2022_04_25 Insight Post- Kim Feld

  -   April 25, 2022

This week’s reading- Acts 19

Acts 19 opens with an interesting passage. Paul arrived in Ephesus, and as a side note, it’s interesting that Luke tells us that Paul’s visit occurred while Apollos was still in Corinth. If you remember back to our reading in Acts 18, Apollos had come to Ephesus from Egypt. He taught about Jesus, but he only knew about John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquila explained the whole story to Apollos, and then he traveled on to Achaia. Corinth was the capital city of Achaia.

So, Paul found several disciples in Ephesus, but their information was also incomplete. They had never heard of the Holy Spirit, which caused Paul to ask, “Then what baptism did you experience?” They told him they received John’s baptism, which Paul explained was for repentance from sin. However, Paul noted that John told people to believe in the One who would come later, Jesus. After hearing this, they were baptized in the name of Jesus and received the Holy Spirit.

Our next baptism is coming up on June 5 at New Hope. Paul’s question to the Ephesians caused me to think about the baptism we celebrate, especially what it is and isn’t.

Jesus commanded us as His followers to go out and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19). The baptism that we celebrate is a public acknowledgment of a change that has already occurred on the inside. Baptism doesn’t provide salvation; it’s a recognition that salvation has already been received. But it’s important to note that Jesus didn’t just say to spread the good news about salvation; He told us to make disciples.

The word disciple is defined as “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). As I read Acts 19, I realized Paul’s question to the Ephesians is a great question for us. If you’ve been baptized, was it an acknowledgment of your salvation, or a line in the sand marking a commitment to a radical life change? Baptism tells the world that you are a follower, a disciple, of Jesus Christ, committed to accepting His ways as your own and helping others do the same. It should not be entered into lightly. Take a look at Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT:

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
⁶ one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

God calls us as disciples of Jesus to lead lives that demonstrate who He is to those around us by our humility, gentleness, patience and making allowance for others, all because of our love. We are called to unity in service to one Lord who is God and Father over all. Baptism is a public acknowledgment of our personal and unified commitment to serve the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and be changed by their involvement in our lives.