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MESSAGE NOTES NOVEMBER 21, 2021 WHAT IS BAPTISM? ACTS 8:26–39 INTRODUCTION BIG IDEA: When your faith is in the one who died for you, nothing prevents you from being baptized.

BACKGROUND TO ACTS 8:26–39 A Model for Evangelism — 4 Marks of a Faithful Witness

1. Follow God’s leading.

2. Trust God’s plan and power to prepare and change hearts. a. God’s Plan (Genesis 12, John 3:16, Matthew 28:19, Revelation 7:9) b. God’s Power (Acts 1:8, John 16:8, Romans 8:15) 3. Focus on God’s Son—His life, death and resurrection. 4. Allow them to respond.

APPLICATION What is Baptism? — An Understanding of Christian Baptism

1. Baptism is a COMMAND (Matthew 28:19–20; cf Ephesians 2:8–9). 2. Baptism like communion is a SIGN (symbol) that points beyond itself to the Good News of God’s love for us in sending Jesus. a. First, baptism points to the cross (cf Romans 6:3–4). b. Second, baptism points back to when we placed our personal faith in Christ (cf Ephesians 1:13). c. Third, baptism points to the new trajectory of our lives (cf Galatians 2:20). 3. Baptism is a TEACHER—teaching us about our God and His Gospel of Grace. a. Reminds us of God’s great love for us in Christ—the one who died to give us new life. b. Reminds us that forgiveness comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Water is the symbol for cleansing. c. Reminds us of our calling—to die to self and live for God and others. d. That we are part of God’s family—our identity with Christ is also with God’s people around the globe and throughout history (1 Corinthians 12:13). For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.