The Bible describes Christ in many different ways. Dozens of times in 19 books from Genesis to Revelation God uses imagery related to sheep and shepherding to explain his relationship with his people. We have already seen Jesus as the Chief Shepherd and we will see more of these images later, but in John 10 almost the entire chapter revolves around sheep. 

In John 10 Jesus describes a sheep fold and how it is protected. Of course there is a wall or fence around most of it with only one entrance. At the entrance there is a gate or door that can be opened and closed for the sheep to go in and out. Jesus describes himself as that door or gate. There is also a gatekeeper that seems to simply be mentioned to complete the story. 

Jesus explains that the sheep and shepherd only go in and out at the door and anyone who is trying to get in some other way is a thief. Since Jesus is the door anyone who wants to be one of God’s sheep has to come in through him. In his day there were many who didn’t want to come through him and many false shepherds were trying to steal or destroy God’s sheep. 

We need to remain in the sheepfold where Jesus is our door and he can protect us from those who would do us harm. In verse 9 he says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Salvation is only available by going through the one door, Jesus Christ. There are many who want to try to be saved in other ways, but Jesus makes it clear that salvation is exclusive to him and none others can offer it. He is not just a door, he is THE door. There is no other.

Have you come to God and been saved by going through Jesus Christ? Are you remaining in God’s fold protected by Jesus, the door?

jp

If there is one thing we all associate with Jesus it is salvation. We hear about how Jesus died to save us quite regularly. We know we can’t save ourselves and no one else can save us. Salvation has to come from Jesus. He said that was his purpose on earth,“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”(Luke 19:10). 

So, there is certainly no issue with Jesus bringing us eternal salvation, but Hebrews 5:9 says, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”. What does it mean to be an author? We usually think of an author as one who writes a book or a story and Jesus never wrote anything as far as we know, so what does it mean?

The word translated ‘author’ here is only used this one time and it literally means the “causer”, the one who causes something to happen. Some translate it a ‘Source of eternal salvation”. Without a doubt Jesus caused eternal salvation by the action he took in coming and dying on our behalf. Certainly Jesus is the Source of our eternal salvation just as an author is the source of the book or story that he then writes. And Jesus has a book of life where he has written the rest of this story, the names of those who obey him and receive the eternal life that he authored.

If you have ever been in trouble of any kind you know that being saved from it is wonderful. Even a temporary salvation is a great thing. How much more then when we have an eternal salvation offered to us? Have you taken advantage of the eternal salvation Jesus authored for you? Will you let him write your name in his book with others who have obeyed him? Are you living each day like someone who has eternal salvation and eternal life? 1 John 5:13 tells we can know that we “have eternal life”, but are we living up to it? 

​jp

ONE MORE SOUL IN HEAVEN AND ONE LESS SOUL IN HELL.
By Larry Pasley (January 2013)

When God loved us enough and we loved him back,
It meant one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (John 3:16)

When we love someone enough it can also mean,
One more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (John 15:12-13)

When we love someone enough to pray for them,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (I John 5:15-17)

When we love someone enough to weep over their lost condition,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (Luke 19:41)

When we love someone enough to take the time to teach them,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (James 5:19-20)

When we love someone enough to help them focus on the spiritual not the material,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (I Timothy 6:6-10)

When we love someone enough to warn them of their doom,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (Galatians 6:1)

When we love someone enough to not be willing for them to perish,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (2 Peter 3:9)

When we love someone enough to snatch them from the fire,
It can mean one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell. (Jude 22-23)

Are you content to leave that soul, you know, doomed to hell?
Or do you love them enough to want, one more soul in heaven and one less soul in hell? 
(Mark 16:15-16) - LP

