Click the Banner back to Index
Click the Banner back to Index
|
Messiah Baptist Church of Baesa, Inc. Wednesday Bible Study www.messiahbc.com October 1, 2025 BIBLE STUDY: “Regardless of Race, Gender, and Age. all are same in the body of Christ” Lesson 12: Part 3 III – Regardless of Age, all are same in the Body of Christ God by His grace invites everyone, regardless of age to become members of the body of Christ, the Church. The context of Acts 16:31 is the account of the conversion of a Roman jailer. Paul and Silas, two early followers of Jesus, had been imprisoned in Philippi for preaching the Gospel. Despite being beaten and thrown into the inner prison, Paul and Silas continued to worship and praise God. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the foundation of the prison, breaking open the doors and loosening the prisoners' chains. Fearing that the prisoners had escaped, the jailer was about to take his own life when Paul stopped him, assuring him that all the prisoners were still present. The jailer, recognizing the power and presence of God, asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do to be saved. In Acts 16:31, Paul and Silas explained to the Philippians Jailer how he could be saved. Complete the missing word. Acts 16:31“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy _________.” Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The response of Paul and Silas reveals the heart of the Gospel message shows us that salvation is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ, regardless of age as members of a family. The promise of salvation is here given not only to jailer but also the members of his household, which probably included his wife, his slaves, and any children that he may have had. Here we see the inclusivity of salvation. The promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is not limited one member of a family who initially asked the question but extends to his entire household. This illustrates the far-reaching impact of one household member’s faith and the desire of God for all members of the family to come to salvation disregarding the age. The word “house” or “household” signifies the interconnectedness of families within the context of salvation.
Did the members of the Jailer’s household hear the Word of God? ________ (Acts 16:32). Acts 16:32 “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." The Jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. It is at this point that the jailer and his household are addressed in Acts 16:32. Paul and Silas spoke "the word of the Lord" to the jailer and his household, proclaiming the message of salvation and faith in Jesus Christ. Paul and Silas spoke "the word of the Lord" to the jailer and his household, proclaiming the message of salvation and faith in Jesus Christ. Just as Paul and Silas took the opportunity to speak to the jailer and his household, Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ, sharing the good news of salvation with those around them. Did all the members of your family from young to old, from parents to children, heard the gospel?
Did the members of the Jailer’s household believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? _______ (Acts 16:34) Acts 16:34 “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." Through Paul's message, the Jailer and his family found hope and joy in believing in God. It emphasizes the jailer's immediate response to his newfound faith by "rejoicing" and providing food for Paul and Silas. It also highlights the impact of their words on his entire household, as they too "believed in God with all his house." The inclusion of his entire household in his newfound faith emphasizes the effect of conversion and the potential for it to transform entire families and communities. The jailer, who was a Gentile, and his household were welcomed into the Christian community without any barriers or distinctions. Did all the members of your family from young to old, from parents to children, believed the gospel of Christ?
Were the members of the Jailer’s household baptized in water? _______ (Acts 16:33) Acts 16:33 “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." The jailer, having witnessed the faith and strength of Paul and Silas, responds to the message they shared by immediately taking Paul and Silas to his home where he attends to their wounds and is subsequently baptized, along with his entire household. The act of baptism in this verse symbolizes the public declaration of faith and commitment to the Christian life. By being baptized, the jailer and his family publicly acknowledge their belief in Jesus Christ and their desire to live according to his teachings. This act also symbolizes their inclusion into the community of believers, as baptism was a ritual that signified membership in the early Christian church. Did all the members of your family from young to old, from parents to children, were baptized after hearing and believing the gospel?
A child could be saved and could become a member of the body of Christ, the church, unless that child was old enough to do what? _________ (Acts 16:31; Acts 18:8) ____________ Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The message is simple yet profound: belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the pathway to salvation. This foundational tenet of the Christian faith emphasizes the grace of God and the sufficiency of Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross. It is not based on our own merits or works, but on the finished work of Christ. This echoes the words of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is not limited to the one individual member of the family but to all the members of the family, regardless of age.
