Who can be Baptized?

Hook: Anyone been a VIP somewhere before?

Sometimes we think that BAPTISM is like a VIP club for the most holy christians.

maybe one day I’ll be a part of that group!

Tension: WHO CAN BE BAPTISED? HOW DO I KNOW I’M READY?

Scripture: Phillip and the Eunuch

Context:

Story of Phillip and his Missions to bring the GOSPEL across the known world…

Gentile - not a Jewish person. There would’ve been a racial divide between the two, and differences in culture and theology about life!

Acts 8:28–38 “and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I…”

Main Point: Baptism is for ANY and ALL Believers!

We believe in what is called a BELIEVER’S BAPTISM. That anyone who believes can and should be baptised!

This is why we don’t BAPTISE kids in our tradition - we believe in what is called a “BELIEVER”s baptism.

Application

Not about SPIRITUAL LEVEL we need to REACH. We are baptised WHEN we BELIEVE.

HOw do you know you’re ready - you BELIEVE in JESUS. PERIOD!

What is stopping you from getting baptized?

Is it feeling inadeaute - baptism isn’t about our adequacy.