Last week, we looked at the importance of baptism in Romans 6.1-5. As Romans 6 describes baptism as the action that creates a new life. It is important to remember that Romans is written by the apostle Paul. (Romans 1.1)
Paul was a changed man from the road to Damascus forward. His life before the Damascus Road was steeped in Judaism and the goal of crushing Christianity. His life after the Damascus Road was about the spread of Christianity and its superiority to Judaism.
When Paul spoke of the gospel of Christ, Paul spoke of baptism. In his encounter with the Jewish crowd, Paul recounted his travel on the road to Damascus to the people seeking to kill him. (Acts 21.31) As Paul told them of his conversion account to Christianity, he spoke of the Damascus Road and his discussion with Ananias which lead Paul to baptism. Notice what Ananias told Paul,
And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Acts 22.14-16)
Notice Ananias words. Remember this was the man that Jesus said, “Rise and go into Damascus, and there you till be told, all that is appointed for you to do.” (Acts 22.10; see also Acts 9.6)
When Jesus told Paul to go into Damascus, Ananias told Paul what to do and it included baptism. (See Acts 22.16)
Don’t you think that was important?
Just some thoughts,