Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 10
August 28, 1958
NUMBER 17, PAGE 13b

Does A Man Have A Right To Change His Religion?

William R. Ward, Sr., Prescott, Arizona

Many have wondered why the Holy Spirit has recorded so many cases of conversion. First, the Holy Spirit has recorded these to show the nature of the mar: being converted; second, to show the need of conversion; third, to show the method of conversion and fourth the effect of conversion. In Acts 8:26-40, we have such a case of conversion. Let us first notice the nature of the man being converted.

The Nature Of The Man

The eunuch was a very competent man; he was a treasurer of Ethiopia, verse 27. His was a prominent position in society. A remarkable attribute was that he did not let his business interfere with his religion, for he was conscientious and willing to travel a thousand miles to worship. Despite these admirable attributes, he was a religious sinner.

The Need Of The Man

Since the eunuch was a religious sinner, his need was a change in religion. The question would be why? Because the Old Law was no longer effective; God's methods of pardon had changed, Heb. 8:10-17, Col. 2:14. Thus, what the eunuch did as a Jew was scriptural, yet was no longer authorized by God. The Old Testament was no longer in effect, that is, he could not seek pardon under the Mosaic Law. The need of the eunuch was Jesus, the Will of Christ as revealed in the New Testament.

The Method Of Conversion

The method involved in the conversion of the eunuch is virtually the same as used in the conversion of other men in New Testament times. First, there necessitated a preacher to reveal God's Will, Acts 8:31. The eunuch had to hear the word, Acts 8:35. He did not want to know what other religions taught or what religions were wrong. Nor, you might say, did he want to understand "all that other people or religions taught first." He was not interested in what others would think. Many persons, when they obey the gospel, wonder what will happen to their parents if they obey the gospel. This the eunuch did not consider. Nor was he concerned with what church to join. He could have considered many difficulties that he would later be confronted with, such as: first, he had no written word of Christ to take with him; second, there were no Christians with whom to associate in his home; third, there was no church with which he could worship; fourth, he could possibly suffer persecution: then it might cost him his job or position. After hearing the Word of Christ, the eunuch believed, Acts 8:37. When such is the case, such difficulties as just mentioned does not affect one. The eunuch without hesitation was baptized, Acts 8:38 & 39. He was not voted into a church, but as in all such occasions he was added to the Lord's Church, Acts 2:41. There was not one method to make him a member of the church and another to make him a Christian, obeying the gospel did both.

The Effect Of Conversion

The effect of this man's conversion was first a change of religion. Second, he had the remission of sins, Acts 2:38. He had a change of life, 2 Cor. 5:17, and his was a happy state in Christ, Acts 8:39.