Good morning. Today’s Bible verse is Acts 19:3: “And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’”
The Book of Acts, written by Luke, is a record of transition. Luke’s treatise describes the transition from the Kingdom Gospel preached by John the Baptist, which ushered in the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, to Paul’s gospel of grace and the revelation of the mystery of the Body of Christ.
In today’s verse, Luke narrates an encounter between Paul and some disciples of John the Baptist who still adhered to the Gospel of the Kingdom as the means of living a godly life. Paul explained to them that the message of repentance, water baptism, and adherence to the Law of Moses, which focused on fulfilling the kingdom promises, no longer applied. Paul emphasized that John’s baptism, immersion in water, was in accordance with the Law, but Paul’s gospel of grace ushered in a baptism, immersion into the Body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit.
Paul acknowledged that the disciples of John the Baptist were diligent in their commitment to preaching the tenets of the Kingdom Gospel and demonstrated sincere spirituality through their actions and attitudes. Nevertheless, Paul clarifies that their sincerity and enthusiasm did not align with the message of God, as conveyed in Paul’s gospel of grace for this dispensation.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us take note of Paul’s interaction with the disciples of John the Baptist and remain vigilant, governing ourselves accordingly as members of the Body of Christ. As members of the Body, we must be on the alert when interacting with those who claim to be spiritual but misquote or take the Bible out of context. We should approach those who are immature in their faith or disagree with Paul’s teachings concerning the gospel of grace with love and grace. Remember that everyone is growing in their understanding of God’s will for this dispensation, and no one has perfect knowledge. Our goal is not to criticize or judge others, but to sincerely encourage them to follow Paul’s example. By doing this, we will live free from fear, guilt, and the constraints of legalism, all the while serving in a spirit of newness and vitality. By the power of the resurrection and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us strive to present the truth and fulfill our role as ambassadors of God’s grace (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).
Reflection Question: How can you gently guide others toward understanding God’s grace when their beliefs differ?
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 19:3.