Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

One of the most puzzling events in the life of Jesus for us to understand is His baptism.

Why would Jesus need to be baptized?

We know that baptism in the New Testament is associated with the forgiveness of sins, even John’s baptism - ;

John’s baptism was strongly connected to the idea of repentance.

What sin did Jesus need to repent of?

Again, why would Jesus need to be baptized?

A Prophet with God’s Authority

When Jesus came to John to be baptized, He said “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” -

What role did John play in fulfilling all righteousness?

John the immerser was preaching the kingdom of God and the need for repentance -

This was in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy - ;

John’s appearance was like that of a prophet, one sent by God -

Prophets wore garments of hair -

Elisha took Elijah’s mantle of hair -

Since John was a prophet, he was God’s spokesman.

He was proclaiming the word of God!

For this reason, his message was to be obeyed -

Jesus shows the full force of this when His own authority was being challenged.

Jesus appealed to the baptism of John: was it from heaven or from men? -

Obviously, the baptism of John was from heaven.

Therefore, as God’s spokesman, sent and commissioned by God, John’s baptism was something that the children of Israel were expected to obey.

John’s message was in anticipation of the coming kingdom; John came to “make ready the way of the Lord” -

Anticipating the Coming Kingdom

John came to “make ready the way of the Lord” -

As a king might sent forth a herald to announce the coming victory from battle, or before coming in to a village He just conquered, the king may send a herald to give his demands and expectations for those under his new authority.

John’s message needs to be understood in this light.

He was preparing the people of Israel for their new King!

He was preparing the people of Israel for their new King!

To be prepared for the kingdom of heaven, Israel needed to repent -

The kingdom was not a fleshly, nationalistic kingdom -

Their trust was not to be in being Abraham’s descendants.

Confession of sins and repentance were associated with one another - ,

God’s kingdom would be established on justice and righteousness; sin and lawlessness would not be part of His kingdom -

In anticipation of the rule of the Messiah’s kingdom, the people needed to quit thinking the kingdom would be simply based on being an Israelite by birth, which then might excuse sin and lawlessness.

Jesus and Righteousness

Since John was a prophet of God, baptism was authorized and commanded by God, Jesus came to obey God’s commands.

Just as He said, “to fulfill all righteousness” -

Righteousness is simply doing what is right

Jesus came to do what was right and obey God - and

Most denominational teachings tend to minimize obedience.

They argue that you are saved by faith and faith alone and then as a result of that faith/salvation then you do good works.

However, they then offer “clarity” and say that your good works are not a way for you to earn your salvation or work your way to heaven — it’s still salvation by faith alone.

First, if you want to be a disciple of Jesus, ask yourself “what did Jesus do?”

He obeyed God’s commands.

Second, if righteousness is doing what is right, do you want to practice righteousness?

Peter told Cornelius those who would be saved are those who “work righteousness” or “does what is right” -

Peter commanded Cornelius to be baptized in the name of Jesus -

Peter spoke the words and commands that were necessary for salvation -

If Cornelius was commanded to “do what is right” or to “work righteousness” and that included obedience to Peter’s command to be baptized, then we need to see that baptism is part of working righteousness -

What Cornelius and Jesus each demonstrate is that righteousness is not about saving ourself or earning our salvation; doing righteousness is about obeying God’s righteous commands - ,

Can you say that you were baptized to obey God’s commands?

Or were you told that your obedience has nothing to do with your salvation?

Maybe you were immersed in water but you were misled into thinking it had nothing to do with salvation—what do you do now?

You’ve been baptized, right?

Does that not count?

-

Sometimes people may have gotten dunked in water, but they did not understand the full nature of what was occurring and what would happen.

God’s Faithful Son

After Jesus was baptized, immediately there was a voice that declared who Jesus was -

The heavens were opened

The Spirit of God descended upon Jesus

A voice confirming Jesus’s identity

Jesus stands in contrast to the people of Israel.

Israel had been God’s son -

Yet, they had been unfaithful to the God of the covenant promises -

Jesus, however, is the faithful Son who demonstrates submission to God’s commands, fulfills righteousness, and is perfectly obedient to God’s will.

This Jesus would be greater and better than the Old Testament system -

He came in the spirit of Moses and Elijah but He was different (and better) than them.

Why was Jesus better than the prophets Moses and Elijah?

Because He came to suffer and die for our sins - ; ,

God’s faithful and obedient Son went to the cross to become the Savior of the world!

At the baptism, the heavens were opened and God’s voice was heard from heaven.

At the cross, the temple veil was torn, demonstrating an end to the Old Testament sacrificial system and that Jesus’s sacrifice is the only way to God - cf.

We are able to have our consciences cleansed and our sins forgiven when we come to the water to be washed - ;

Conclusion:

Will you come to the water to be baptized into Jesus Christ?

Will you become obedient to the truth?

If you think you can be a disciple of Jesus without following Jesus where He went —into the water—then you will never fully become His disciple.