Acts 18:8 “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Paul has just arrived in Corinth and meets a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, with whom he stays and works. This passage specifically focuses on the ministry of the apostle Paul in the city of Corinth. This verse references the conversion of Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, who believed and many other Corinthians who hear Paul's message and are baptized. One of the primary themes in this verse is the power of the Gospel to transform lives. Crispus, who held a prominent position in the Jewish community, believed in the Lord along with his entire household. This verse speaks to the importance of personal and household salvation. The faith of Crispus and his household emphasize the influence of a believer on their family members and the responsibility of parents to lead their households in faith. That is why age makes no difference as long as all members of your household believed on the Lord Jesus as Savior. Do you have young children in your family who at their young age are able to believe Jesus Christ as their Savior?
A young child could follow baptism as long as that child is old enough and able to do what? _______ (Acts 8:36-37) Acts 8:36-37 “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” The eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah and struggling to understand its meaning. Philip, guided by the Holy Spirit, was sent to meet him and explain the passage. After Philip had preached Jesus to him, the eunuch was moved by the Spirit and expressed his desire to be baptized. So, in verse 36, as they continued on their journey, they came across a body of water, and the eunuch expressed his desire to be baptized. The eunuch's question, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" It reflects the eunuch's eagerness to respond to the message of salvation and his desire to publicly declare his faith through baptism. It also demonstrates his understanding of the significance of baptism as an act of identification with Christ and a public declaration of faith in Him. We see the requirement of sincere belief for baptism. In verse 36, the eunuch asks Philip to baptize him, but Philip in verse 37 responds by requiring a confession of faith and the demonstration of true belief. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, who emphasized the importance of genuine belief as a prerequisite for baptism. The verse underscores the idea that baptism is not a mere ritual or formality, but a public declaration of one's faith in Jesus Christ. When Philip asks the eunuch to make a confession of faith, the eunuch declares, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." It acknowledges the divinity of Jesus and his role as the Savior of the world. This reflects the inclusivity of the gospel message. The eunuch, a foreigner and a eunuch (a person who was likely excluded from the Jewish faith and community), is welcomed into the faith and baptized by Philip. The same is true for any members of our household as long they are capable to understand the clarity of salvation through faith on Christ who shed His blood, died for our sins, buried and risen from the dead, even at young age if that child sincerely believed in Christ, can be saved and can be baptized. Age makes no difference.
In the New Testament, especially in the book of Acts, only true believers were baptized. There are many churches today who practice infant baptism. The Bible is silent on infant baptism, or paedobaptism (also spelled pedobaptism). There is no Bible record about a baby being baptized in the New Testament. Nevertheless, infant baptism has been practiced by many religious denominations throughout history and as early as the second century.
We all agree that a young infant is incapable of believing. A baby is not able to understand the gospel, nor does he have any idea of who Jesus Christ is or what Jesus Christ has done. Not only are infants, even inborn retarded, inborn who had mental disorder are incapable of believing the gospel, but they are also incapable of rejecting Jesus Christ. And remember, people are condemned for their rejection of Jesus Christ, in John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God". Nowhere in the Bible we can find the phrase “age of accountability”. But the accountability of a person before God is certainly Biblical. God does not hold a person responsible for something that he cannot do. Those who are incapable of belief are not condemned for what they are unable to do. However, somewhere along the line, as a child grows and develops, he reaches the point where he’s able to understand, make decisions and respond to whatever revelation that God has given to him. Praise God, the gospel of Christ is so simple that even a young child can understand it. Having a college degree or being a seminary professor is necessary to understand the love of Christ, His death for sinners and the gospel of grace. Lot of believers in Christ came to know Christ at a very early age. So, when is the age of accountability? When does a person become capable of believing? When does a person reach the age when he is able to understand God’s revelation and is accountable before God for what he does with the gospel of salvation? I don’t personally know the answer. God alone knows the answer. Even a young child may become a child of God of God because the Bible says in John 1:12 "As many as received Him (whether young or old), to them gave He power (authority, the right) to become the sons (children) of _______, even to them that _______ on His name (whether young or old)." John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Therefore, age makes no difference. Regardless of age, all can be a member of the body of Christ, the church. |