Being Baptized Like Jesus
Matt 3:13-17
Introduction
John the Baptist was a forerunner before Jesus. He is prophesied in the Old Testament. He was sent to Baptize. What is the importance of His baptism?
1. He gives us an example.
2. He shows us Truth.
1. Jesus was Baptized As A . . Proper Person.
Matt. 3:13-17 (NKJV) 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 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. 16 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. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
A, Jesus Was The Son of God Before He was Baptized.
Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:18 (NKJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:35 (NKJV) And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
John 1:14 (NKJV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Matt 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
B. All who are Baptized Need To Be Children of God before they are Baptized. Acts 8:37 (NKJV) Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
1. It is incorrect to teach Baptism Makes A Person A Child of God.
a. SOME TEACH THAT.
1) That is part of Catholic Doctrine.
2) That is part of the Doctrine of the So Called Church of Christ.
3) Jesus was Baptize already the Son of God.
2. Jesus was Baptized In the . . Proper Method.
Matt. 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 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. 16 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. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
A. The Method Is Immersion. v 16a When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; . . .”
John 3:23 (NKJV) 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
Acts 8:38-39a (NKJV) 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
39 Now when they came up out of the water, . . .”
1. No Example of Sprinkling or pouring for baptism.
B. Immersion is a picture of the Burial and Resurrection.
Rom. 6::3-5 (NKJV) 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
3. Jesus was Baptized By the . . Proper Authority.
Matt. 3:13-17
A. John the Baptist was that Authority.
Matthew 11:10-11 (NKJV) 10 For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' 11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John 1:6-8 (NKJV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Matt 21:23-27 23 By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25 The baptism of John — where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
John 1:27-34 (NKJV) 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'
31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water."
32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
1. Jesus was Baptized by John because John is the Forerunner.
2. Jesus was Baptized by John because John was sent by God to Baptize.
Who has the authority to Baptize Today.
The New Testament Church.
B. Jesus Baptism Identified Him with John’s Disciples.
1. Jesus Became A Part of John’ Fellowship.
4. Jesus was Baptized For the . . Proper Reason.
Matt. 3:13-15 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.
1. Jesus Called Baptism A Righteous Act.
a. We are told in Titus righteous acts do not save. Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV) 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
b. Why did Jesus come? Luke 19:10 (NKJV)
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which was lost."
1) Jesus never baptized anyone.
2) Baptism Does not Save.