A Trinitarian Focus: Redemption through the Son

Matthew 3:13–17 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Prayer

As I mentioned last week, we are going to spend the next three weeks focusing in on a “instant replay” of a scene from the life of Christ.

Instant replay’s are helpful.

They allow us to examine truth in a slowed down fashion.

Why slow down and take this time with such a complex truth of Scripture like the Trinity?

What does it matter if we understand it or not?

Heidelberg Confession, Question 25

Q. Since there is only one God, why do you speak of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

A. Because God has so revealed himself in his Word that these three distinct persons are the one, true, eternal God.

We don’t need to understand the Trinity to win an academic argument.

We need to believe the witness of Scripture because that is HOW the TRIUNE GOD has revealed Himself to us.

Our Reasonable Faith Chapter X: The Divine Trinity

Such a holy respect suits us also as we witness God revealing Himself in His word as a Triune God. For we must always remember that as we study this fact, we are not dealing with a doctrine about God, with an abstract concept, or with a scientific proposition about the nature of Divinity. We are not dealing with a human construction which we ourselves or which others have put upon the facts, and which we now try to analyze and logically to dismember. Rather, in treating of the Trinity, we are dealing with God Himself, with the one and true God, who has revealed Himself as such in His Word. It is as He said to Moses: I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex. 3:6). So He reveals Himself to us also in His Word and manifests Himself to us as Father, Son, and Spirit.

Revelation from the Father

“The Fatherhood of God”

Matthew 3:17 (ESV)

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

We looked at the relationship that the Father has with the Son.

The quality of that relationship, “My Son, the Beloved”

In the Father’s bosom from eternity past.

Then the disposition that the Father has for His Son, which is pleasure and delight.

Our Reasonable Faith Chapter X: The Divine Trinity

It is to the Father that we are particularly indebted, therefore, for His electing love, to the Son for His redeeming grace, and to the Spirit for His regenerative and renewing power.

This week we are going to look at the role of the Son.

Redemption through the Son

“The Son’s Obedience”

One element of religion that is central to it is the idea of mediator.

A mediator is one who leads you to the thing.

Muhammed restores the worship of Allah.

Buddha gives the way to Nirvana.

Confucius gives wise says that bring you to paradise.

Every religion has a mediator.

ONE central difference between Christianity and all other religions is this idea of mediator.

Christ is NOT the leader of Christianity.

Christ is NOT the sage leading us to something else.

Christ is NOT the true confessor of Christianity.

Our Reasonable Faith Chapter XV: The Mediator of the Covenant

He is not in the usual sense of it the founder of Christianity, but He is the Christ, the One who was sent by the Father, and who founded His Kingdom on earth and now extends and preserves it to the end of the ages. Christ is Himself Christianity. He stands, not outside, but inside of it. Without His name, person, and work there is no such thing as Christianity. In one word, Christ is not the one who points the way to Christianity, but the way itself.

Jesus’ baptism reveals the Son’s mission: His mission is to redeem us by partaking in our humanity. He partakes in order to be identified with sinners and represent us before God.

Matthew 3:13–15 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

The phrase, “to fulfill all righteousness” represents Jesus’ concern for being faithful to the plan the Father has set forward.

They are fulfilling righteousness by walking in obedience to the Father’s plan He has determined.

And Jesus being truly human is showing Himself to be identified with His people.

Our Reasonable Faith Chapter XV: The Mediator of the Covenant

And before He let Himself be baptized of John He knew that He did not need that baptism for the forgiveness of sins but that He was to have it in order in all things to be obedient to the will of God. That baptism accordingly was for Jesus not a break with a sinful past, for this He did not have. Rather, it was on His part a total surrender and dedication to the work that the Father had given Him to do, and, on God’s part, it was a total equipping and fitting out for that work. John recognizes Him immediately as Messiah, and, the day after, the disciples whom He has chosen acknowledge Him as such also (John 1:29–51).

What does Jesus’ baptism show about the nature of Christ?

Who does Jesus show Himself to be through His baptism?

The Nature of Christ

“Who is He?”

Jesus’ baptism shows three realities about Himself.

The first is...

Jesus’ baptism shows He is Truly Human

Matthew 3:15 ESV

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

John didn’t baptize a ghost.

He baptized a real, flesh and blood Jesus.

This may seem obvious, but it reveals something profound about Jesus.

Jesus stands as ONE person.

Two wills: A human will and divine will.

Now this does not make Jesus a schizophrenic...

Jesus’ baptism shows He is the Son of the Father

Matthew 3:15 ESV

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

Matthew 3:17 ESV

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus’ baptism shows He is empowered by the Holy Spirit

Matthew 3:16 ESV

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

John 3:34 ESV

For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

How could God do this?

Isaiah 42:8 ESV

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Isaiah 48:11 ESV

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

How could we say that Jesus is from God?

Isaiah 42:1–4 ESV

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

The only way that God could do what we read here is if this servant is the LORD Himself.

Which is exactly what we see in the Lord Jesus!

Wrong conceptions of the Trinity....

Trinity as water — Liquid, vapor, and ice.

Trinity as a clover — Each member represents a pedal and the stem binds them together.

We shouldn’t try to explain the unexplainable.

But we need to be believe the unexplainable.

The Work of Christ

“What is He doing?”

Jesus’ baptism shows He is identified with His people.

When we say that Christ is identified with His people, we mean that He is identifying with their humanity.

He is like I mentioned last week standing in solidarity with His people.

Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things,

The partaking of the same things means that He partook of flesh and blood.

He partook of baptism to show He is identifying Himself with them.

Jesus is NOT embarrassed of His people.

