TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized Acts 18:8b
Read: Acts 18:8b
Listen: Acts 18
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Acts tell us those who believed in Corinth are baptized. The same thing happens in Philippi. We see baptism at the beginning of the journey and at the end. That’s no coincidence. Luke, the author of Acts, is trying to show us the significance of baptism in the early church. Baptism follows belief. Luke writes, “many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change that has taken place in our lives after we have placed our faith and trust in Christ. Lowering into the water symbolizes dying to our old life without God. Baptism symbolizes our new life in Christ. It is a picture of our transformation from chaos to new life with God (Romans 6.3-4 and 2 Corinthians 5.17). We are saved by grace through faith when we believe. It washes that truth over us in a real and meaningful way (1 Peter 3.21 and Romans 8.16). Baptism is a public declaration of our decision to make Jesus leader of our life. We won’t be perfect, but we are seeking to follow him in everything (Galatians 3.27 and John 14.15).
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray about getting baptized. If you’ve never been baptized and are following Jesus—we’d love to baptize you. Maybe you were baptized as a child before you decided to follow Jesus. We’d love to baptize you too or be honored to have a conversation with you about the key differences between an infant’s baptism and believer’s baptism. On November 9 and 10, baptism celebrations will be a part of all our weekend services. We would love to baptize you that weekend. For more information or to sign up, visit adabible.org/baptism.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
