Introduce a Gospel with commitment

"As they continued on their way, they arrived at a waterhole. The eunuch said : Here is water. What prevents me from being baptized ? Philip says : If you believe with all your heart, this is possible. The eunuch replied : I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:36-37)

Two expressions make it possible to think that the chariot was moving : "Philippe came running" and "as they continued their way...".

If it is true that the story does not tell us how long this conversation lasted, one can easily imagine that Philip took care to clearly explain the Gospel with its requirements. For the idea of ​​baptism did not come alone in the mind of the eunuch. I imagine that Philippe took the time to explain to this man the scope of such an engagement.

The question of baptism is just as important as that of marriage. When two people decide to marry in the Lord, they want to celebrate their union before God, the registrar, their family members and witnesses. Whoever decides to be baptized also takes a commitment to the visible and invisible world. So it's a very serious act.

Thus, if marriage is the founding act of the couple, baptism of water is, in turn, the founding act of Christian life. For this reason, it is very important not to be baptized on a whim, or under the influence of an emotion.

The Bible emphasizes the importance for man of never taking a commitment to God lightly (Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:21, Proverbs 20:25). Baptism is the commitment of a good conscience to God (1 Peter 3:21).

Jeremy Sourdril