Believe and Be Baptized

Background Scripture: Acts 8
Lesson Scripture: Acts 8:26–39

Introduction

Believing that Jesus is a good person is the beginning of faith; believing that He is divine and sent of God for man’s redemption is greater faith. Then to believe that He died for my sins, to confess Him as my Savior, and to become His follower shows genuine faith, even as Philip told the eunuch, “If thou believest with all thine heart.” True belief produces gospel fruit—“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). Desiring baptism is a natural result of such faith. May this lesson increase our understanding of true faith and confirm the purpose of water baptism.

Key Verse

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Philip was chosen a deacon but became an evangelist as well. God saw in the eunuch a hungry soul who needed further instruction, so He sent Philip to minister to him. This Ethiopian had traveled some distance to worship at the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He obviously possessed a writing of Isaiah the prophet, but he did not fully understand what he was reading. As Philip joined him and began to teach, the Ethiopian came to faith in Christ Jesus.

Philip’s teaching must have touched on the need for water baptism. Perhaps he told the eunuch about the wonderful happenings at Pentecost and the beginning of the gospel church. Did he tell him about the great baptismal service at that time? At any rate, the Ethiopian desired to be baptized.

With our present-day customs, it is extremely unlikely that one minister or deacon would single-handedly give baptism to someone. However, in the case of the eunuch, the leading of the Spirit was very evident, and the church was young. God wanted the church to be planted in Ethiopia. It is interesting to note that Ethiopian history indicates an ancient Jewish influence. This may have developed through the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon when she inquired of his wisdom and was struck by the contentment of his people. It could well be that the faith and understanding the eunuch gained through his encounter with Philip became the fountainhead of the church in Ethiopia.

God uses man to preach the gospel to the world. When we become believers, we soon share our faith and peace with others, whether it be family, friends, or neighbors.

Practical Truths for Today

We often use the words conversion, new birth, and salvation synonymously. For this miracle of repentance to take place, a person must first become conscious that he is a sinner, lost, and doomed to hell.

John the Baptist came preaching a forthright message, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). As the people listened, they recognized their lost condition and asked, “What shall we do then?” John told those seeking baptism that they needed to bring forth fruits as proof of their repentance, which would also include confessing their sins. When this was evident, they were baptized unto repentance (see Acts 19:3–4). Those who only wanted to do what was popular were rejected; they were not fit for baptism because there was no evidence of repentance.

After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the disciples were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting for the Holy Spirit. When He came with the sound of a mighty, rushing wind and cloven tongues of fire, the disciples were empowered to bear witness of the truth. Under their preaching, great numbers were pricked in their heart and believed. They asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). The answer was, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (v. 38).

Believers can relate to the pricking of the conscience, the fear of being lost, and asking someone, “What shall I do?” Wise parents or counselors will direct a seeking soul to believe in Jesus and to confess his sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Upon this faith and having received forgiveness, the convert receives the Holy Spirit as a witness. He brings peace; fear is gone, and the heart is filled with joy. Simply stated, we are born again and saved. “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

In this experience, the individual enters the kingdom of God. He seeks fellowship with those of like faith and experience. The Scriptures instruct such to be baptized into the church.

The church proves applicants for baptism by listening to their testimony and determining whether they are a new creature in Christ. This is to prevent someone from entering in who is not converted (John 10:1–14). Often those who have witnessed a change in the applicant’s life will testify to the change they have seen. When by the united witness of the church an applicant’s experience is proven to be sound and that he is a child of God, the door is open for baptism. Depending on age or prior experience, doctrinal instruction may be given the applicant prior to baptism.

Our Anabaptist forefathers often proved converts up to 40 days before baptism. During this time, they were taught the faith and their repentance was proven. When they were proved to be genuine and sincere, they were baptized and added to the church.

Baptism is one of the few, visible, physical ordinances of the New Testament church. The water of baptism has no actual cleansing effect. In accepting water baptism, a person makes a public testimony that his sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus. This is explained in 1 Peter 3:21, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Baptism as an ordinance was not practiced by the Jews under the law. However, the law had its symbolic washings and sprinklings, both with water and blood. There is no evidence that any of these required a full immersion in water or blood. Kings and priests who were anointed had oil poured on their heads, whereupon in several cases, the Spirit came upon them as well.

The prophet Joel, in speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit, said, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28). The apostle Peter explained this when he was preaching on the day of Pentecost. That day about 3000 souls were baptized. These were added to the small group of 120 who had been in the upper room. Since there was no river or lake in Jerusalem, it is highly unlikely that these were all immersed in water, as immersionists believe. Some accounts of baptism in Acts indicate baptism in the convenience of a home. The Anabaptists used pouring as the mode of baptism, considering it both practical and biblical. The Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, continues in the tradition of baptism by pouring, believing it to be biblically correct.

As is evident in the book of Acts, the true church believes that baptism and membership into the church are one. This is clearly testified in Martyrs Mirror and other historic writings. Modern Christianity wants to separate Jesus from the church the apostles taught about in the Acts. Nevertheless, the church is a united, undivided body as described in Ephesians 4. Jesus Christ is the Head, and its members are His body. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against this church, meaning it will continue to the end of time.

The applicant for baptism testifies of his faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He also vows to forsake the world, deny himself, take up his cross and follow faithfully the Lord Jesus, and to obey the church. The promise to give and accept reproof and help care for his fellow brothers and sisters is likewise included in the baptismal vows.

Though children grow up in a Christian home, they must be converted to become members of the church. After they are members of the church, it is important to instruct them about the obligations of membership. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19–20). Babes in Christ need to be taught—children by their parents, and older converts by mentors or pastors.

Young Christians and converts to the faith who love the truth will love their spiritual brothers and sisters. As they grow in grace, they find their fellowship with them a blessing, and their love for the church deepens. It is very important to help young teens grow spiritually while they are maturing physically and socially, remembering that sound doctrine is often taught by example.

Questions

1. What did Jesus mean when He said to John the Baptist at His baptism, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15)?
2. Before baptism, should there be more teaching to young converts about the meaning of the baptismal vows?
3. Should doctrinal lessons be given to converts before baptism or after?
4. What are practical ways to feed the “lambs” (John 21:15)?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).