Baptism

Acts 19:1-10

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. ² And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

I recall very few baptisms. But two stick out in my mind. My own baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” when I was 8 years old is most important. The second memorable baptism was of our fourth-born son, at the Neonatal ICU. A styrofoam cup. Diane, Stephen, and me. There are others I can call to mind, but I don’t know the names of all whom I have baptized, nor did I keep my own personal record of baptisms as some pastors do.

But I do know that when someone is baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, something very important happens. God’s gifts are sealed to the believing person. God’s name is attached with many Bible promises to an infant who is baptized. Sins are forgiven. We are united with Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are born again by the washing of water with the Word. (cf. Acts 2:38-39; Romans 6:1-6; Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 Peter 3:21)

In Corinth, some people didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit. They were baptized into John’s baptism – one of repentance in anticipation of the coming Savior. Jesus had come now, and his command was clear: “Make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

I have been privileged to baptize many people, and rejoice in the work of God through water and the Word. I pray that those who have been baptized remain faithful to Christ, and enjoy the eternal blessings of God’s mercy and grace, in Jesus’ name, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.