Jesus’ baptism shows He stands as our covenant representative.

What do I mean by covenant representative?

Simple this: In Adam, we have died; in Christ, we are made alive.

Adam being deceived in the garden

Like so many things, we need to go back to the garden to understand the reality.

In the garden of Eden, Eve was initially tempted by the serpent.

She was lured by the serpent to disobey God.

But her husband was there and in complete compliance with the whole situation.

This has been called abdication of Adam.

Abdication is simply the giving over of his rights to take dominion in the garden.

He relinquished the command the Lord has given him in creation.

He gave up what was rightfully his to an enemy.

Application for Men

Men, we know what this experience is like if we have ever stood over decisions in our household knowing full well that it wasn’t best for our family's.

Men, we have fell prey to the sin of Adam, if we have ever allowed something to go on in our homes that we knew full well that it was harmful for our family.

We know the story though, Adam does obey God and he gives over authority to his wife and then is deceived by the serpent.

This plunges all of humanity into sin.

Every person is born guilty because they are born into the sin of Adam.

Romans 5:12–14 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

You may protest, this is not fair!

To which I would say, we understand this principle in many different spheres.

Representative’s in Government

We elect governors and rules to act as representatives for our state.

We don’t all go to Charlestown to enact laws.

We send a representative for our specific districts.

This is exactly what has happened in Adam.

All have sinned because all have inherited Adam’s guilt.

There is our great problem.

But before I go to present what Christ is doing here, I want us to consider....

What would have Adam in the garden making a right decision look like?

What Adam did in the garden was a foolish as the movie Romeo and Juliet.

If you’re not familiar, Romeo and Juliet is a play by William Shakespeare.

In the play, Juliet fakes her death to avoid an arranged marriage and then when Romeo thinks she is dead.

He kills himself.

This is essentially what Adam did in the garden.

Eve had eaten the fruit, and rather than standing up and killing the serpent, he killed himself.

But what would obedience have looked like in that moment?

I would argue that obedience would have been him bringing his death sentenced bride to his Father and saying...

“I will die in her place!”

“Take me as a substitute for her death!”

How can I say that confidently?

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 5:15–17 ESV

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ baptism reveals that He is coming in as our new covenant representative.

He is bring in the New Covenant and He will stand as our covenant representative.

In the same way Adam once stood as our prior representative, Christ will stand as our new covenant head.

Jesus’ baptism reveals the Son’s mission: His mission is to redeem us by partaking in our humanity. He partakes in order to be identified with sinners and represent us before God.

The Purpose of Christ

“Why is He baptized?”

For what purpose is Christ baptized?

What is He accomplishing in this?

This first purpose of Christ’s baptism is....

Jesus’ baptism shows He is the faithful High Priest that we need.

In the OT, the High priest was the one who was appointed to come before the Lord on behalf of the people of God.

The people had one man come before them every year to represent them before God.

But there was something very particular about this High Priest.

He couldn’t be anyone off the street.

He couldn’t be a Gentile.

He needed to be a representative from the tribe of Levi.

He needed to share in the “flesh and blood” of God’s people.

Hebrews 5:1–4 ESV

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

The High Priest needed to be from the people of Israel.

He needed to be counted from among his brothers.

Among the duties of the High Priest, his greatest duty took place on “the day of atonement”

This was the “GREAT DAY” in the life of the High Priest.

The High Priest would enter the holiest place and offer atonement in the Lord’s presence.

The day that he would sacrifice a goat which would die for the people

But we are told in another place....

Hebrews 10:4–5 ESV

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;

Now these High Priests in the past were a shadow of the TRUE HIGH PRIEST.

Which is why when we see Jesus going under the water....

He is being identified with us.

He stands as our representative for this purpose.

To be a faithful HIGH PRIEST.

Hebrews 2:14–18 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Application

We have a Savior who understands our temptations.

Men, when we are tempted to lust after another.

Women, when you are tempted to compare yourself to another.

Children, when you are tempted to be disobedient to your parents.

In all the temptations that we find ourselves...

We have a Savior who has suffered for sinners.

We have a Savior who is able to help us in our temptations.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This second purpose of Christ’s baptism is....

Jesus’ baptism shows He is the true Priest-King

Hebrews 5:5–6 ESV

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Notice what the author of Hebrews brings together in this short verse…

Jesus as a the only Son from the Father in Psalm 2.

Jesus as the Priest-King forever after Melchizedek from Psalm 110.

Psalm 110:4 ESV

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Now Melchizedek was a figure in the book of Genesis who Abraham gave a tithe to after a battle.

We know very little about him.

Genesis 14:18 (ESV)

(He was priest of God Most High.)

We are not told where he came from.

So in some senses, he is without genealogy.

Jesus doesn’t stand in the order of the Old Levitical system of sacrifices.

He stands in line with the NEW COVENANT system.

Hebrews 7:23–25 ESV

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

“Intercession is the constant hitting “refresh” of our justification in the court of heaven.”

-Dane Ortlund

“The divine Son never ceases to bring his atoning life, death, and resurrection before his Father in a moment-by-moment way.”

John Calvin wrote....

“Christ ‘turns the Father’s eyes to his own righteousness, to avert his gaze from our sins. He so reconciles the Father’s heart to us that by his intercession he prepares a way and access for us to the Father’s throne.”

Hebrews 7:26–27 ESV

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

“Our sinning goes to the uttermost. But his saving goes to the uttermost. And his saving always outpaces and overwhelms our sinning, because he always lives to intercede for us.”

-Dane Ortlund

Jesus’ baptism reveals the Son’s mission: His mission is to redeem us by partaking in our humanity. He partakes in order to be identified with sinners and represent us before God.