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What Hinders Me From Being Baptized? Introduction: The Book of Acts sometimes called the Book of Conversions due to the number of conversions recorded. At least 8 times in Acts we are told of those who were baptized into Christ (Acts 2.38, 41; 8.12; 10.48; 16.15; 18.8; 19.5; 22.16). One of those is in Acts 8 in which the Ethiopian Eunuch was taught and obeyed the Gospel of Christ. I) What brought about such a question? A) Philip preached Jesus to this man, Acts 8.35. 1. We know Philip explained Isaiah 53 to the Eunuch, Acts 8.32-33. This chapter is referred to as the suffering Savior passages. 2. Necessary Inference: He would had to have explained Jesus' death on the cross and the reason for that death. 3. He would have explained the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension to the right hand of God in heaven. B) He would have preached the same thing as was preached on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2.38 1. Every case of conversion involves the "preaching of Jesus" 2. Every person converted was baptized for the remission of their sins, Acts 22.16. a. Notice that they both went down into the water and he {Philip} baptized him {the Eunuch}. b. This shows that baptism is what is done to the person and not the water. In sprinkling or pouring it is the water and not the person. II) What was preventing the Eunuch from being baptized? A) Some things that were not preventing the Eunuch from being baptized? 1. God was not stopping the Eunuch from being baptized for the remission of his sins. a. The Holy Spirit was sent by Christ (John 16.7,13); in this case the Holy Spirit directed Philip to meet up with the Eunuch and preach to him. b. God wants the Gospel to be preached to every creature, Mark 16.15 [Jew & Gentile] c. God wants everyone to be saved {come to repentance}, 2 Peter 3.9. 2. Lack of understanding a. There were a lot of things this man did not yet understand but he understood "Jesus". b. A lot of our growth is after we are born [physically and spiritually]. 3. Lack of opportunity a. He had heard the Gospel and could be baptized. "Here is water". b. The opportunity for us just as for this man is the present time. 2 Corinthians 6.2. 4. His family, friends, work, etc. did not hinder this man from obeying the Gospel. III) What (could have) hindered this man from being baptized? A) If he had not believed Jesus to be the Son of God or the Gospel. Acts 8.37 1. For one to be baptized they must believe in the purpose and reason for their baptism. 2. That is one reason we do not baptize babies or those not mentally competent. B) If he was unwilling to repent (turn from his sins), Luke 13.3 1. Baptism without a change in heart and direction is meaningless. 2. It simply becomes a ritual without change. C) If we was unwilling to confess Jesus 1. There is the confession that this man made in Acts 8.37b. 2. There is the confession we make every day we live the Christian life, Matthew 10.32-33 D) In other words the only thing that prevented this man from being baptized was himself. 1. No one can stop you from serving God but yourself. 2. This is usually determined by our desire to go to heaven and not be seduced by the passing pleasures of sin, Hebrews 11.25 Conclusion: The same things can be said about what prevents a Christian who had fallen away from being restored back to God. One can come back to God if they are willing to repent. We hope this morning that all who need to obey the Gospel will do so and all who need to come back will do so. |