The Advantage To Growing Up In A Christian Home
Part 2

In our last issue we discussed the advantage of growing up in a Christian home and how we might question those who became Christians later in life getting the same reward in heaven as we do. In this issue we want to look at detail the advantage of long lives of service to God.
Those who have lived faithful lives throughout most of their adult years have some definite advantages over those who didn’t.
The one who has lived a life of sin has many regrets in their lives. The Apostle Paul asked the Romans, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” (Romans 6:21) Sin takes a toll on a person’s life in many ways. Sin has ruined people’s physical health that can never be regained. Sin has destroyed people’s mind and emotions that can never be restored. Sin has taken away the livelihood of many. But, perhaps the way sins affect us most drastically is in our relationships. Not only does sin destroy our relationship with God, (Isaiah 59:2) but it also destroys our relationships with those we love on this earth.
One of the saddest things I have faced in this life is to hear people grieve over the loss of their children to Satan. Their children grew up in their home before they became Christians and were not brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) When parents become Christians later in life, after their children have left home, they deeply regret the fact that their children are not Christians and the parents often find it very difficult to reach them for Christ.
Another thing I hear often is grief over a marriage relationship which has ended in divorce. Many people divorce because they were not Christians and did not build their relationship on biblical principles. Most of the time it is too late for them to mend those broken relationships after they have become a Christian.
Alcohol, adultery, fornication, anger, jealousy, greed and any other sin can bring many regrets and sorrows into the lives of those who are not living by God’s principles. Even though the sins can be forgiven, the scars and results of the sins can affect us and those we love all of our lives and even into eternity.
So, if you have been a Christian from an early age, be thankful that you have escaped the snares of the devil that produce so much pain and sorrow in the lives of others. Also, be thankful that those who have lived a life without God, can be forgiven and become His children and have that home in heaven also.
If you are not a Christian, don’t wait any longer. The longer you wait, the more sorrow, pain and heartache you may have because of you delay in obedience to God. - LP

CALVINISM - THE DOCTRINES AND TEACHINGS OF JOHN CALVIN OR HIS FOLLOWERS, EMPHASIZING PREDESTINATION, THE IRRESISTABILITY OF GRACE, AND THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF APOSTASY
 I could go for hours on this one, in fact, I preached for 5 weeks on it. If you would like to have more extensive information on it than what I give here, and many of you might, go to the website www.bible.ca\ It may be a bit slow, be patient. I don’t advocate everything they have there, but what they have on Calvinism is very good.

First, Calvinism teaches that we are born sinful. If so then either Jesus was born sinful, or he was not tempted in all ways like we are, or he was not fully human.

Second, it teaches that God picked certain individuals to be saved and certain ones to be lost. In his picking there is nothing that anyone can do to be moved from one list to the other, in fact even if someone who had been chosen to go to heaven began worshiping the devil God would never change his mind. Why did Jesus preach about Hell and tell people to believe and repent if He knew all along that they couldn’t. Why did Jesus tell the Laodiceans that he was going to spew them out if they couldn’t be lost. Why was Paul concerned about his lifestyle, (1 Cor 9:27) “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” If indeed he could not be lost.

Third, it teaches that Christ did not die for everyone, but for a pre-approved few, the elect. Now we realize of course that Christ’s blood does not cover everyone’s sin. There are millions and billions that die without Christ. But the question is are they outside the umbrella of his redeeming blood because he did not die to save them, or because they would not accept his redemption?

This brings us to the final quandary, is God a liar? When God said that he is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” was he lying, unable to come up with a plan whereby all could be saved, or is He desiring that very thing, but unwilling because of His nature to force his human creation to do what they do not want to do. There are many similar problems that Calvinism brings to the table. Why did God create Adam and Eve and then allow them to sin if this sin resulted in every child from then on being born in sin? What about aborted babies? Are they going to Hell? How can God condemn sin if we don’t have any choice in the matter and still be just. Why should we preach the gospel to others if only God knows who is on His list of people to be saved, and will force them to obey Him with His irresistible grace? If I can’t fall from grace what is the point of living righteously? Paul’s opponents had a point why not sin that grace may abound? Paul knew better, he knew there was a point where one could leave the shadow of grace. We know that we can never work our way into heaven, but don’t fall for the deception that we can’t work our way out of heaven.

