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BAPTISING THEM
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6
Acts 8:36-40

Colossians 2:10-12

 

“…the circumcision of Christ:

buried with him in baptism…”

 

BAPTISING THEM
 
Romans 10:9 exhorts that if any confess with their mouth Jesus Christ as Lord and believe in their hearts that He is raised from dead, there is salvation. This profession is not an assurance of salvation, as only the Lord knows the heart of men. But by virtue of their claim, they can be baptised.
 
Believe: When the Ethiopian eunuch saw a body of water, he was aware of the necessity to fulfil all righteousness. Philip was quick to make sure that the biblical pattern given was that the person believes first. Salvation is by grace through faith, therefore, a person must believe before baptism. Baptism is not required for a person to be saved but is a sign, by public confession, of one who is truly saved.
 
Be baptised: Baptism is a church sacrament, an outward sign of an inward grace (Augustine). This means the person who submits to baptism is sure that at one point in his life, he has come to believe in Jesus. Philip’s assertion in Acts 8:37 was right.
 
The mode of baptism, whether sprinkling or immersion, divides many churches today, and there is much debate. The emphasis of many is that theirs is the only means allowed in the Bible. The broad definition of the Greek word “baptizo” suggests that the mode of baptism is not what is critical. Immersionists claim Acts 8:38 as the proof of their stand because it says “they went down.” However, they then only immerse the one baptised when the same verse says, “they went down both into the water.” The above phrase, “they went down” (katabaino), simply describes to come and walk down into the water, and not necessarily going under the water. They could have gone down into knee-deep water since Gaza is a desert place and not much water was available in that region. To “come up out of the water” (Acts 8:39, anabaino) is just the exact opposite.
 
Have you believed but have not yet been baptised? Or are you baptised or have reaffirmed your faith but have not truly believed? The former is disobedience, but the latter is more serious for there is no salvation yet.
 
THOUGHT: Am I baptised because I have truly believed?

PRAYER: Father, Thou art worthy of praise for the salvation in Jesus.

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