Character, Baptism
Notes
Transcript
Last week we started the series on the characteristics of a Christian. The first of which we looked at was salvation - the personal action and decision after the conviction of the Holy Spirit. There is that personal need to recognize and admit we are sinners, then an understanding of the belief in Jesus as God’s Son who was sent as our Savior and who died to pay the price for our sins, and then the confession of our sins and a change of our life - turning away from a sinful lifestyle and turning toward a lifestyle like Christ.
After salvation, baptism is the next act of obedience in the characteristics of a Christian.
Former Archbishop Rowan Williams once stated “At the very beginning of creation, the book of Genesis tells us, there was watery chaos. And over that watery chaos there was, depending on how you read the Hebrew, the Holy Spirit hovering or a great wind blowing (or perhaps one is a sort of metaphor for the other). First there is chaos, and then there is the wind of God’s Spirit; and out of the watery chaos comes the world. And God says, ‘This is good.’ The water and the Spirit and the voice: you can see why the early Christians began to associate the event of baptism with exactly that image which St Paul uses for the Christian life – new creation.
So the beginning of Christian life is a new beginning of God’s creative work. And just as Jesus came up out of the water, receiving the Spirit and hearing the voice of the Father, so for the newly baptized Christian the voice of God says, ‘You are my son/daughter’, as that individual begins his or her new life in association with Jesus.”
Need for Baptism
Need for Baptism
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
16 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;
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus came specifically to John to be baptized. Jesus was compelled to be baptized, but not just to be baptized. He was compelled to be baptized by John. He was to identify Himself with John’s ministry. He was the Messiah, the Lamb of God, being proclaimed by John.
The very fact that the Son of God would be baptized is startling. He was the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Founder of the movement of Christianity. He was the One who was making baptism possible and effectual (working) for man. John’s baptism was a call for men to take a stand and to become identified with a life of repentance and righteousness. Jesus needed no repentance; He was already perfectly righteous. He was the Purchaser of righteousness, the Ideal Man. His righteousness was the pattern, the very righteousness that could stand for and cover every man. Why then would Jesus be baptized? Very simply, in His own words, “to fulfill all righteousness”
John argued against Jesus’ coming to him for baptism. Why? John simply said, “I need to be baptized by you, but instead you come to me?” He was not worthy to baptize Christ. Christ’s coming to him was too great an honor for him. He did not deserve the privilege of baptizing the Messiah, the Lamb of God.
John’s humility was most unusual, for John was the great one in the eyes of the people at this time. Multitudes of people were flocking to him: the general public, tax collectors, soldiers, and religionists. He had reached the summit in the public’s eye. He was honored above all by vast numbers of people despite his being opposed by religionists and traditionalists. Yet when Christ approached him, he lowered himself and acknowledged that he was nothing in comparison.
He personally needed the baptism of Christ. He needed what Christ had. Christ was to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, and John was confessing his need to receive the Holy Spirit and fire from Christ
POINT 1 - No one is worthy of God’s call; no one is worthy to minister to Christ. The fact that God allows any kind of relationship with Himself is beyond comprehension. Yet He has. He calls man to be with Him and to serve Him. This fact is too much for the human heart to contain.
POINT 2 - Everyone needs what John had and what Jesus had. John - humility; Jesus - the Holy Spirit.
Jesus came to be baptized so he could fulfill all righteousness. He was symbolically predicting what He was going to do for sinful man. He was going to fulfill every law of God for man. Baptism was one of those laws. Therefore, he had to be baptized.
He was going to pay man’s penalty for having broken the law—the penalty of death. His immersion was a symbol of His coming immersion into death.
He was demonstrating to the fullest extent His humiliation in becoming a man. He had emptied Himself and “made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”.
He was identifying with those He came to save, and He was insisting that all who follow Him become so identified.
He was pioneering the movement of repentance and righteousness which John was proclaiming. In founding the movement, that is, the life of righteousness, Jesus had to set the Ideal and the Pattern for every man. Every man was to be baptized, so the Son of God pioneered and established the ordinance of baptism.
He was initiating His ministry. John shows this (Jn. 1:31–34). The High Priest had always entered his ministry in such a special ceremony.
POINT 1 - Every man must determine to fulfill all righteousness just as Christ did. Every commandment of God must be fulfilled in the believer’s life.
POINT 2 - Sacrifice. Every man should be so willing to give of himself that he would die in order to live for God.
POINT 3 - Humility. Every man should demonstrate to the fullest extent his willingness to serve others. He should become one with others and set the example of such before all.
POINT 4 - Living the life of repentance and righteousness. Every man should repent and live the life of righteousness, and every man should pioneer and proclaim such a life to all other men.
POINT 5 - Ministry. Every man should minister to others; he should let his willingness to minister be known.
Signs and Wonders
Signs and Wonders
The heavens were opened. This may be a scene of the clouds being rolled back and the dove descending from the heavens (clouds and sky). Or it may be some special vision given to Jesus and John, revealing that God was opening up heaven for the full approval and manifestation of God’s power upon His Son.
The Spirit descended like a dove. The dove was given to John as a special sign that Jesus was the Son of God.
The voice of God was heard. Three significant things are said here.
My Son: this points to the deity of Christ
Beloved Son: this points to the love within the Godhead (Trinity)
Well pleased: this points to the perfect life Jesus lived. He was “yet without sin”
The one thing that a believer should want to hear is what Jesus heard: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Believers are adopted as children of God
Believers can have their lives and service approved by God.
God saw the life and behavior of Christ, and He judged Christ as well pleasing. God sees every man and shall judge the life and works of every man. Nothing is hid from His eyes.
This is the first time the Trinity, the three persons of the Godhead, is clearly seen in the New Testament. The Son, Jesus Christ, was being baptized; the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son; and God the Father voiced His approval.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2004. The Gospel according to Matthew: Chapters 1:1–16:12. Vol. 1. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
