Baptism

What's baptism all about? A brief study, some testimonies, and a recent baptism service.

In Acts chapter 8 it tells of Philip witnessing to a man – a eunuch from Ethiopia - he'd been talking about you know the lamb that was slain - the Messiah of Isaiah 53. And Philip preached unto him Jesus. It says, as they went on their way they came unto certain water and the eunuch said: See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptised?

And Philip said, If thou believe us with all thine heart thou mayest.

And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptised him.

Who is baptism for? It is for people who gladly receive the word. It tells us that in Acts 2:41, they gladly received the word and they were baptised. A woman named Lydia heard the word, and her heart the Lord opened. And she attended unto the things which was spoken of Paul and, Acts 16 15, say: And she was baptised and her household.

So baptism is for people whose heart the Lord has opened. God opens wide the heart of a man and a woman, and His light can enter and bring that hope of salvation to the darkened soul.
It's faith that saves us; it's not the baptism.

The Bible talks about believer’s baptism – we believe – and then we get baptised. This word, baptism, means to dip, to immerse in water. So that's the significance of it. Baptism is the outward manifestation of the inward transformation. It's your testimony of your faith. You're testifying of your faith.

There's nothing magic about the water - the water really is a picture - a symbol - a sign. What’s of real significance is that step of faith; to go down into and come up out of the water like the eunuch did.

Baptism is a public witness of your faith in Christ as the Son of God, crucified, buried and raised from the dead. That's the picture of the going down into, as in burial, then the coming up out of the water, signifying resurrection. It is a witness of new life. Baptism shows your identity with Christ. It signifies who you belong to.

It's called a burial in Colossians 2. It talks about buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead.
These folk that are being baptised today are showing a public testimony of their faith in Christ.
Baptism does not save you. It is a figure - a sign- a type - a picture - of the salvation already received. So it's an outward sign of an inward event - an outward sign of an inward change.

Baptism identifies a person as a disciple of Christ. It celebrates their passing from the old way of life to the new life in Christ. The person who was previously dead in sin is pictured as buried – and is now alive - living eternally; spiritually alive.

Baptism is a symbol of dying with Christ, towards sin and receiving new life in Christ. It pictures the believer raised to eternal life with Christ.

Why should a person be baptised?

It's our Lord's command. He says, go and baptise. It is an act of obedience. Our Lord Himself was baptised, as that perfect example. And so we are to follow His steps.

As Philip began preaching, Acts 8:12, the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, it says they were baptised, both men and women. Baptism is for believers; men who believe and women who believe.

As Philip told the eunuch, when he was asked, what hinders me - what's stopping me from being baptised? He says, if you believe with all your heart then you can be baptised.