The Calvinist says our way of thinking takes away our security as a believer. I say it is just the opposite. I know that nothing out there can affect my relationship with God, and I know that if I properly respond to God’s grace and through faith strive to obey his commands, then even though I am unable to do so perfectly, like Abraham I will be credited with righteousness. Following the logic of his own teaching, the Calvinist may live an entire life teaching his doctrine and converting others to it, he may even do a better job of living a holy and pure life than I do, but if God decided before the foundation of the world to put his name on the Hell list he has no hope. John said that he wrote so that we could know we have salvation. Now since John didn’t write a list of the names of people going to heaven, we must infer that there is another way to know. How? (Rom 8:16) “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” The Spirit bears witness through the word, and our spirit bears witness through our actions and words and thoughts. If the two are in agreement then we are the children of God, if they disagree, be assured that it isn’t God’s spirit that is wrong.

BROMISM OR BROMINISM - SKIN ERUPTIONS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE USE OF BROMIDES
What are bromides? The dictionary gives basically 3 definitions for ’bromide’, 1) a salt consisting of two elements one of which is bromine (a dark red, fuming, toxic liquid), 2) a platitude, and 3) a boring person. As you can see any of those could be problematic for the church.

1)When Jesus said we should be the salt of the world I don’t think he was referring to this kind of salt. Salt is very important and we need it in our physical bodies as well as our spiritual bodies, but we also know that many health problems are aggravated or even caused by an excess of salt. In our spiritual lives we need to strive for the proper proportions. If we lose our flavor as Jesus said we won’t be ‘worth our salt.’ We will need to be thrown out. On the other hand, if we have too much salt; as the sons of thunder did when they wanted to call down fire from Heaven to consume those who rejected Jesus, we will do damage to the cause of Christ. Some ‘Christians’ were blunt to the point that instead of showing an individual what the scriptures said in a loving way, and allowing that individual to realize his lost state, they would tell the person something to this effect, “You are going to hell.” Not only were the words harsh, but the impression left behind was, ”You are going to hell to suffer for eternity, and I am glad of it.” Anytime we leave that kind of an impression with someone we have done more harm than good.

I often think back to the homosexual man who was killed out in Wyoming. At his funeral there were people claiming to be Christians with signs and banners proclaiming the judgement of God against homosexuals, and explaining how they would spend eternity suffering. I did not see a single one that told the people attending that funeral of God’s love and desire for all of us to come to him, or of the fact that if they will repent He will freely forgive. It is no wonder many in the sin homosexuality don’t want to become Christians and change if they think we all act like those individuals.

2) On the other hand we don’t need to be spouting meaningless or overused platitudes. If you have just experienced some tragedy in your life, even if I went through a similar tragedy, I don’t know how you feel. Telling me that all things work for good, which I already know, doesn’t help much when I am in the depths of despair. There are so many things that we say that just don’t help. Sometimes it’s best to just be there and be quiet. Job was comforted by the presence of his friends until they started talking. (Job 2:13) “So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”

3) Many in the world think that the Christian life is boring. Some of them think this way because we don’t get drunk, sleep around, do drugs, or any other of the things that sinful people seem to think is exciting. If that is the reason then let them keep thinking that way, I will take the boring path. There are some though that have gotten the impression from us that a Christian has to be miserable, or at least somber, all the time. We have given that impression at times. If we walk around looking like we were baptized in vinegar and weaned on a pickle what do we expect. It isn’t very pleasant to be around someone who never smiles or laughs, never plays a game, and never whistles or hums a tune or sings a cheery song.

There is an old story that you may have heard. Jesus was showing one of the angels around the earth. He pointed out all the places He had been when He was here; the temple, the garden, the cross, the tomb, etc. Then Jesus took the angel to an assembly of the church and explained to the angel that these were the people who had accepted his love and returned it in their obedience. Jesus told the angel how these people were on their way to Heaven and could spend an eternity there with the other angels, and with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The angel was excited about this even though he had known it for 2000 years, and he looked at the people gathered together singing and praying and studying the Bible. After seeing the looks of boredom, solemness, sadness, and seriousness on their faces the angel turned to Jesus and asked, “Do you want me to tell them or are you going to?” Let’s be sure to live our lives in such a way that others know that we know that Christianity is a better way to live in this world and in the next.

