Baptism

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JULY 11, 2021 STUDY NOTES ACTS 8:26-40 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES BAPTISM INTRODUCTION Today we are going to answer some questions concerning baptism What is baptism? Who can be baptized? When are they to be baptized? Philip was involved in a successful ministry in Samaria when he heard from heaven Sometimes you might think you are involved in something important And then you sense that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and saying, “arise and go” Act 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. The messenger was “the angel of the Lord” but the message was from God The Spirit of God speaks to Christians today and says, “Arise and go” The Word of God speaks to Christians today and says, “Arise and go” (Matthew 28:18-20) Act 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, The Ethiopian was a religious man and one that we could call a “God-fearing” man Meaning that he was aware of the presence of God and was seeking to know more about God He knew the right place to go to find out more about God, he went to the Scriptures Act 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. When you open the Bible, you are opening your life unto God When you read the Bible, you are giving God an opportunity to work in your life In that day it was customary to read aloud so Philip heard what he was reading (a good practice) Act 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. It was an angel that first guided Philip, now it is the Holy Spirit that guides him If you sense in your heart that you are being guided to speak to someone about Jesus, just go As Christians we must realize that the opportunities we have-to represent Jesus are not accidental Christians are the people of God upon the earth to fulfill the purposes of God in the life of others Don’t look upon the opportunities to present Jesus to others as coincidental It was not a coincidence that Philip came upon the Ethiopian while he was reading the Bible God put Philip in the right place, before the right person, and at the right time (it often happens) How often do we fail to recognize that God has done the same thing in our life? Act 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? This question reveals to us one of the most important reasons for the writing of the N.T. The O.T. reveals the promise of the coming of the Messiah and why He must come Page 1 of 5 The N.T. reveals the Person and Work of the Messiah who has come and why He came We find in the N.T. that the Messiah is Jesus Christ, and He came that we might know God Jesus came that He might bring us to God, 1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: The Ethiopian wanted to understand, and God sent someone to him to do just that, to understand He was reading from Isaiah about the suffering servant who came to be our Savior He needed help to understand what he already sensed in his heart, that he was a sinner He felt somehow that he was included in those who were being identified in Isaiah 53 That the Scriptures spoke of him when he read, Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Somehow, he sensed that it was all for him, Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. He wanted to know, “Who did that for me?” Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. The Ethiopian had a question, a question that sends forth a message to the Christian of today Act 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The Bible tells us that spiritual truth is spiritually discerned, 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The “natural man” is one who is spiritually lost, unsaved, and has never been born again Therefore the “natural man” does not have the presence of the Holy Spirit within him It is not because of a lack of intellectual abilities that spiritual things cannot be received The wisdom of God does not come through the knowledge of college Man may be mentally intelligent, humanly educated, and well trained by worldly wisdom Yet, he cannot receive the “things of the Spirit of God” The things of God must be shared by those who have received the “things of the Spirit of God” 1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Paul was thankful for the Thessalonians, but it was God who must be thanked It was-actually God who gave the “Word of God” to the Thessalonians and it worked in them The Thessalonians had received the Word of God by hearing it from Paul and his co-workers God sends the saved to “guide” the lost, to lead them to Christ (Matthew 28:18-20) The Holy Spirit leads the Christian to tell the lost about Jesus and salvation Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would convict the lost as they hear about Jesus, Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. The Holy Spirit will do his part, we must do our part, many are waiting on us to do our part They are like the Ethiopian, desiring someone to come and sit with them, to guide them We must hear Jesus, Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. Page 2 of 5 The harvest will come when Christians share the scriptures with those who are lost Scripture is that which must be shared Act 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: The Holy Spirit had prepared the way for Philip to guide the Ethiopian The Ethiopian was reading the classic OT chapter concerning the coming Messiah Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Prophecy that had been fulfilled, Act 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, Mat 26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. Falsely accused by the Sanhedrin, Mat 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Ridiculed by Herod, Luk 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. Soldiers mocked Him, Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. “Humiliation” identifies with the shame and disgrace that Jesus faced as our Savior Which He endured because of us, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. He endured the judgment of the cross with “joy,” which was the judgment of our sins, 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. The Ethiopian had a good question, his question must be answered today for all sinners WHO IS THE LAMB? Act 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? The eunuch’s plea was, “please tell me,” many today are asking the same question There are those who want God in their life but do not understand how they can know God They have heard about salvation and want to be saved but are asking, “How can I be saved?” We must be ready to give them the right answer, 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: JESUS IS THE ANSWER Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 is none other than Jesus of Nazareth We must use scripture to tell the world about Jesus, there is a supernatural power in scripture, Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing Page 3 of 5 even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. That is why Christians must search the scriptures, Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. That is why Christians must share the scriptures, 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: We can be sure that Philip preached a doctrinal presentation of the person and work of Jesus Philip taught the Ethiopian the truth of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ Philip not only told him how to be saved, he explained what to do because he was saved Today when a person is saved, we need to explain to them the steps of a New Life in Christ One of the first steps of obedience to God is baptism, which Philip must have explained Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip had explained to the Ethiopian the meaning of baptism and why he should be baptized Evidently Philip had explained that baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience The literal meaning of “baptized” is to submerge, to dip or immerse in water They came to a water hole that had enough water in it to immerse the Ethiopian The question was, “Why can’t I be baptized?” “What would keep me from being baptized?” Act 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. Philip shared with the Ethiopian a true confession of faith unto salvation, Paul agrees, Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The Ethiopian had made his decision to receive Christ into his life and he experienced salvation, Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. So, we have the answer to who should be baptized? The one who has received Jesus as Savior The Ethiopian could now be baptized Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Baptism is only for those who “are already saved,” it is not the means unto salvation A person is not baptized in order to “be saved,” they are to be baptized because they “are saved” Baptism is a personal testimony of a personal salvation Baptism is the evidence of being a “follower of Jesus Christ” Baptism is a statement of faith, a witness that the believer has received Christ into their life Baptism is a witness of the desire to now live a daily life for Christ Walking from the baptismal waters testifies to a new walk with Christ daily Water baptism is a joy to the life of the Christian, the joy is knowing that you have obeyed God Act 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Why was the Ethiopian rejoicing? He knew that his sins had been forgiven, only Jesus can do that, only Jesus can forgive sins He knew that he had received a new life, he had been “born again” spiritually He had experienced the “New Birth,” Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Page 4 of 5 He had been obedient to God’s command to be baptized, Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: He knew that Jesus was now in his life and Jesus would never leave him, Mat 28:20 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. (And that is an “Amen” to shout about) We are not told what happened to the Ethiopian eunuch after this, but I think I know I think that he hurried home to tell his family and friends about his salvation and baptism Because he wanted them to know the same Jesus that he now knew He wanted his family and friends to be saved just like he had been saved God also wants our family and friends to be saved, we see that in the next verse Have you ever had something exciting happen to you and you couldn’t wait to tell it Is there anything more exciting than knowing that your sins have been forgiven? What is more exciting than knowing that you have received a new life? Today is the day to go everywhere and tell everyone about Jesus Page 5 of 5
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