, and straightway was carried off to be with the Lord. Well, not exactly, the text merely says he was caught away but not to where. Perhaps God only knows and that my friends, is the best news of all. So can he be trusted, for his heart towards us is good.