BRAHMANISM - RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF THE HINDUS CHARACTERIZED BY PANTHEISM
Brahmanism like Christianity teaches that there is only one true God. Unlike Christianity it teaches that God IS the universe, the earth, the plants, the animals, and even us. That’s right, they don’t believe God created it all, they believe God is all. Their god is called Brahman, which is the name Americans have given to the cattle from India that is sacred to them, and a belief in Brahman is part of Hinduism (to be covered in the H’s).

The Brahmans hold the belief of animism - that all things have a spirit, and they consider many things sacred as a result. When you couple this with the belief that we come back in another animal form if we have not lived well enough, reincarnation, you have people who can’t help but be vegetarians for fear not only that they are eating God, but also that they might be eating grandma if they eat any animals.

There are a multitude of problems with this idea, but let us focus on just two. If this Brahman is God and we are all part of him, why don’t most of us know it? And, secondly, If we and all the universe are all God, how can there be evil, and more specifically, how can we be or do evil? As far as I know Brahmanism has never answered these two problems. The Brahmans, continue in their pursuit of living well enough that they will become literally part of Brahman and not have to come back to this life again. I guess the old saying, ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’ would certainly be their motto. Unfortunately, we only get one life in which to obey God. It seems that even though they say we are all supposed to be part of God, we must have some sort of amnesia, and can’t remember who we are. I don’t know how part of an all-knowing God could not know something that basic, but that is the logic behind Brahmanism. Secondly, the evil; most of the adherents to Brahmanism or its like have historically denied the existence of evil. Well, that’s easy enough, if you can’t explain it just deny it. As Christians, we understand that God often works so that even the evil is overcome with a good result, i.e. Jesus’ crucifixion, or trials that strengthen us. God and the Bible, however, never deny the existence of evil. How could anyone who has even heard of the planet earth, much less someone who lives here be so suckered in as to believe that there is no evil? It is clear to anyone who will examine the evidence that there is evil here. So, if the entire universe is God, or Brahman, and there is evil in the universe, then, Brahman must be at least partially evil. Ouch! I for one am glad that I am neither part of a god, nor do I serve a god that is evil. Let us praise the Creator, not the created. (Rom 1:22-25) “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, {23} And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. {24} Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: {25} Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

BASAL METABOLISM - THE ENERGY TURNOVER OF THE BODY IN A BASAL STATE (BASAL INDICATES THE STANDARD AT A LOW LEVEL OF ACTIVITY)
If you live anywhere that has been suffering this miserable heat this summer, you have probably been trying to experience basal metabolism as much as possible. When it is 105 degrees with a heat index close to 120 we try to avoid any activity that isn’t absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, this attitude is present in our spiritual lives and the spiritual lives of other Christians far too often. Many of the ‘saints’ would more accurately be termed ‘ain’ts’. They just ‘ain’t gonna do nothing I don’t have to’.

There is an old cartoon that I have seen in church bulletins that illustrates this attitude. In the cartoon, there is a long line of people standing at the gates to heaven and one fellow is running toward the end of the line shouting, “He isn’t counting Wednesday night attendance.” Everyone in line shouts, “hooray”. This describes perfectly the attitude many have. They are doing only what they think they ‘must’ to get into heaven. Let’s test ourselves. Would you come to Wed. Night Bible study if you knew that you didn’t have to in order to be saved? What if you found out that instrumental music wouldn’t necessarily send you to Hell? What if it was discovered that you really only needed to be assembled with the saints once on Sunday, would you come back Sunday Night? What about singing, or praying, or giving? Would you continue to be active in these things if you found out that God would let you slide into Heaven without them?

