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               The ten most important words anyone will ever speak are found in Acts 8:37: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” The genuineness of verse 37 is doubted by many because of its absence from some of the older Greek manuscripts. It was, however, quoted by Irenaeus and Cyprian, both of whom predate the oldest existing manuscripts. If there is no Scripture for the Eunuch’s confession, neither is there Scripture for the question prompting it since they both reside in the same controversial verse.
            The eunuch’s confession consisted of a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and reflected the practice of all 1st century believers (1 Jn. 4:2-3). Paul wrote of the verbal confession saying that “with the mouth confession is made to salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10). The question arises, “Is this a one time confession, or a life-long profession?” Moses Lard wrote, “I conclude, then, that ‘confess’ denotes a single act, the act of publicly and formally acknowledging Christ in words.”
            In 1 Timothy 6:12-13 Paul reminded Timothy of his “good confession”: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate.” This was undoubtedly a confession made prior to his baptism into Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 9:13; Heb. 3:1; 10:23). It was not a humanly devised declaration, such as, “I am a sinner, and I accept Jesus Christ into my heart,” or “I believe that God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven my sins.” It was the declaration of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord because this was the confession that Jesus made before Pilate. Also, Timothy’s profession is twice called “the good confession” (Vss. 12-13).
            There is something interesting to note in the manner of the confessions of both Jesus and the eunuch. The Ethiopian eunuch made the good confession as a statement. He said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). It is assumed that Timothy’s confession was also in the form of a statement. Jesus, however, made his confession by simply answering Pilate’s question in the affirmative. Often, when we immerse a person into Christ today we will ask them, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?” and they will answer in the affirmative. Some doubt whether the simple “yes” amounts to a full and complete confession of Christ. In light of the manner of Jesus’ confession before Pilate we would have to say that it does. Either way of making verbal acknowledgement of Christ before baptism would be scriptural.
            The confession is the declaration of our conviction that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It is not something trivial and should never be taken lightly. We are governed by the convictions we hold. The conviction that Jesus is the Christ is the most important assurance that one can adopt. Its influence in this life is second to none, even extending beyond this life.