2) The Conversion of the Ethiopian (Mike Johnson)
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"heb12_1-2\"](\"https:\/\/thegospelobserver.files.wordpress.com\/2019\/01\/heb12_1-2.jpg?w=676\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n-1-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c..Lest You Become Weary and Discouraged in Your Souls\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
R.J. Evans<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged\u201d <\/em>(Heb. 12:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The devil uses various cunning and deceptive means to lure a child of God back into sin. One of the strongest and most pervasive is discouragement<\/em>, to which many Christians succumb. The Apostle Paul said, \u201cAnd let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart\u201d (Gal. 6:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying to cope with the present, while worrying about the future causes people to become discouraged. Someone once said, \u201cGod gives us strength to bear our present burdens, but He never calculates for us to carry over yesterday\u2019s grief and borrow on tomorrow\u2019s worry.\u201d We must, with God\u2019s help, bear today\u2019s burdens, and let tomorrow take care of itself. Jesus said, \u201cTherefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble\u201d (Matt. 6:34).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allowing others to \u201cget us down\u201d can also be a cause of discouragement. For example, we invite someone to worship services, and with their assurance that they will definitely be there, we excitedly await their coming. But suppose they don\u2019t show up. What do we do? While that is disappointing, we should not allow it to get us to the point of deciding not to ever invite anyone else to services. Disinterest on the part of some is disheartening and sad, but there are others who are just as lost and would love to hear and obey the gospel. We must keep on working until we find those who are desirous of truth and spiritual matters. Yes, men often let us down, but may we ever be mindful of the Lord\u2019s promise: \u201cFor He Himself has said, \u2018I will never leave you nor forsake you\u2019\u201d (Heb. 13:5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes we become discouraged by the small number of Christians who make up the local church where we worship. But rest assured, if we are worshiping God \u201cin spirit and truth\u201d (Jn. 4:24), the Lord will be with us when we meet\u2014 \u201cFor where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them\u201d (Matt. 18:20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes when our sins are rebuked by the preacher or the elders, we get discouraged (as well as offended) and become unfaithful. However, we should appreciate their efforts and their interest in our salvation. Preachers have been given the charge to \u201cPreach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching\u201d (2 Tim. 4:2). Concerning the elders, Christians are told to \u201cObey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you\u201d (Heb. 13:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is true, we all may succumb to discouragement at times. No doubt, Satan uses discouragement to lure Christians back into his domain. But we must resist the devil (Jas. 4:7). We must therefore resist becoming discouraged. We have too much for which to be thankful here in this life, as well as the glorious hope and promise of everlasting life in heaven. The Apostle Paul admonished, \u201cTherefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord\u201d (1 Cor. 15:58). Consider further the inspired words of the Hebrew writer \u201clooking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled\u201d (Heb. 12:15). Again, let us look and labor diligently\u2026\u201clest you become weary and discouraged in your souls\u201d<\/strong><\/em> (Heb. 12:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, Louisiana, October 7, 2018 -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mike Johnson<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conversion case of the eunuch from Ethiopia is one of the more familiar conversion cases in the Bible. We know the facts are accurate because they come from the inspired Word of God (II Tim. 3:16-17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acts 8 is where the conversion is recorded. The account takes a natural division. First, verses 26-29 tell us about the bringing together of the preacher and the sinner. Next, verses 30-35 reveal Philip \u201cpreaching Jesus\u201d to the Ethiopian, and then verses 36-39 tell of the response of the eunuch. Consider some important lessons to be learned from the conversion case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We see the importance of the individual. Philip, according to Acts 8:5-25, had been preaching in the area of Samaria. This was a populated area and was a place where Philip had much success. Yet, an angel of God spoke to Philip and told him to go to the road between Jerusalem and Gaza. There he met the eunuch and preached to him. Thus, Philip was sent from a populated area to preach to one person. This shows us that God views each individual as important. He wants salvation for everyone (II Pet. 3:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A religious man needed to be saved. The eunuch was a religious man. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God (v. 27). Nevertheless, he still needed to hear the truth and obey Christ so that he might be saved. Such was also the case with Cornelius who was a God-fearing man (Acts 10:2, 22) but was an unsaved man (Acts 11:14). It takes more than being a religious person to be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preaching Jesus meant preaching baptism. Verse 35 says that Philip \u201c\u2026preached unto him Jesus.\u201d After hearing \u201cJesus preached,\u201d they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, \u201cSee here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?\u201d This helps us to see that preaching Jesus involves preaching baptism. The Bible tells us that baptism is necessary for salvation (Acts 2:38). Many claim to \u201cpreach Jesus,\u201d and yet they hardly ever mention the subject of baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The proper mode of baptism is seen. The Bible teaches that baptism is a burial\u201d (Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12). The word translated baptism means \u201cimmersion.\u201d The case of the eunuch (Acts 8) is in perfect accord with the rest of the Bible\u2019s teaching that baptism is a burial or immersion. They came \u201cunto a certain water\u201d (v. 36), they \u201cwent down both into the water\u201d (v. 38), and they \u201ccame up out of the water\u201d (v. 39). The language is quite clear if immersion is being described. However, it is difficult to understand if sprinkling or pouring water is under consideration. Sprinkling or pouring water on a person\u2019s head is not baptism at all. The Bible teaches that baptism is immersion or burial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He confessed Christ. The eunuch was not required to confess and memorize various articles of faith or to pledge allegiance to a denomination before his baptism. No, he simply confessed Christ (Rom. 10:10). Many are guilty of adding conditions before baptism that the Lord does not require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was baptized immediately. The eunuch did not have to wait for the church to vote on him before his baptism. He did not have to wait for others to decide to be baptized so that they could have a big baptizing day. He did not have to tell his experience. He simply responded to God\u2019s Word and became a Christian. He was baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4, Gal. 3:27). Have you ever read in the Bible where one had to be \u201cvoted on\u201d before he could be baptized?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch serves as a pattern for us today. Each individual is important to God and worthy of our teaching. Our teaching must center on Christ and baptism cannot be ignored in salvation. Most important, we must follow God\u2019s will explicitly and not take it upon ourselves to change His will for our convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via The Elon Challenger,<\/em> Volume 16, Number 4, December 2018 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 Contents: 1) \u201cLest You Become Weary and Discouraged in Your Souls\u201d (R.J. Evans)2) The Conversion of the Ethiopian (Mike Johnson)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=420"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":421,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420\/revisions\/421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"acts8_36\"](\"https:\/\/thegospelobserver.files.wordpress.com\/2019\/01\/acts8_36.jpg?w=676\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Conversion of the Ethiopian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent<\/strong> of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith<\/strong> in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith<\/strong>, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong> services:\u00a0<\/strong>9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday:\u00a0<\/strong>7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a> (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"