Acts 8:35-39 "Baptism Sunday" (8/23/26)

<p>On a baptism Sunday Pastor Mike used the Pittsburgh Pirates jersey as an illustration that wearing the uniform does not make someone a team member; baptism is the public, irreversible “jersey” that declares a believer belongs to Jesus. He walked through Acts 8: Philip, redirected by the Spirit, explained Isaiah 53 to the God-fearing Ethiopian eunuch, who immediately asked to be immersed. Baptism, the church’s statement of faith reminds us, is the immersion of an already-converted believer—an act of obedience that pictures death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in newness of life (Romans 6). It is the New-Covenant sign that follows faith, just as the rainbow, circumcision, and Passover pointed forward to Christ; it does not save, but it visibly unites the convert with Christ and with His local body. Four reasons were given for immersion: it physically portrays the gospel, reminds us of the finished work of the cross, marks the church off from the world, and engages us in obedient service. The sermon closed with a searching invitation: make certain Christ is Lord as well as Savior, live in daily repentance and church fellowship, and be ready like Philip to share the Word so others may also go on their way rejoicing.</p>