SS Apr 5

Jesus Is Baptized

Jesus was baptized by John, not as a sign of repentance like the people but to fulfill all righteousness and show that He fully obeyed the Father

The Heralds Call

Matthew 3:1-6

Matthew 3:1–6 NKJV

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

The New King James Version Chapter 3

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

What is at least one thing that John is calling for the people to do?

Repentance is response to God’s gracious call to salvation. It includes a genuine sorrow for one’s sin, a turning away from one’s sin toward Christ, and a life that reflects lasting change and transformation. It is the human counterpoint to God’s work of regeneration; in other words, the human side of our conversion.

Why is confession of sin a vital step on the path of changed behavior?

The Fruit of Repentance

Matthew 3:7-12

Matthew 3:7–12 NKJV

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Verse 8 is a key point here. John is asking for people to repent and thereby it will bring the fruit which is “consistent” or keeping in accordance with repentance.

The repentance is first, the actions follow.

The mind is challenged and then the behavior follows

Baptism does not save, but is a response of obedience to the work that Christ has done

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

The Savior Identifies with Us

Matthew 3:13-17

Matthew 3:13–17 NKJV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

While repentance and faith are our response to Christ, His baptism is a response to us.

How you might ask? By the fact that he “became like us” (yet without sin) and identified with sinners.

Remember the picture of baptism is our “associating” with Christ. In like manner it demonstrates His “associating” with sinners.

Summing it Up

What are some ways one’s identity as a believer in Jesus should impact thoughts, actions, and life choices?

While we will never have the privilege, or the need, to do what John done for the Son of God, what a privilege it is to baptise others who have come to believe in the very one we know!

A marked life of transformation by the power and grace of God is what leads us to to invest in others lives, that they to may “become as we are”