Lesson2 Believe in what to have eternal life? Believe in history or science? Believe in yourself ? Believe in the leader ? Believe in the church ? Believe in angels ? Believe in the Bible ? Believe in God generally ? Believe in Jesus Christ ?

1. Believe in history or science ? Who knows history from the beginning of the world till now and will live in hell in the future? He was there at creation, Christmas, Easter, … Satan Fortune tellers; Psychics Who claims to know your past and your future but cannot do anything to change their own fate? Who claims life comes from the Big Bang and evolves through billions of years, but knows nothing about the future Big Bang when this universe will pass away to make way for the new heaven and new earth? Charles Darwin; Atheists; Evolution scientists;

2. Believe in yourself? Psychologist Abraham Maslow movies; novels; Who claims that human is generally good, so just follow human instinct? movies; novels; Websites; Voices in the world Who calls people to “follow your heart” ? Bible says: Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

3. Believe in the leader ? Moses Pope Billy Graham Mother Theresa Martin Luther King What are some good leaders in the world ? What are some bad leaders in the world ? Adolf Hitler Bible says: Luke 6:39 “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

4. Believe in the church ? What is the church? Group of non-perfect people or sinners who seek the perfect God and perfect life Is there a perfect church? Can you name 1? Bible says: Romans 3:10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

5. Believe in angels ? Angels are servants of God Why we don’t worship angels? Angels are servants of God Bible says: (Revelation 19:9-10) 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant …

6. Believe in Bible ? Study Bible scriptures deligently to get eternal life? Bible is word of God … like a map leading us to the Way, Truth, Life Bible says: John 5:39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me.

7. Believe in God generally ? Can I just believe in God, Heaven and Hell, and try to be a good person? Let’s review the Bible story of Philip and the Ethiopian in the book of Acts

Acts 8: Philip and the Ethiopian

Philip God directed Philip 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”) Philip

Philip God directed Philip This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Philip

Ethiopian Philip Philip obeyed and ran 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Ethiopian Philip

Scripture reading 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,  so He did not open His mouth. 33 In his humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can speak of His descendants? For His life was taken from the earth.”

Desire to understand  read, ask 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Desire to obey  Baptism 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

Not wasting opportunity  Baptism right away [37]  Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Holy Spirit at work thru Philip 39 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. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. {End}

8. Believe in Jesus Christ? The Ethiopian already worshiped God and practiced the Law. Why the Ethiopian need to believe in Jesus and get baptized and be born again? The Old Covenant was in God’s Law: circumcision The New Covenant is in Jesus’ blood: Baptized by Holy Spirit