Note: This is the second in the three-part series, “Born Into The Kingdom.”
Last week I started a series on the birth of a disciple into
the Kingdom. We are called to make
disciples; that’s the Great Commission.
There are three parts – Repentance, Water Baptism and Holy Spirit
Baptism. This post will deal with Water Baptism.
Acts 8:35-40 (NKJV)
8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
Baptism is a Clear Acknowledgement
Here’s this Ethiopian eunuch. He’s a very powerful man. He’s very high up in the queen of Ethiopia’s court and he has been down to
Jerusalem to worship God. He’s not a
follower of Jesus at this point. He’s
been worshipping God in the temple. As
we come across him, he’s reading the Book of Isaiah but not understanding what
Isaiah is saying. This is what he read:
Acts 8:32-33 (NKJV)
8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth."
This is a prophecy a foretelling of the Jesus’
crucifixion. The eunuch doesn’t
understand to whom Isaiah is referring.
While he’s reading this, Philip catches up to him and the text says he
used that scripture to preach Jesus to him. “Jesus is
the man who endured this injustice.
His preaching was effective, and the eunuch began to believe
in Jesus.
Acts 8:37b (NKJV)
8:37 … And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
That’s a bold statement in those times of Christian
persecution. They had just crucified
Jesus and stoned Stephen. Christians had
scattered throughout Judea and Samaria preaching as they went. Since he had been in Jerusalem, no doubt he’s
heard of that, but he believes anyway.
I know a young man who had converted to Christianity from
Islam. I asked him what would happen if
his father found out. His response was,
“I believe, so what can I do?” This is
the very similar to the Ethiopian’s response…He boldly proclaimed it. All of us who are believers in Jesus, can we
be as bold in declaring Jesus? Are we
open to saying “I’m a believer,” or are we hesitant to declare Jesus as the Son
of God?
The Ethiopian took one more step to declare it. He got baptized. This is what baptism is on one level. It’s you saying, “I believe that Jesus is the
Son of God.” It’s a clear
acknowledgement that you believe!
People are really open about some things, aren’t we? We wear T-shirts with our team’s name. Go Monkeys (Taoyuan City’s professional
baseball team.) I’m not ashamed. We
support political candidates. We brag
about our favorite brands – I have an iPhone.
Nike – Swoosh. What about Jesus,
though, the Savior of your soul. The one
who died for you. I understand that
sometimes people come against you.
Think of that young Muslim man, it isn’t easy to become a
Christian when you’re a Muslim, but he got baptized – That’s a bold
statement. The eunuch made a private
statement to Stephen that he believes, but he also wanted to make a public
declaration about it.
Acts 8:36 (NKJV)
8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"
What hinders me from being baptized? What are the requirements? What needs to be done first? Philip answers:
Acts 8:37 (NKJV)
8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
“If you believe…” that’s the only requirement. Then he testified of his faith, “I believe
Jesus is the Son of God!” Often, it
seems like people want to add other requirements. I know people who have believed in Jesus for
more than two years who have resisted baptism.
People think that if they get baptized, that there will be more required
of them; that it will raise them to a different level of Christianity and
commitment, like they’ll have a different job description that’s much
harder. All that baptism really is, is
an outward sign of an inward decision. Asking
a new Christian to go public is about them standing up and being counted,
saying, “I’m not ashamed of Jesus.”
In some ways baptism is a test. Jesus wants to know if you’re serious. If you can’t follow through in this one small
thing, what are you going to do about more difficult things. God sometimes asks for hard things. He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. He asked him to kill the promise and believe that He would deliver on it regardless.
That’s a little harder than being baptized.
Baptism is a public confession of your faith in Jesus.
Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Finally, baptism doesn’t save; Faith in Jesus is what saves you.
Baptism is just you saying, “I have faith in Jesus.” Public confession is the nature of
Baptism. It is something pursued by
someone who believes.
Baptism Follows a Biblical Pattern
The eunuch’s heart was open to God. “Here’s water, what stops me from being
baptized.” How would he know about baptism
unless Philip told him. It must have
been part of his teaching on Jesus. It
should be part of our teaching, too.
So, as a result of Philip’s preaching, the eunuch got saved and made a private statement of faith. He
was also ready to make a public one. The
old man is gone, and a new one takes his place.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV)
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
There is symbolism to baptism as well. We are identifying with Jesus. Being lowered
into the water symbolizes Jesus on the cross.
Being under the water reflects Jesus’ burial, and finally, as you emerge
from the water the symbolism is that of Jesus’ resurrection.
Romans 6:4-5 (NKJV)
6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
That s the symbolism of baptism. There is a distinct pattern in the Bible about
this. Hear the Word of God, repent and
get saved (Believe) and get baptized.
People got baptized in the beginning of the church. All believers in that time were baptized,
often on the same night they got saved.
In fact, the early church was founded on baptism.
The Beginning of the Church
Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Philip Preaching in Samaria
Acts 8:12 (NKJV)
8:12 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.
Cornelius’ Household
Acts 10:47-48 (NKJV)
10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Lydia’s Household in Philippi
Acts 16:15 (NKJV)
16:15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.
Philippian Jailer Later in That Same Chapter
Acts 16:33 (NKJV)
16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
All of these baptisms took place on the day they believed
and received Jesus. There wasn’t a lot
of agonizing over it. They believed and
they got baptized. There’s no reason why
any Christian shouldn’t get baptized.
Baptism opens you up to all that God has for you. Once you go record for Jesus, He goes on
record for you.
Matthew 10:32 (NKJV)
"Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
The Dynamic of Faith
There must be a personal breakthrough in faith, because many
excuses will surface:
1) The excuse of family
and friends – I want them all to be here.
Baptism isn’t about a family photo; it’s about an audience of one.
2) The excuse that, “I
don’t have it all together, yet. That
completely misses the point. Baptism isn’t
about you being spiritually perfect. If
that was the case no one would ever be baptized. Baptism is about a decision you make…to
begin.
3) It’s meant to
reflect the life you want to live, not the life you’ve already lived.
Jesus could have asked us to do anything, and it would have
been His rightful place to do so. All He
asks is that when we put our faith in His salvation that we go public!
We need to have faith.
If Jesus commands me, then I’ll follow, “Just say the word, and I’ll do
what you command, Lord.”
The Bible is clear about baptism. We need to go on record before God and others
that we are with Jesus!
Note: The final post in this series will be on the Holy Spirit Baptism.
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