Children will often ask the question, “Do I have to?” whenever there is something unpleasant like eating broccoli. It is disheartening to realize that many of those for whom Christ gave his life feel the same way about pleasing him. We are asking the wrong questions. There is nothing in life that we ‘have to’ do. We have free will and if we don’t want to there may be certain consequences, but we don’t have to do it. In Christianity, the question we should be asking is “can I?” not “must I”. The basal metabolism attitude and resulting behavior is more likely to keep most out of heaven than any other sin. If we have the proper attitude, God will freely forgive us when we fall and then get up to try again. Sadly, many are still thinking like the Pharisees did about completing a checklist instead of thinking in terms of giving their life to Christ. The Pharisees were condemned not because they didn’t believe the right things or even because of horrible sins in their lives, but Jesus condemned them because they had the detailed minutia figured out and had forgotten about the matters of greatest importance. Like many today they would be asking exactly how many Wednesday nights they could miss and still be okay and then miss them. (Luke 11:42) ”But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

In college there were two kinds of classes that I took. The first was the one that I “had to have to graduate”. The other was one that I wanted to take. You may remember similar experiences in school. The Gotta Have It class was missed as much as possible without failure, the work was done adequately, tardiness or last minute arrival was the norm, and interest was minimal. The Chosen class, quite to the contrary, was never missed, always arrived at early, extremely interesting, and aced in the grades department. I couldn’t understand why some people would skip these incredible classes. Of course, the reason was that to them it wasn’t a chosen class it was a have to class. The point, however, is that in actuality there was no difference in the classes. They were both necessary for graduation. The only difference was in my attitude toward them. The same is true in religion, one command of God is just as necessary as another, but we have different attitudes about different aspects of Christianity. I may have never had a desire to kill anyone, so not killing is easy. On the other hand, I may like to sleep in on Sunday morning, thus making Sunday school attendance undesirable. When we correct our attitude our eagerness and energy output will be increased and we won’t be suffering along at a basal metabolism rate. (Rev 3:15-16) “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. {16} So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

ARMINIANISM - BELIEF THAT CHRIST DIED FOR ALL

Many of you are probably thinking ‘What’s wrong with this it looks like  what I believe?’. The basic premise here is true, Christ did die for all.  The problem here really lies in extremes. While one extreme says that Christ  died only for the elect (Calvinism, which will be covered in the C’s), the  other teaches that Christ not only died for everyone, but also that everyone  is forgiven of their sins as a result. As with most cases of extremes the  truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The Bible teaches clearly that Christ came to die for everyone, but his  death only covers the sins of those who believe and obey, not all of those  for whom He died. Here are just a few of the many verses in scripture that  teach that though Christ died for all not all will receive the benefit of  the death. I have emphasized pertinent sections with all capital letters.

1) (1 Tim 2:3-4) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our  Saviour; {4} WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the  knowledge of the truth.
2) (Titus 2:11-12) For the GRACE OF GOD that bringeth salvation hath  APPEARED TO ALL MEN, {12} TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly  lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present  world;
3) (Acts 17:30) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now  COMMANDETH ALL MEN every where to REPENT: {31} Because he hath appointed a  day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom  he hath ordained; whereof he hath GIVEN ASSURANCE UNTO ALL MEN, in that he  hath raised him from the dead.
4) (Mark 16:15-16) And he said unto them, Go ye into ALL THE WORLD, and  PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. {16} He that BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED  SHALL BE SAVED; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
5) (1 Tim 4:10) For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because  we trust in the living God, who is the SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN, SPECIALLY OF  THOSE THAT BELIEVE.
6) (Mat 7:13-14) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and  broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in  thereat: {14} Because STRAIT IS THE GATE, and narrow is the way, which  leadeth unto life, and FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.
7) (Mat 7:21) NOT EVERY ONE that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, SHALL ENTER  INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is  in heaven.
8) (Heb 9:28) So Christ was once OFFERED TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; and unto  them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto  salvation.
9) (Heb 10:14) For by one offering he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER THEM THAT ARE  SANCTIFIED.

