The Joy of Salvation and Baptism – Acts 8:36-39

Message: The Joy of Salvation and  Baptism – Acts 8:36-39 by Pastor John Khng
There are Three Lessons we can learn from the Baptism of the Eunuch.
 
I. Baptism is for Believers only – Acts 8:36,37.
 Salvation is by Grace through Faith – Eph. 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9
Baptism does not save us. It is not a work that we do to earn salvation.
Baptism is obedience to God’s command and comes after salvation.
I am saved therefore I want to get baptized not I want to get baptized in order to get saved.
Question: Is there a age limit for baptism?
The Bible talks only about believer’s baptism so the age limit is when a child is able to exercise faith in Christ and testify that he or she has accepted Christ as their Saviour.
Reason for not baptizing babies is because they are not able to exercise faith.
 
II. Baptism should follow immediately after Salvation – Acts 8:38
How long must we wait after salvation to get baptized?
As soon as you know you are saved, you should be baptized.
Those who are not sure, could make sure of their salvation – good to face the command early and be an obedient Christian rather than live in uncertainty about one’s own salvation. 
 
III. Baptism is a Joyful Proclamation of our Faith in Christ – Acts 8:39
          - A picture of what takes place in our heart.
          - A public testimony of our faith in Christ
Baptism is by immersion – Acts 8:38-39
          “they went down both into the water” - Acts 8:38
          “when they were come up out of the water” - Acts 8:39
Baptism can be held in any place where there is much water – Acts 8:36
John 3:23, “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.”
Baptism shows forth our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:​" Romans 6:4-5

​Baptism of Wang Ming Dao
ln the afternoon of the 5th we five took our baggage and left the school. We stayed overnight at an inn. There again arose thoughts of doubt and fear in my heart, and my mind was vacillating and restless; I suffered acutely
The next day we set out to find a place with water for the baptism. lt was the period of 'Little Cold' and a few days earlier it had snowed for two whole days. The ground everywhere was covered with a blanket of pure white snow, and the river was frozen over with thick ice. We went along the city moat, towards the south, looking for a suitable place. We came to a bridge over the river and underneath the bridge was a sluice. The water from above the sluice cascaded down like a small waterfall. Because of the constant movement at this point the water could not solidify into ice and what we saw was like a small pool. There we stopped. After we had prayed, standing on the snow, Mr Ju went down into the water. The four students and I then took off our wadded garments and put on thin garments. We then went down into the water. Shih Tien-min, the student who had left school out of sympathy for me, decided on the spur of the moment to join us. He was also baptized. I still remember how, as I came up out of water, my long hair turned immediately into a stick of ice. As soon as I took off the thin garments they became hard and solid like thin boards  - Wang Ming Dao and Charismaticism, Pages 44 to 45
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The eunuch "went on his way rejoicing." - Acts 8:39 - Rejoicing in his salvation and his baptism.
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