Then Philip said, " If you believe with all your heart, you may. " And he answered and said, " I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. "

1. In every situation of teaching the lost, we must begin where they are.

1. To the Jews - Peter said - Repent and be baptized.

2. The Jailer - Paul said to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."

2. Here the question is one of expressing his faith. If you tell me you believe and want to obey God, then nothing hinders you from being baptized.

3. He made the public confession of his faith. See Romans 10:9-10 and Matthew 10:32-33 for the command to orally confess our faith.

4. NOTE : For years I was troubled by the practice of the preacher saying to someone, "Do you believe?" and they nod their head. Is this "confess with our mouth" as we are commanded? Here is what I do. When someone seeks to be baptized, I ask them, "Tell me what you believe about Jesus." They will put in their own words what they understand and believe about Jesus. I have heard some powerful statements in these confessions.

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Old Testament