But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)

The Kingdom And The Name

Preaching the gospel in the First Century was a pure, undiluted, and simple message. Men like the historian Luke recorded the events of the early church as it grew from the souls added to the church on Pentecost to churches of the Lord spread throughout the Roman Empire. Men and women went everywhere sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Philip was an evangelist first called as one of the seven to care for the neglected widows in Jerusalem. When Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church, Philip left to spread the gospel in other parts. He went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.

There was much joy in the city of Samaria as many people turned to Christ. Luke records that Philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. When the multitudes heard Philip’s preaching, both men and women were baptized. The gospel contains many messages, but the basics are in Philip’s preaching. He did not come into the city to impress the people with his wisdom or abilities. He performed miracles by the Holy Spirit, casting out unclean spirits and healing the paralyzed and lame. The reason the people obeyed the gospel came from the preaching of the kingdom and the name of Christ. A miracle does not save; preaching saves.

Preaching the kingdom of God is telling the story of Jesus, who said He would build His church. The church and the kingdom are the same. On the day of Pentecost, the Lord added those who were saved to the church. Similarly, those saved were included in the kingdom of God as citizens subject to the king. Jesus taught about His kingdom coming which was fulfilled in Acts 2. The kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of Christ, and the kingdom of God are the same as the unified body of believers. Daniel prophesied that the kingdom of God would come in the days of the Roman Empire. Philip preached a message of fulfillment that all men must be part of the kingdom of God to be saved.

Jesus said He would build His church, and Peter would receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Philip preached the name of Jesus Christ as the head of the church and king reigning over the kingdom of God. The people of Samaria understood the importance of the kingdom. Philip preached only one kingdom because there was only one church. There is no name under heaven whereby a man can be saved. If a person is not in the kingdom of God, he cannot be saved. If the kingdom and the church are the same, a person cannot be saved unless they are added to the church in accordance with the will of God. Many believe the church is unimportant. Philip did not preach that message. He showed the people of Samaria the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus as necessary for salvation.

When the Samaritans heard Philip preach about the kingdom and the name of Jesus, they did what the Lord required. Both men and women were baptized. The greatest false teaching is to deny the necessity of baptism. Preaching the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ are eternally intertwined with the necessity of baptism. The Samaritans understood the teaching and obeyed the word of God. Those today who teach salvation by faith only and deny baptism as essential for salvation lie. Every example of conversion based on the kingdom of God and the name of Christ includes baptism. The only way to become a citizen of the kingdom is through the waters of baptism. To become a member of the church of Christ as found in the Bible, one must enter through the blood of Jesus Christ: baptism.

The kingdom and the name are the basis of preaching seldom heard today. Most churches preach anything but that. They are more content to tickle the ears of the audience with the health and wealth doctrine of prosperity and to put on a good show with lots of loud music and lights. Religious zealots leave feeling good, not realizing they are lost. Philip would preach the same message today. He would not be welcome in most churches. The kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ is the path to eternity. Without them, there is no hope.