Riverside, Mar. 1, 2026

Back to Basics #8

Baptism

(Story)

Some time ago the Minister of Finance of Ethiopia was travelling back home through the Gaza strip having come from Jerusalem where he was on a personal religious pilgrimage. While travelling he spent his time reading the Bible (Judaism refers to the "Old Testament" as the Tanakh. (ta knock) The Tanakh is the foundational Hebrew Bible, comprising 24 books divided into three main sections: Torah (Law/Instructions), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). It is also known as the Hebrew Bible or Miqra.) but found himself not understanding what he was reading in the Scriptures.

There was a Christian travelling on the same road who was directed by the Holy Spirit to be there too and as the Christian travelled, he heard the Ethiopian reading the Bible, the Tanakh, aloud. I imagine the Christian could see the lack of understanding on the other traveler’s face and could hear the questioning voice. The Spirit of God prompted the Christian to call out ‘Do you understand what you’re reading?’

There was no hesitation in inviting the Christian to join him and explain what he was reading. So, he did and explained to him that the passage he was reading from the Nevi’im in the Tanakh, specifically Isaiah 53, was about Jesus, the prophesied Messiah.

After much explanation about Jesus in the Old Testament and all that Jesus said they came near some water. To which the Ethiopian who had believed in Jesus wanted to be baptized in Jesus’s name. So, they did it, baptized right there in Gaza on the side of the road. He believed and was baptized, in Greek -baptizo, he was immersed in water in Jesus’s name.

-do you know that story? It’s in the Bible in the book of Acts and it tells us much about our topic of Baptism. Let me read scripture’s actual story.

Acts 8

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians” -a title from the Land of Cush - Sudan/Ethiopia). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So, he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: (Is:53)

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,    so he did not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.    Who can speak of his descendants?  For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Philip baptized him

What is Baptism?

The Greek word is Baptizo -to immerse in water -in the context of the Ethiopian who was baptized -to consecrate by immersing in water.

Lydia, in the Bible, was a seller of purple (sold purple clothing -which means she dyed clothes into the purple colour and sold them) and when she dyed cloth purple she BAPTIZO / IMMERSED the cloth into and all the way under the dying mixture.

Baptism is by an individual’s choice, not for infants who cannot choose but by those who can understand what they are doing, including children who understand.

Baptism doesn’t save you -only Jesus saves when one comes to Him in repentance and believes in Jesus as their Saviour.

SO,

Why should I be Baptized?

Following Jesus’s example -Jesus was Baptized.

Mark 1:9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized (baptizo’) by John in the Jordan.

Following Jesus’s practice -Jesus baptized others

John 4 1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

Following Jesus’s command -go -disciple -go -baptize others.

Matthew 28: …go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

SO,

Who should be Baptized?

-every Christian, -you believe therefore you are a disciple and therefore you identify with Christ through baptism showing His death and burial (go under the water) and resurrection (come up out of the water).

Who should be baptized -if you are a believer than YOU.

SO,

When should I be Baptized?

In the words of Peter when asked by people in Acts 2:38 he said:

“Repent and be baptized, (baptizo’) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ

Later on, in that passage we read verse 41:

‘Those who accepted his message (Gospel message of salvation through Christ) were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.’

SO,

What is Baptism -AGAIN?

-🡪Baptism is an action word -it is an ACT.

It is an Act of Obedience.

-this is what Jesus told us to do ourselves and do for others

It is an Act of Public Identification with Christ -I AM A CHRISTIAN

-fear God more than you fear what other’s think. GOD is #1

It is an Act of Humility.

Naman did not like the idea of dunking himself (going under the water) in the dirty Jordan river because of pride but a little servant girl persuaded him to humble himself. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

-therefore, humble yourself before God and be baptized.

It is an Act of Love

Jesus said if you love me, you will keep my commands and Jesus has told us to be baptized and go and baptize others.

By being baptized you show your love to your precious Saviour.

Are you a believer in Jesus, a Christian? Have you been baptized? Would you like to be baptized? (keep the water warm)

(Baptismal time)