July 31, 2025 - Acts 8:36,37 - "Believer's Baptism"

Acts 8:36,37

"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? 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."

Why baptism? Isn’t salvation all of grace in the work of the LORD Jesus Christ alone? Yes! Salvation is in, by, and through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the LORD Jesus Christ alone. Those for whom He accomplished salvation are elect of God the Father, before the foundation of the world, whose salvation was accomplished in the fulness of the time, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law," (Galatians 4:4). They are called by the Spirit of God in time to Christ, and according to Christ’s command submit to water baptism (immersion) as a testimony to the completed work of the LORD Jesus on their behalf.

How did the Ethiopian eunuch even know to inquire about water baptism? Was it not that it was taught to him by Philip as the way of confessing the LORD Jesus, whose Spirit had already begun His work of grace in his heart? Before ascending into glory, our LORD commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel baptizing in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). One NAME...one GOD in whom salvation was purposed by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and revealed by the Spirit. The One Name is Jesus in Whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, " (Acts 4:12).

The Greek word for baptize means to ‘immerse’ or ‘dip’. That is because it represents the work of Christ in saving His people by His death, burial, and resurrection. However, just as the Gospel of Christ has been perverted by natural minds, so has water baptism (immersion). Decisional ‘regeneration’ has become the norm in pseudo-Christianity whereby salvation is attributed to making a profession of ‘faith’ by walking an aisle, raising the hand, bowing the head, or repeating a prayer, which is then followed up with a discipleship class, leading up to qualifying for baptism. We find no such practice in the Bible. It simply says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized,” (Acts 2:41). No prequalification or precondition is required in preparation other than the Spirit of God revealing Christ and His finished work in the heart of one of God’s elect. The watery grave of baptism is an apt picture of the death of Christ. Only the believer can truly testify and rejoice in His death because God has given him eyes to see (1 Corinthians 2:7-10).

Who then may be baptized? (Acts 8:37). Do you believe in your heart that Jesus is THE CHRIST, God’s Son, anointed and appointed as the Substitute for His people? Has God made Him Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption to you (I Corinthians 1:30)? If so, then not only may you, but you should want to identify with the LORD Jesus in water immersion.

Here we see the glorious simplicity and power of God’s saving grace in salvation declared. Just as with the Ethiopian eunuch, the inward work of the Spirit had already quickened his heart to believe by the time Philip, led by the LORD, approached him. He was already reading the Scriptures and longing to know the Person of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke—not merely what was spoken. Philip did not call for a work or demand any worthiness, but simply affirmed: “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” That believing heart was not natural, but a gift of God’s grace. The eunuch confessed, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” This was not the result of human will or effort, but the fruit of God’s revelation of Christ in the heart, raising him from spiritual death and blindness, and causing him to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and His finished work alone. Christ is both the Object and the Author of Spirit-revealed faith. By His sovereign and saving grace, the LORD seeks, teaches, and draws His people—causing them to rest and rejoice in the sufficiency of Christ’s accomplished redemption.