While a eunuch from Ethiopia was returning home from attempting to worship God at Jerusalem, a preacher named Philip met his chariot (Acts 8:26-30). When Philip approached, he "heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him" (Acts 8:30-31). The eunuch was reading what we know as Isaiah 53:7-8, a tremendous prophecy about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. The eunuch asked Philip, "Of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus" (Acts 8:34-35). No further details are given as to exactly what Philip preached other than "Jesus." However, whatever else that sermon contained, we know that in preaching Jesus, Philip included the subject of baptism. The very next verse reads, "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?" (Acts 8:6). How else would the eunuch know about water baptism unless Philip included it in preaching "Jesus"? Philip answered the eunuch, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). With that response, the chariot was commanded to stop, "and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38). Afterwards, Philip departed, preaching "in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea," and the eunuch continued "on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39-40). The eunuch knew he was now saved from his sins!

The Candidate for Biblical Baptism

Scriptural baptism does not always take place merely because someone is immersed in water. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). Thus, the candidate for baptism must first believe that Jesus is the Christ (Jn. 8:24). Peter told those on the Day of Pentecost who were guilty of having part in crucifying the Lord, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Thus, the candidate for baptism must repent of sins before being baptized. These prerequisites rule out infant baptism as being Biblical. How can a baby believe that Jesus is the Christ or repent of sins? Do we think that just because we were "baptized" as infants that we are saved? We better study our Bibles! Furthermore, since baptism is "for the remission of sin" (Acts 2:38), those who are baptized after they were told they were saved, have not been baptized Biblically. Many denominations teach that one is saved first, then whenever the church has a "baptismal service," they can be baptized. This simply is not true. One cannot obey false doctrine and expect to be baptized Scripturally, even if he or she is immersed in water. Baptism is for those who have heard the truth of God's word, believe, repent, and confess their faith in Christ (Rom. 10:10). May we, like the Ethiopian eunuch, see the truth and obey it quickly (Acts 8:36-38).

The Result of Biblical Baptism

There is absolutely no power at all in the water itself. All the power is God's. Baptism, however, figuratively puts the person being baptized into contact with the blood of Christ, wherein lies the power of salvation (Eph. 1:7). Paul said to the Romans, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:17-18). What was the "form of doctrine" they obeyed? The answer lies a few verses before. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore 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" (Rom. 6:3-4). Biblical baptism is a form of the death ("baptized into his death"), burial ("buried with him by baptism"), and resurrection ("as Christ was raised...in newness of life") of Christ. It is no wonder that Ananias could say to Saul of Tarsus, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Peter explicitly declares, "baptism doth also now save us" (1 Pet. 3:21).

Let us teach others who have not been Scripturally baptized. The Bible contains God's plan of salvation. Obedience to it is the only way people can be saved from sin! Let's not keep it on the shelf, but put it in our hearts and spread it through the land.