Today’s reading is Acts 19.
Paul came to Ephesus and found 12 disciples. However, Luke’s use of the word “disciple” is ironic. Paul quickly figured out these men may have been students, but not of Jesus. After all, Matthew 28:19-20 explains Jesus’s disciples are made by baptism in Jesus’s name. These 12 had been baptized. That is, they had been immersed in water. They had been immersed in water for a legitimate reason. At least, it had been legitimate at one time. They had been immersed in water as a baptism of repentance in the name of John, the cousin of Jesus. Please, notice how close to the truth about baptism what these men experienced was. It was a water baptism. It was an immersion in water. It signified repentance. It was for the remission of sins. The only shortcoming was that it was in the name of John, not the name of Jesus. Baptism is more than an action. It is a particular action (being immersed in water) for a particular purpose (to receive the remission of sins) based on a particular authority (Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection). Just because a person has done something similar to the true biblical baptism doesn’t mean the person has been truly baptized. Many today are “baptized” with a different action (sprinkling, pouring–or some with no action at all, claiming it is a Spirit baptism). Some are baptized with a different purpose (an outward sign of inward grace, a testimony of having already received forgiveness, in order to be a member of a denomination). Though similar to New Testament baptism, those who participate in these rituals are in the same boat as our 12 would-be disciples. They need to recognize what John taught. Jesus was coming and we need to be baptized in His name. That is, we need to be immersed in water for the remission of our sins based upon the authority of Jesus Christ. Only then can we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (and not otherwise). Have you? If you, like these 12, realize your teaching, and therefore your surrender, was incomplete, let us know. We’d love to help you.
Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 19.
A Word for Our Kids
Hey kids, we’ve noticed Paul is willing to face persecution. He will get stoned, and then walk right back into a city. He will be attacked, and get back up and preach some more. Here in Ephesus, he preaches and teaches in the synagogue for about three months, but when people start speaking evil of the Way, he left. On the surface, that seems odd. However, notice he didn’t leave and quit teaching in Ephesus. Rather, he left and took the disciples with him. They simply started meeting and teaching in a different location. The issue was one of protecting not himself but his new brothers and sisters. Paul was willing to keep teaching no matter what he faced. However, he wasn’t willing to simply allow these fledgling Christians to come under the influence of stubborn opponents to the gospel. As you grow in your own relationship with Jesus, remember that you are not the only one your actions influence. Keep in mind the folks you influence and who influences them. Work to protect your brothers and sisters from poor influences. Work together to maintain faithfulness to the Lord.
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