Preaching "Jesus" Involves
Preaching Baptism
Acts 8:26-40
The grandest work in all the world is to preach Jesus. To exalt Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), the King of kings and the Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15) as the One who has all authority in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18), is a work that touches eternity. When the truth of God concerning Jesus is faithfully proclaimed, and when the seed falls on the good soil, there is a piercing agitation of the heart of fallen man that causes him to desire relief from sin's heavy burdens. The One we preach sees the need and has prepared the way for fallen man's forgiveness and beckons, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me..." (Matthew 11:28-29).
But with some, preaching Jesus as taught in the New Testament has fallen into disrepute and hard times. Some in the denominational world have reportedly said that, "the Bible is getting in the way of our preaching Jesus." Others who should know better have stated that preaching on baptism is getting in the way of their preaching Jesus. Thus, they have laid the subject to rest. If anything is said about baptism at all by these, it is treated as a trivial, unimportant, and an insignificant subject; preached only by those who have not "come of age" in preaching Jesus. It is not considered as a subject of any importance or magnitude, but rather a subject better left unspoken.
Oh, that we had an inspired example of what it means to preach Jesus! If we had a clear illustration by which to test our preaching and the preaching of those who say we are not preaching Jesus when we preach baptism, how thankful we would be! And it would seem that all who came to know the truth would want to align their preaching with the divine, inspired Word! With the proper attitude of heart, we should be willing to study to "show ourselves approved unto God" (2 Timothy 2:15), all speaking "the same thing and being of the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Do we have it? Indeed we do! In addition to the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16), and the apostles' work begun on Pentecost (Acts 2), we have an inspired example and illustration of what it means to preach Jesus so crystal clear that all may know who wills to know. God knew we would need to know and therefore in His greatest of all wonders, His Word, He makes it clear for all time.
Philip, the evangelist, "full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3), was sent "toward the south, unto that way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert" (Acts 8:26). He found a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was returning from Jerusalem where he had worshipped. The familiar record continues to explain that the eunuch was reading Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet and was wondering at the time Philip approached "of whom speaketh the prophet this?" (Acts 8:34). As an excellent teacher should, "Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, a PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS" (Acts 8:35). Now, we have but to learn what the man did who heard Philip preach; and then to understand what all faithful men will preach today, who preach Jesus.
They came to "a certain water" in the deserted place where they traveled. "the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8:36). How did that subject come up? Didn't the text say that Philip preached unto him Jesus? That which seems unimportant to some uninspired men seems very much a part of Philip's preaching! It is evident that "preaching the word, preaching Christ and preaching Jesus" (Acts 8:4-5, 35) are summed up and consummated in what the eunuch did in being baptized. That is what his preaching was; what it lead people to do for salvation. At Samaria, "when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). The essentiality of baptism in every instance is involved in "preaching Jesus"! It is no surprise to those who understand the many other passages connecting preaching Jesus and preaching baptism, that Luke, in recording this account, refers to water no less than five times! Baptism and preaching Christ will never be set asunder by those preachers who are faithful to the Lord.
See the beautiful scene, see the happiness of a man who has finally learned by what means Jesus promised salvation. See his intense desire to accept the preaching of Jesus' plan. Following his request to be baptized and the confession, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37). "they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him" (Acts 8;38). Thus we see what was taught in "preaching Jesus" to the eunuch by what he anxiously did. But we also understand with ringing clarity what we started out to learn, that no man can fully preach Jesus without preaching baptism.
The Scriptures reiterate with resounding volume that by baptism in the name of Jesus comes the "remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16), "translation into Christ's kingdom" (Colossians 1:13; 2:12), birth "into the kingdom" (John 3:5), "putting on Christ" (Galatians 3:27), and "the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The act of baptism following belief, repentance, and confession makes one a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17), "reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), "justified and redeemed by faith through Christ's blood" (Romans 3:24-25), and "doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21). We are, as was the eunuch, "quickened together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:5), and "raised to walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-5).
The eunuch "went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39) in the "full assurance of faith," having his heart "sprinkled from an evil conscience," and his body "washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22).
From Our Archives, 1995
By: Gary Colley