THE SIX QUESTIONS (ACTS 8:26-40): RIGHT BUT NOT ESSENTIAL
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Six Questions
a) An Ethiopian, travelling by chariot on a lonely road, was reading Isaiah 53. He wondered who the prophet was speaking about. God answered his question.
b) We find six questions in Acts 8:26-40, and all of them are very important.
i) First, Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
ii) Then the Ethiopian asks, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
iii) He also asks, “Please, will you come up and sit with me in my chariot, and help me understand?”
iv) When Philip is seated, the Ethiopian asks the key question, “Who is the prophet speaking about — is it himself or someone else?”
v) After a while, the Ethiopian asks his fourth question, “Look! Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?”
vi) Philip replies by asking the Ethiopian, “Do you believe with all your heart? If you do, you may be baptized.”
2. Right But Not Essential
a) Many interpret Philip’s response as making baptism optional. They will object that Philip did not say, “You must,” but rather, “You may.” In other words baptism is right and lawful, but it is not essential to grace which they say is not based on law.
b) Clearly Philip was not making the baptism optional but rather he was making it conditional. He was making faith a prerequisite of a proper baptism. Baptism without faith would be wrong.
c) The Ethiopian met the condition of genuine faith by making a genuine confession of Christ. The baptism that followed was therefore a genuine baptism. That's what Philip was talking about.
d) The most important question is “Who is the Prophet Speaking About?” The answer to that question is the message about Jesus Christ and his death on the cross — which includes this: "as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3-4).
The End ...
1. The Six Questionsa) An Ethiopian, travelling by chariot on a lonely road, was reading Isaiah 53. He wondered who the prophet was speaking about. God answered his question.
b) We find six questions in Acts 8:26-40, and all of them are very important.
i) First, Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
ii) Then the Ethiopian asks, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
iii) He also asks, “Please, will you come up and sit with me in my chariot, and help me understand?”
iv) When Philip is seated, the Ethiopian asks the key question, “Who is the prophet speaking about — is it himself or someone else?”
v) After a while, the Ethiopian asks his fourth question, “Look! Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?”
vi) Philip replies by asking the Ethiopian, “Do you believe with all your heart? If you do, you may be baptized.”
2. Right But Not Essential
a) Many interpret Philip’s response as making baptism optional. They will object that Philip did not say, “You must,” but rather, “You may.” In other words baptism is right and lawful, but it is not essential to grace which they say is not based on law.
b) Clearly Philip was not making the baptism optional but rather he was making it conditional. He was making faith a prerequisite of a proper baptism. Baptism without faith would be wrong.
c) The Ethiopian met the condition of genuine faith by making a genuine confession of Christ. The baptism that followed was therefore a genuine baptism. That's what Philip was talking about.
d) The most important question is “Who is the Prophet Speaking About?” The answer to that question is the message about Jesus Christ and his death on the cross — which includes this: "as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death" (Romans 6:3-4).
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