From These combined passages we learn (1) God wants all men to be saved,  (2) His grace appeared to all men, (3) His grace only taught ‘us’ Paul says  meaning Christians, (4) God commands all men to repent, thus they are not  already saved, (5) God has given proof to everyone of his promise of a  resurrection in Christ’s resurrection, (6) Jesus told the apostles to preach  to every creature; it would have been a waste of time if either they were  already saved or they could not be saved, (7) Only the ones who believe and  are baptized will be saved, (8) God is the savior of all; there is no other;  men must believe, (9) There will be few saved, (10) Not all will even say  ’Lord, Lord’, but even of those who do not everyone will be saved; just  those who do God’s will, (11) Christ will only actually bear the sins of  many, not all, (12) By his offering he perfected those who are sanctified,  not everyone. So we see that while Christ died in order to present God’s  grace to all only those who accept by obedient faith will receive the  promise. Have you received that promise? Have you told others about it? Keep  the faith, but don’t keep it to yourself.

What an odd question to ask. Acts chapter 8 is one of the richest chapters in the entire Bible. It contains so much teaching on so many topics that I could probably write an article a week for a year just on this chapter. But for now let’s just look at this question asked by the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:36 reads, "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?" The answer Philip gives is in the next verse, but let’s look at a few other things before we get to that.

First, let’s consider the kind of response this question might get today. Some preachers would simply say, “There is no point in being baptized.” Others would say, “You don’t want to be baptized in water, but in the Holy Ghost. Still others would say, “You can, but you have to wait for baptizing Sunday.” There might even be some who would say, “If you want to get baptized you need to go to another church, we don’t allow your kind in our church.” Then, there would be some who would say, “We will have to wait for the church to vote on you.” You can probably imagine some other responses this question would get from our mixed up religious world today. None of these answers were the ones Philip gave. We’ll get to it in a minute.

Second, let’s look back to see what caused the eunuch to ask such an interesting question. How did he know what baptism was? How did he know water was necessary? Wasn’t the water bottle he had for drinking on a long journey enough? Why would he make mention of another water source? If we look back a few verses and use some reasoning, we can answer these questions. 

In Acts 8:32-35 we read, "The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: {33} In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. {34} And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? {35} Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." Notice that Philip preached ‘Jesus’. We don’t know how long he preached, but it was long enough to tell the eunuch all about who Jesus was, how He had lived, what He had taught, how and why He had died, how He rose again, what instructions He left for His disciples, and how He had returned to Heaven. That could take a good while. But, why did the eunuch respond to all of this teaching about Jesus by asking about being baptized? There is only one logical explanation that fits with the text. Somewhere in Philip’s sermon about Jesus baptism had been taught, and with enough emphasis that the eunuch felt compelled to have this done to him. He also understood that the baptism he needed was not the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but baptism in water. Holy Spirit baptism was special and Philip may well have taught the eunuch about it, certainly he would have taught about the Spirit beginning with the virgin conception and birth; but which one did the eunuch understand was for him? Water baptism.

As for the amount of water and the necessity of water, that also must have been included given the response the eunuch has and the action in verses 37-38. The Greek word for baptize (baptizo) literally means “to make fully wet, to cover in a liquid, or to dip” according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary in the back of the Strong’s Concordance. Given this understanding of the word it no longer seems surprising that the eunuch knew he needed water and a large amount of it. Oh, if only translators had accurately translated how much less confusion there could be today.

Now let’s look at Philip’s answer. The question implies that the eunuch is not sure if he meets all of the qualifications. ‘Hinder’ indicates there may be something holding him back. Is there something else he must do first: some fee to pay, some committee to go before, or some religious experience? No, Philip simply says, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest" (verse 37). He already knew what he had to believe from the preaching he had just heard. The eunuch did, so, they got out and went down into the water and Philip baptized him (verse 38). They did it right then and there with no delay. The eunuch went home rejoicing (verse 39). And why shouldn’t he? He had found the truth and obeyed what he had been taught: he was saved. Sounds just like what Jesus said in Mark 16:16,  "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The eunuch believed and was baptized, and I hope to meet him in Heaven.