FALSE AND TRUE BAPTISM

Acts 8.13
13. “And even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued on with Philip, and as he observed sings and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.”

Simon was the magician, “astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.” (Acts 8.9).

Does believe of Simon in Christ and his baptism changed Simon to be a true Christian? When Simon saw that Peter and John laying their hands on newly baptized and they receive the Holy Spirit, Simon offered money to Apostles in order to have the same power. (Acts 8.18-19). Of course Simon’s goal was to profit from it.

It seems that believe of Simon and his baptism do nothing to him and he remains the same crooked and greedy person as before. So, the point here is this that belief of a person in Christ and baptism do nothing to anyone if a person does not receive the Holy Spirit. Without Holy Spirit such things as love, faith, hope, loyalty, dedication, worship, and service of GOD is worthless and useless and cannot produce positive result, all in vain.

For others, Peter and John, “prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8.14-15). After that people have been baptized in the name of Christ and when Apostles lay their hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit and became true Christians. (Acts 8.16-17).

Similar can be said about another occasion when Philip met Ethiopian eunuch. (Acts 8.27-39). First, Philip explained him Scripture, and when eunuch believed Philip and was ready to be baptized “Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.” (Acts 8.37).

Of course infants and immature people do not know Scripture, do not understand it and cannot believe from the heart in Christ, so, their baptism is worthless and meaningless.

In my English Bibles verse 39 translated the same, but in my Russian Bible it translated a little bit differently. "The Holy Spirit descended on eunuch, but Philip was taken by the angel of the Lord and eunuch no longer saw him."

The Holy Spirit descended on eunuch too after his baptism, because he truly believed in Christ from the heart, and this essential is missing in many who ritualistically baptized according to tradition and not according to soul (the heart) of a person. Because without involving in this process the soul of a person, will be no Holy Spirit present, and baptism will be useless.

Paul also went through similar things. When Ananias came to Paul (Saul) he came with intention to give Paul not only his sight but also and Holy Spirit. (Acts 9.17). Immediately after that Paul was baptized. (Acts 9.18).

In all these examples I presented TRUE BAPTISM involving Holy Spirit and not false one by which people baptized themselves today, because without Holy Spirit nothing can be done right according to Holy Scripture and will serve no purpose.

Pretext to baptism is true belief in Christ from the heart (Acts 8.37), the purpose of baptism, “an appeal to GOD for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 3.21).