Water Baptism

Text: Acts 8:36-40 IBCSS May 16, 2004

Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar

       Water baptism is a Biblical teaching and a sacred practice of true Christians. Its importance is strongly illustrated through immersion. The death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are always portrayed through this God-pleasing activity.

       A true Christian who truly understands the teaching of baptism will surely look forward to the day he will be baptized and it will be a memorable day for him. As he ponders his baptism he will be led to respect, love and guard his beliefs and practices. His love for the Savior will be significantly manifested through his separated life in Christ.

       On the other side, a professing believer who ignores and avoid Biblical baptism will hinder his spiritual advancement. Worst of all, he could be a person with questionable faith and unbiblical principles of life.

       In Acts 8:36, the Ethiopian eunuch was really excited to be baptized and he really meant it when he said to Philip, “See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

(I) Greatly Desire By True Believers

    Acts 8:36

    -Godly desires excite a believer

    -Godly desires lead a believer to the right path

       He who by faith received the Lord Jesus will never question Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, but will have the desire to proclaim the message of the Gospel through water baptism. People who have struggles when it comes to water baptism are certainly those who don’t even mind to ponder on the importance of baptism.

       Professing believers who are not interested in obeying the call of baptism are also those who are not excited about the Word of God. The Ethiopian eunuch was so interested in the Scriptures that he got saved through the preaching of Philip. His newly found faith in Christ stirred his heart and intensely led him to desire water baptism. Truly, a man who knows the preciousness of his faith in Jesus knows also the great significance of water baptism.

(II) Believer's Step Of Faith And Obedience

Acts 8:37-38 Matthew 28:18-20

-Crucial step

-God-pleasing step

       Apparently, many people profess they are saved, but they refuse to be baptized. Undecided people usually leave their heart and mind hanging in the air, tossed to and fro by the winds of unsound doctrine.