WHAT HAPPENS AT BAPTISM? -Acts 8: 34-39
I. Vs. 39: “…the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”
1. What took place at baptism that made him go away rejoicing?
2. “Rejoicing” means “glad, calmly happy, cheerful.”
3. Notice, it is only after baptism that he feels this way.
4. What took place at baptism that gave him his joy and happiness?
II. For some people baptism is a real disappointment. It is not at all what they expect. Why?
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A. Some people have the idea that when you are baptized you are going to get some kind of a
“spiritual charge”, that you will be “spiritually energized.”
1. That when you come up out of the water you are going to receive some kind of supernatural
power and ability.
2. That you are going to feel some warm, tingling sensation as the Holy Spirit fills your body.
B. If that is what you expect you are going to be disappointed.
1. If you will notice, before he was baptized, the eunuch was taught about Christ from Isaiah.
2. What he was taught and convinced of by the scriptures before he was baptized is what
caused him to rejoice after he was baptized.
C. We walk by faith, not by sight, and the only thing you are going to feel physically when you
are baptized is the water.
1. But it is what you know happens spiritually, by faith in what God says, that gives you
the joy and calm gladness.
2. It is not what you feel physically at baptism that gives you the joy and contentment.
III. What does happen spiritually when you are baptized?
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A. Peter says you are baptized, “FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS.”
1. When you are baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” or by His authority (He commands
it), all your sins are forgiven!
2. God removes them completely from you.
Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
3. Physically you won’t see it or feel it, but when you are baptized, by faith you know your
sins are gone!
B. Acts 22:16 'And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on His name.'
1. In the baptistery you will not see this physically take place.
2. But spiritually, when you are baptized, all of your sins are washed away.
3. How do you know? Because God says so!
IV. When your sins are forgiven or washed away, that causes a lot of other things to take
place.
A. Fellowship with God is restored.
Acts 2:38"Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1. “Sins” – “hamartia”; an archery term that means “to miss the mark.”
2. God is 100% holy and if you are going to have fellowship with Him you are going to have
to be 100% holy too.
3. But no one can do that, no one hits the spiritual mark every time.
Rom 3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is
not in us.
4. When you miss the mark you lose your holiness, your standing with God, and your sins
condemn you to be lost.
5. But God wants you to be in His presence or saved, so He gave Jesus to die on the cross.
6. Christ’s blood washes away your sins or your “misses.”
7. Therefore, you are restored back to perfection or holiness.
8. By faith, you know it all happens at baptism.
B. You receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit”; Acts 2: 38.
Eph 1:13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
1. “seal” – it is the idea of putting your stamp of ownership on some thing.
a. It speaks of “possession.”
b. When you are baptized your receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” and that “seals” you as
belonging to Christ.
2. The Holy Spirit is also given as a “pledge” or “earnest.”
a. A “pledge” or “earnest” is some thing given to insure a promise.
b. The Holy Spirit is given to you at baptism to insure you that you will receive your
inheritance later when you leave this life…or when the Lord comes.
3. You won’t see it when it happens, but, by faith you know it takes place, and that is what
gives you the joy.
Conclusion: There are many other things that take place at baptism. However, it is obvious that without faith in Christ and baptism, none of these (forgiveness of sins and the receiving of the Holy Spirit) will take place. Jesus says, “He who as believed and has been baptized, shall be saved.” Mk. 16: 16. It happens at baptism. I promise you, if you come this morning to be baptized, you won’t be “zapped.” But God promises you that you will have your sins forgiven, and you will be sealed by the Holy Spirit as belonging to Him, and you will gain the promise of an inheritance in heaven.” And those facts will cause you, as well as the rest of us, to go away happy.