Start Right: Believer's Baptism

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 8:35-39There are two common misconceptions people have about baptism: that it is either necessary for our salvation, or that it is not important at all.In order to grow as Christians, we cannot minimize what the Bible has emphasized: starting right with believer’s baptism.In Acts 8, God gave his servant, Philip, the specific assignment to witness to a eunuch of great authority.“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:35-39).The word, “baptizo” means, “to immerse.” The biblical method of baptism is by immersion: placing a person under water and bringing him out.Adrian Rogers says, “The method and the meaning are inextricably interwoven; you cannot change the method without destroying the meaning.”Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as our death, burial, and resurrection with Him. There are three reasons to be baptized:It proclaims our commitment to Jesus.It portrays our conversion; it is our way of testifying.It is a command from God that we must obey.While baptism is not necessary for our salvation, it is necessary for our obedience. It shows that we belong to Jesus Christ.Apply it to your lifeBaptism is not a suggestion; it is a command from Scripture. Have you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Have you been baptized?