People who tell us that Acts 8:37 does not belong in the scriptures is pulling our legs. How do I know that is a true statement? I say that because of the context of baptism in this verse. That is the key to our understanding.
Of all the things that happened during the 8 or so years that passed after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and before this incident God chose to include it in the history of his unfolding drama of redemption. One must ask the question of the text and the subject and the reality of the event. Why?
I say the answer to this question is not in the text book of Professor Natush but in the scriptures of God himself. l did say clearly that the New Testament is the testimony of God. He said that in 1 Cor 2: 1. This is not the first mention of baptism in Scripture so we must begin by comparing baptism scriptures to see if the Spirit will enlighten our eyes through our efforts and desire to know.
Paying attention to the fact that baptism is both an OT and a NT doctrine and noting that baptism in the OT was not a command of God but an action in response to earthly events. If I remember right, the event of the flood that destroyed all but eight people on the earth was called a baptism. If I am wrong about this I will accept correction but it will do no damage to my argument.
One should read Exodus chapter 4 to see and understand that Israel is often times in her prophetic scriptures considered collectively as the son of God, his first born son, meaning that Israel is born like all other men, of the flesh. One cannot understand many OT prophetic utterances from God in his poetical books, especially the Psalms and Proverbs unless this light is turned on in his mind. In this character we can see the struggles of a man without the Spirit of God as his strength to please God. I can not see any possible way to understand the Pauline argument of Romans 7 thru Rom 11:12 without understanding the manner of God in his teaching. The son of God after the flesh has a national identity and that is our focus of baptism in the NT as it relates to this national Israel because her born again experience is a collective new birth or it is no birth at all.
This is the reason that one must understand and reason that God is calling Israel to a new birth in the Acts. It is a collective call. There is a prophecy within the call for any Israelite that will not be saved. That prophecy is that those who would not believe should be killed. Has anyone ever read about the atrocities of the Roman on the Jews in 70 AD? God cannot accomplish his purpose for Israel if there is just one who will not be saved. Jesus Christ has just died for the sins of this nation and by extension all the families of the earth. This would fulfill the Abrahamic covenant promise to bless all families of the world through this family. The second birth is made possible because God has made away for Israel to be born again and to have the perfect righteousness that he requires. For the first 7 years of this age the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to no one but Jerusalem and Judah. After that it went to Samaria and then to the gentiles. This is congruent with the four parts of the field and the growth results recorded in Mt 13.
There must be a time on earth when this collective son is born again. There will be but it is not now.
When God led Israel out of Egypt it was a birth of a nation. Every one including proselytes were led out. There was not one left . It was the beginning of months. Then God baptized this nation in the Red Sea This baptism was in connection to Jehovah God. I did not say that, God did.
1 Cor 10: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Israel did not know Jehovah as Father in the OT but Jesus came into the world through Mary and as one of us and began to teach and reveal the Father. When he began his ministry he began to call upon them to repent and to receive Jesus as the promised Messiah and the son of God. This is of utmost importance that they understood who he was because he was the means of the new birth that would clear them of all sins. He is the only way.
This baptism was in connection to the son.
When God then sent the Spirit of Christ from heaven they could now receive the new birth and they were once again called upon to be baptized with this third national baptism in connection wit the third member af the trinity, the Spirt, God is a trinity and believers must understand that, or at least believe it. All thee members of the trinity were eventually rejected by this son.
This is no plan B. Israel's salvation was thewill of God Prophecy says God will reach his end of saving his son in spite of their rebellion these many yearThis call of the African, not a member of this family represents a transition in the book of Acts and history. Up to now with the call of the Jews and the Samaritans to receive the Spirit by being baptized in water symbolizing cleansing from sins, the same is not so in Acts 8 with the Eunuch.
Here is what God said through Peter when asked after his preaching.
Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Here is the answer to the Eunuch when he asked the question:
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.
Baptism was a command to Israel but not to the Eunuch. He was an african and not a part of the nation of Israel. From this point on God would not deal with Israel as a nation but as individuals and we see in chapter 9 the introduction and conversion of the apostle to the nations, Saul, called Paul. God will fulfill his purpose for this age after the cross with gentiles and individual believing Jews which is building his church, fashioning his bride.
Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (people = Israel in context).
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Ye must be born again.
Of all the things that happened during the 8 or so years that passed after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and before this incident God chose to include it in the history of his unfolding drama of redemption. One must ask the question of the text and the subject and the reality of the event. Why?
I say the answer to this question is not in the text book of Professor Natush but in the scriptures of God himself. l did say clearly that the New Testament is the testimony of God. He said that in 1 Cor 2: 1. This is not the first mention of baptism in Scripture so we must begin by comparing baptism scriptures to see if the Spirit will enlighten our eyes through our efforts and desire to know.
Paying attention to the fact that baptism is both an OT and a NT doctrine and noting that baptism in the OT was not a command of God but an action in response to earthly events. If I remember right, the event of the flood that destroyed all but eight people on the earth was called a baptism. If I am wrong about this I will accept correction but it will do no damage to my argument.
One should read Exodus chapter 4 to see and understand that Israel is often times in her prophetic scriptures considered collectively as the son of God, his first born son, meaning that Israel is born like all other men, of the flesh. One cannot understand many OT prophetic utterances from God in his poetical books, especially the Psalms and Proverbs unless this light is turned on in his mind. In this character we can see the struggles of a man without the Spirit of God as his strength to please God. I can not see any possible way to understand the Pauline argument of Romans 7 thru Rom 11:12 without understanding the manner of God in his teaching. The son of God after the flesh has a national identity and that is our focus of baptism in the NT as it relates to this national Israel because her born again experience is a collective new birth or it is no birth at all.
This is the reason that one must understand and reason that God is calling Israel to a new birth in the Acts. It is a collective call. There is a prophecy within the call for any Israelite that will not be saved. That prophecy is that those who would not believe should be killed. Has anyone ever read about the atrocities of the Roman on the Jews in 70 AD? God cannot accomplish his purpose for Israel if there is just one who will not be saved. Jesus Christ has just died for the sins of this nation and by extension all the families of the earth. This would fulfill the Abrahamic covenant promise to bless all families of the world through this family. The second birth is made possible because God has made away for Israel to be born again and to have the perfect righteousness that he requires. For the first 7 years of this age the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to no one but Jerusalem and Judah. After that it went to Samaria and then to the gentiles. This is congruent with the four parts of the field and the growth results recorded in Mt 13.
There must be a time on earth when this collective son is born again. There will be but it is not now.
When God led Israel out of Egypt it was a birth of a nation. Every one including proselytes were led out. There was not one left . It was the beginning of months. Then God baptized this nation in the Red Sea This baptism was in connection to Jehovah God. I did not say that, God did.
1 Cor 10: Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Israel did not know Jehovah as Father in the OT but Jesus came into the world through Mary and as one of us and began to teach and reveal the Father. When he began his ministry he began to call upon them to repent and to receive Jesus as the promised Messiah and the son of God. This is of utmost importance that they understood who he was because he was the means of the new birth that would clear them of all sins. He is the only way.
This baptism was in connection to the son.
When God then sent the Spirit of Christ from heaven they could now receive the new birth and they were once again called upon to be baptized with this third national baptism in connection wit the third member af the trinity, the Spirt, God is a trinity and believers must understand that, or at least believe it. All thee members of the trinity were eventually rejected by this son.
This is no plan B. Israel's salvation was thewill of God Prophecy says God will reach his end of saving his son in spite of their rebellion these many yearThis call of the African, not a member of this family represents a transition in the book of Acts and history. Up to now with the call of the Jews and the Samaritans to receive the Spirit by being baptized in water symbolizing cleansing from sins, the same is not so in Acts 8 with the Eunuch.
Here is what God said through Peter when asked after his preaching.
Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Here is the answer to the Eunuch when he asked the question:
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.
Baptism was a command to Israel but not to the Eunuch. He was an african and not a part of the nation of Israel. From this point on God would not deal with Israel as a nation but as individuals and we see in chapter 9 the introduction and conversion of the apostle to the nations, Saul, called Paul. God will fulfill his purpose for this age after the cross with gentiles and individual believing Jews which is building his church, fashioning his bride.
Acts 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. (people = Israel in context).
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Ye must be born again.
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) between doctrine and useful teaching.