The Journey

The journey was long, and there was much time for thought. The official read cafefully. His mind was on the greatest journey of all - life and death. This death, of he read, was unusual. He did not fully understand it. Yet he knew that it was an important death since it was described in The Book. The great phophet Isaiah had written, nearly 800 years ealier, about One as killed as a sacrifice, like an innocent lamb (Isaiah 53). To whom did Isaiah point? Looking up, the official saw a man coming.

This man turned out to be Philip, the very friend he needed. The official asked asked him, " Tell me, please, who is the phophet talking about...? "

Then Philip begin with that very passage of Scripture and told him with the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, " Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized ? " Philip said, " If you believe with all your heart, you may. " The eunuch answered , " I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." And he gave orders to stop the chariots. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into water and baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing( Act 8:35-39)

As chief treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia, the official (eunuch) had many duties. Yet no duty was greater than his duty to God, from Whom all else comes. The official was religious. He had just been in Jerusalem to workship God. He was a Bible reader. These things did not make him proud. They made him eager to learn more . He welcomed a friend who could help him more fully understand God's word. In so doing, he gained great happiness. In baptism he was "buried" and then raised up with Christ to a new and better life ( Romans 6: 3-4; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16). Now, in the best sense, he wass on his way Home because He had found the Way.

Source " The Way to Life" , World Bible School.

Salvation Or Religion- Which Have You ?

Religion is what man does for God : Salvation is what God does for man.
" All we like sheep have astray ; we have turned every one to his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on Him ( Christ ) the inquity of us all" ( Isa. 53:6)

Religion says Something in my hand I bring: salvation says Nothing in my I bring.
"For by grace are you saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves , it is the gift of God : not of works , let any man should boast " ( Eph. 2:8,9)

Religion is trusting in a work we do : Salvation is trusting in a work that has been done.
Jesus said , "This is My blood of the new testament , which is shed for many for the remission of sins " ( Matt.26:28)

Religion depends on our behaving : Salvation depends on our believing.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ , and thou shalt be saved , and thy house " ( Acts 16:31)

Religion depends upon the sufficiency of character : Salvation depends on the Sacrifice of the cross.
"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor.1:18)

Religion is striving for a better attainment :Salvation is secured through a perfect atonement.
"We were not redeemed with corruptible things , as silver and gold ...... but with the precious blood of Christ " ( 1 Peter 1:18,19)

Religion tries to bring us form darkness to light : Salvation does bring us from death unto life.
Jesus said , " He that hearth My word , and believeth on Him that sent Me , hath everlasting life , and shall not come into condemnation ; but is passed from death unto life " ( John 5:25)

Religion consists in attention to rites , forms , ceremonies , precepts , laws and commandments : Salvation consists in the imparting of new life by the receiving of a Person.
"As many as received Him ( Christ ) , to them gave He power become the sons of God , even to them that believe on His Name" ( John 1:12)

-F.M. Eagleson