Ac 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man? 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 8:36 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?

8:37 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.

8:38 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. 8:39 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. 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

I wish to show two things in the above Scripture:

Philip had been told by the Holy Ghost to join himself to the chariot where this man was riding. He had begun at the verse in Isaiah where the man was reading about the crucifixion of Christ.

Philip had preached to this man -- JESUS.

Now when Philip finished his message, the man said, Here is WATER. What hinders me from being BAPTIZED?

(See this was many days and months, maybe years since John Baptized and lived.)

Yet this man, Philip had told this man something about the NEED to be baptized, ELSE how did the man know? Why did he ask to be baptized if Philip had NOT preached baptism to him?

It clearly shows that BOTH Philip and the eunuch went down into much water and that Philip baptized this man in WATER. Then BOTH of the men came up OUT OF WATER.

No sprinkling; no throwing water on his head; no spiritual water; real water; real baptism.

But here, for the Jesus-is -God folks Philip had a CONDITION by which the man could be baptized. See the man had said here is WATER what hinders ME from being baptized. Then Philip had said IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU MAY BE BAPTIZED.

Now watch this confession people. Be honest with the Word of God. What did this man confess that he believed? Remember he had received his faith and knowledge from the preaching of Philip. So he is believing what Philip had preached. So did Philip preach to this man that Jesus is God? -- DID HE?

Check the man's answer out right here: verse 37-- He answered and said, I believe that JESUS CHRIST IS -what? -- look at it--

the SON--OF--GOD.

Now this man did NOT say --I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD. Now did he?

Where did he confess to believing that Jesus is God? Where is it recorded? Is this KJV Truly the Word of God?

Did not he believe what Philip had preached? Sure he did.

Did Philip accept this man's confession as proving grounds making him worthy to be baptized? Sure he did. He took him right down into the water as soon as he confessed I believe that Jesus is the SON OF GOD. And baptized him.

Did God accept this act? Of course he did. V39-and he went on his way REJOICING.

Joy comes only from God.

Now I think this proves to any KJV Believing folks that water baptism is absolutely NECESSARY to salvation. And that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. --Not God.

Did Philip preach the true Apostolic message, which Peter preached? Sure He did. He had preached to this man that Jesus Christ is the SON OF GOD. (Present tense, after the resurrection and ascension to heaven, Jesus is STILL the Son OF God.)

We have NO record where any of them ever preached or confessed to believe that Jesus is God.

You who think this is taught in the Holy Word, go and find me one verse where they ever preached or confessed to believe that Jesus is God. We have only one record where anyone ever even confessed that Jesus is OUR GOD.

Of course he is our God.. but this does not mean he IS GOD.

By: Jo Smith - 7/12/04