What hinders people from being baptized?
Introduction. Water baptism is presented in the scriptures as a command of God and essential to primary salvation (Acts 10: 48, Mk. 16: 16). Baptism puts one into Christ where salvation is enjoyed, is for the remission of sins, and contacts the death and blood of Jesus (Gal. 3: 26, 27; Acts 2: 38; Rom. 6, Matt. 26: 28, Acts 2: 38). Our question is perhaps based on, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8: 36.) This man had Jesus preached to him and involved in this presentation of Jesus was water baptism (Acts 8: 35-36). Realizing the importance of baptism, he asked what hindered him from being baptized.
Lack of belief, repentance, and confession of Jesus' deity. Belief, repentance, and confession must precede baptism (Acts 2: 36, 38; Rom. 10: 9-10). If any one of these is absent, one is not a scriptural candidate for baptism (Acts 8: 36 ff., KJV).
Lack of understanding as to baptism's role can hinder. Countless scores of people do not realize the importance of water baptism. False teaching which minimizes or eliminates baptism is largely responsible for this lack of being baptized. Baptism was presented as essential and urgent in the First Century (Acts 2: 36-41, 8: 35 ff.). This is why when people heard the gospel and believed it, they were immediately baptized (Acts 16: 33). Delay, common today, suggests lack of understanding as to the basic design of water baptism.
Rejecting the counsel of God. "But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him," we are told (Luke 7: 30). John's baptism was a type of and pointed to the baptism introduced in Acts 2: 38.
Conclusion. What, if anything, is preventing you from being baptized? (Acts 8: 36-40)
Lack of belief, repentance, and confession of Jesus' deity. Belief, repentance, and confession must precede baptism (Acts 2: 36, 38; Rom. 10: 9-10). If any one of these is absent, one is not a scriptural candidate for baptism (Acts 8: 36 ff., KJV).
Lack of understanding as to baptism's role can hinder. Countless scores of people do not realize the importance of water baptism. False teaching which minimizes or eliminates baptism is largely responsible for this lack of being baptized. Baptism was presented as essential and urgent in the First Century (Acts 2: 36-41, 8: 35 ff.). This is why when people heard the gospel and believed it, they were immediately baptized (Acts 16: 33). Delay, common today, suggests lack of understanding as to the basic design of water baptism.
Rejecting the counsel of God. "But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him," we are told (Luke 7: 30). John's baptism was a type of and pointed to the baptism introduced in Acts 2: 38.
Conclusion. What, if anything, is preventing you from being baptized? (Acts 8: 36-40)