The Truth in Print Vol.
31, Issue 2, Mar. 2025
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Believers Added to the Lord
It is common to hear
people ask, “Are you a believer?” But they never ask if you’ve been added to
the Lord. Why? Look below to understand when believers are added to the Lord. After
the brief newspaper article there is more concerning deceit in teaching the
so-called Sinner’s Prayer for salvation.
Believers
Added to the Lord
People ask, “Are you a believer?” To be added
to the Lord necessitates obeying
Christ’s word taught on Pentecost onwards in the New Testament. The disciples
who were members of the church in Antioch were called Christians— many people
there “were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24-26). Prior to this a certain disciple
in Damascus named Ananias converted Saul (Paul) who was persecuting the church
(Act 9:10,18; Acts 22:16). Prior to this Philip converted the Ethiopian eunuch
who having been taught asked if he could be baptized. Upon making the
confession he believed Jesus was the son of God, Philip baptized him (Acts
8:30-39). Before this Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ,
and they received the word and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Act
8:5-16). Prior to this the number of disciples had greatly multiplied in
Jerusalem— many Jewish priests were obedient to the inspired word preached
(Acts 6:7). Prior and soon after the establishment of Christ’s church believers
were increasingly added to the Lord (Acts 5:14). After the establishment of the
church on Pentecost “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being
saved” (Acts 2:47). Peter preached on Pentecost and “those who gladly received
his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to
them” (Acts 2:41). They heard the word and asked what to do (Acts 2:37). God’s
answer states when one is added to the Lord, "Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts
2:38).
Did
the Ethiopian eunuch mentioned above confess his belief in Christ or say the so-called
Sinner’s Prayer?
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Act 8:26 And the
angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south
unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
Act 8:27 And he arose
and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under
Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and
had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Act 8:28 Was
returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Act 8:29 Then the
Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
Act 8:30 And Philip
ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said,
Understandest thou what thou readest?
Act 8:31 And he said,
How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would
come up and sit with him.
Act 8:32 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:
Act 8:33 In his
humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation?
for his life is taken from the earth.
Act 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?
Act 8:35 Then Philip
opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus.
Act 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?
Act 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.
Act 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.
Act 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.
Act 8:40 But Philip
was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he
came to Caesarea.
The duty to confess your
belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God goes with other initial steps
of obedience necessary in order to be added to the Lord. The Ethiopian eunuch
had Christ preached to him (Acts 8:35). We know that baptism was preached
because the eunuch being the student asked if he was a proper candidate for
baptism when they came to a certain water (Acts 8:36). That inference is clear!
To both believe in Christ
and confess Christ is required (Rom 10:9-10). Faith comes by hearing the gospel
(Rom 10:17). The confession is an acknowledgement of belief that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God. The eunuch’s confessing his belief in Christ preceded what
he had been taught concerning the necessity of baptism. His conversion and then
going on his way rejoicing having been saved is nothing like the so-called
Sinner’s Prayer!
Upon hearing Peter’s sermon
on Pentecost when they asked what to do to be saved (Acts 2:37), the answer was
to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). Both requirements
(repent and be baptized) are imperatives, i.e., commands necessary in order to
have the remission of sins. They were not told to say the so-called Sinner’s
Prayer!
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00;
Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
The Valley Church of
Christ
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services –
Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening –
7:00 pm
To learn more call,
visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com