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Class 5: Risen To Eternal Life

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Part 8: Water baptism: the only condition

(This is part 8 of 9 parts in this class)

 

One of the best examples in the New Testament of a believer's baptism is that of the Ethiopian eunuch whom Philip baptised. After Philip had preached Christ to him from the scriptures in the book of Isaiah the Ethiopian eunuch asked,

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.

Acts 8:36-37 - NKJV

 

This is the only condition you have to fulfill for your water baptism - do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? In the book of Acts each believer was water baptised as soon as he was saved. This is wonderfully brought out in the salvation of Cornelius, his family and close friends.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Acts 10:44-48 - NKJV

 

Cornelius and his household were born again as they heard the word preached! Peter and all those present with him knew they were because immediately they were all filled with the Holy Spirit as was evidenced by their speaking in tongues. Right there and then they were baptised in water.

Believers in the early church were baptised in water the moment they were born again - whether they had already received the complete infilling of the Holy Spirit or not. As we saw in the account of the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism the complete infilling of the Holy Spirit is not a precondition for water baptism.

 

You read of this again in Acts 19:1-7. There Paul came across believers in Ephesus who knew nothing of the Holy Spirit or of the believer's baptism. In their case they were water baptised and then they were filled with the Holy Spirit when Paul laid his hands on them.

It's never too late to be baptised or too early. The only condition for your water baptism is: do you believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?