Matthew 28:18, 19 CSB – “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:36, 37 CSB – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what should we do?”
Acts 2:38 CSB – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:40, 41 CSB – “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:32, 33 CSB – Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.’
Acts 8:35 CSB – Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.
Acts 8:36 CSB – As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, ‘Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?”
Acts 8:38, 39 CSB – So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing.
Baptism is a Gift from God
1 John 5:3 CSB – For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. And His commands are not a burden.
- Baptism provides a reasonable test of our faith!
“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”
- Baptism provides a much-needed expression of cleansing
1 Peter 3:21 CSB – Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Baptism provides a needed benchmark
Romans 6:1, 2 CSB – What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised form the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in
- Baptism provides us a place to express unity
Ephesians 4:4-6 CSB – There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope at your calling – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
