Acts 8:36-37

Philip had asked the Ethiopian Eunuch the first question in Acts 8:30, “…Understandest thou what thou readest?” (The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53:1-12.)

The Ethiopian answered Philip’s question, “…How can I, except some man should guide me? …” (verse 31). Then, after reading Isaiah 53:7, the Eunuch said to Philip “…of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?” (verse 34b). “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (verse 35).

Here we have the God-provided Messenger, sent to the God-prepared Man, and the Messenger had preached the God-presented Message – the Savior, Jesus Christ. When you preach Jesus, you must preach His Message, the Good News of Him: Who He was (God in the Flesh); His Mission (to save sinners); His Method (carrying out His office works of Prophet, High Priest, Substitute, Sacrifice, Savior, and King of kings and Lord of lords); and His Miracle (of Regeneration; John 3:3-8).

The Regeneration Process is a mystery. It is all part of God’s Plan, Purpose, and Performance based on the Atonement of Christ. Regeneration begins in quickening (or making alive) the spiritually dead sinner; drawing him unto Himself (John 6:44); teaching him of sin, judgment, and righteousness (John 16:5-8); revealing sin by His law (Romans 3:19-20). This leads to Godly sorrow (Romans 7:4-14); which worketh repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10); which leads the quickened sinner to come to Christ, or to confess Christ as Savior (John 6:44-45). This Work of Grace is manifested in confession.

Confession is made in two ways. First by the mouth; the words from the mouth reveal the state of the heart.

(Romans 10:9-10) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

This proves that God has done a miracle in the sinner. God quickens the sinner, draws and teaches, and then brings the enlightened sinner to confess Christ (or believe, obey) upon the foundation of what has been revealed to him of the Atonement of Christ for his sin debt.

Notice the text verses:

(Acts 8:36-37) “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (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.”

And the Ethiopian said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Or, now I see (or perceive); I now know (by experience) that Jesus was God in the Flesh, my Redeemer, my Savior.

This confession of the Ethiopian is proof positive of an inward work of Grace in his heart. Now he understands Isaiah 53:1-12 is Jesus Christ; the Lamb of God; the Fulfillment of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament concerning Christ, the Messiah (Isaiah 9:6-7); the Sin Offering (Isaiah 53:10-11); the Perfect Sacrifice offered upon the cross as his Substitute, his Sacrifice, his Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This confession of Jesus Christ as his Savior is a witness of:

(Romans 8:14-16) “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

(Galatians 4:5-6) “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

It is a witness that he is a child of God and an heir of God and joint-heir of Jesus Christ; having obtained the Inheritance (the Blessing of the Holy Spirit) through Christ.

(Galatians 3:14, 18) “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (or through The Faith, Christ Himself) … (18) For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

Yes you can and will know if you have been regenerated and brought to conversion (or birthed) by the witness of the Spirit of Christ that dwells in you. There will be no doubt of God’s Sovereign Work of Grace in your heart. You, like the Ethiopian, will confess, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Or “I believe that Jesus is God in the Flesh.” (See 2 Corinthians 4:6-7).

However, let it be established that believing, or confession, is the Result, not the Requirement of Salvation. The requirement was and is the Atonement of Christ on the Cross; whereby the payment was made for the penalty, punishment, and power of sin; whereby the chosen in Christ have the forgiveness of sins.

(Ephesians 1:4-7) “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

The second mode of confession is being water baptized; which is also indicative of your having been baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). This is discussed in the next devotional.