Faith during Christ's earthly ministry was based on believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Les Feldick shows from the confessions of Peter, Martha, and the Ethiopian eunuch that the required faith was simply who Jesus was — the Messiah and King of Israel. It did not yet include His death, burial, and resurrection, because that message had not yet been revealed by God and was hidden from the disciples.
Matthew 16:16 — Peter's confession defines the basis of faith during Christ's earthly ministry.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus asked His disciples, "Whom do ye say that I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Similarly, at the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus asked Martha, "Believest thou this?" and she answered, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of the Son of the living God, which should come into the world" (John 11:27). These confessions do not mention Jesus dying for sins, being buried, or rising again. In Luke 18, Jesus plainly told the Twelve that He would be delivered to the Gentiles, scourged, put to death, and rise the third day — but the Scripture says, "they understood none of these things" and that "this saying was hid from them." The Bible thus shows that the basis of faith at that time was that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Israel.
Les Feldick emphasizes that during Christ's earthly ministry, and even into Acts chapters 8 and 9, the faith required of people was to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. He traces this through four key confessions: Peter in Matthew 16, Martha in John 11, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, and Saul of Tarsus after his conversion who preached that Jesus is the Son of God. Les points out that none of these confessions mention death, burial, and resurrection, and he stresses that this was not because they refused to listen, but because God had not yet revealed that aspect of the gospel. He also warns against adding words to the eunuch's confession, noting that Scripture must not be altered by inserting statements like "who died for me and rose from the dead."
Les Feldick consistently presents the confession of faith during Jesus' earthly ministry as "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." He shows this in the confessions of Peter, Martha, and the Ethiopian eunuch. He notes that even Paul, after his conversion, preached that "He is the Son of God" — not Christ crucified, because that had not yet been revealed as the gospel message.
Jesus plainly told the Twelve on the way to Jerusalem that He would be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, scourged, put to death, and rise on the third day. Yet the Scripture records that they understood none of these things. Les Feldick explains that God had not yet seen fit to reveal this truth to them; it was hidden from them. Their lack of understanding was not rebellion but the timing of divine revelation.
The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was a religious man who had been to Jerusalem but was still in his sins. Philip explained from Isaiah 53 that Jesus of Nazareth had done miracles and was the Messiah, though Israel had crucified Him and God had raised Him from the dead. When the eunuch saw water, he asked what hindered him from being baptized. Philip said, "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest." The eunuch's confession was, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." He did not say, "who died for me and rose from the dead." Les Feldick warns against placing that wording into Scripture.
Les Feldick points out the contrast between faith during the earthly ministry and faith after Paul's revelation. In the early chapters of Acts and during Jesus' ministry, the emphasis was on believing in the Name — who Jesus was. But Paul later preached "Christ crucified." Les explains that the crucifixion had not yet been revealed as the gospel message during the earthly ministry; it could not be preached before it had been revealed by God.
Disciples Didn't Understand Jesus' Prediction
Les shows that even after Jesus plainly told the Twelve about His death and resurrection, they understood none of it because God had not yet revealed it.
Confession of the Ethiopian Eunuch
Les demonstrates that the eunuch's confession was simply that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God — not mentioning death or resurrection.
Three Confessions: Peter, Martha, Eunuch
Les compares the identical confessions of Peter, Martha, and the eunuch, showing the basis of faith was who Jesus was, not His death and resurrection.
Saul Preached Jesus as Son of God
Les shows that even Paul preached Jesus as the Son of God after conversion, not Christ crucified, because the full gospel was not yet revealed.
Believing in the Name
Les explains that early faith was to believe in the Name of Jesus Christ, which implied who He was — the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Eunuch's Faith Under the Law
Les notes that the eunuch's confession was his profession of faith and that it was still all under the law.
Warn Against Adding to Scripture
Les warns that we must not put words into the eunuch's mouth by adding 'who died for me and rose from the dead' — that was not his confession.
Philip Didn't Preach Christ Crucified
Les emphasizes that Philip did not preach Christ crucified to the eunuch because it had not yet been revealed as the gospel.
Matthew 16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter's confession is the foundational statement of faith during Christ's earthly ministry.
John 11:27: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Martha's confession mirrors Peter's and shows the same basis of faith.
Luke 18:34: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
The disciples did not comprehend Jesus' prediction of His death and resurrection because it was hidden from them.
Acts 8:37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The eunuch's confession of faith was that Jesus is the Son of God, not mentioning His death and resurrection.
No. The confessions recorded in Scripture during Jesus' earthly ministry and even into Acts 8 do not mention death, burial, and resurrection. People like Peter, Martha, and the Ethiopian eunuch confessed only that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus plainly told them, but Luke 18:34 says they understood none of these things because the saying was hidden from them. Les Feldick explains that God had not yet revealed that truth to them.
The eunuch confessed, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." He did not say he believed Jesus died for his sins and rose again, and Les Feldick warns against adding that to the biblical account.
Watch the Teaching: What Did the Ethiopian Eunuch Actually Believe? Acts 8