Following in Christ's Footsteps: Christian Baptism - Its Purpose & Meaning

A very important event this morning In scripture, we're going to observe the baptism of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ not only came from heaven for us, died on the cross for us, but left us an example to follow. And if we want to understand what it means to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ and be a Christian, we look to the Lord Jesus and the example that he left us and the word of God that he recorded and preserved for us this morning so that we can follow in his steps, do what Jesus would do because we are his ambassadors. We are his representatives. Here, when people see us, they see hopefully, prayerfully Jesus Christ in us.

His love, his holiness, his obedience to the will of the father. So, let's read verses 13 through 17 this morning from Matthew three. Matthew three beginning in verse 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbade him saying, I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now. For thus, it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then, he suffered him. The word suffered means allowed or permitted and Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and low the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him and low a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved son and whom I am well pleased. Let's pray.

Lord, we thank you for your word today. Lord, may it find understanding and openness in our hearts. Lord, grant us wisdom and understanding by the spirit that you have given us as he takes the word of God that is his word, your word, and brings it to our ears, to our mind, and to our heart today. Lord, challenge us as servants of our savior Jesus Christ to follow in your steps. Lord, help us to understand what it means to be a Christian and the importance of obeying your word particularly in this area of baptism today.

In Jesus name, we do pray. Amen. It says that the first part of the the passage that we read, it says, then, Jesus cometh from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized. Now, John the Baptist is the son of Elizabeth, Jesus obviously the son of Mary and the son of God. They, Elizabeth and Mary, we find out are cousins.

So, it is very likely that John the Baptist knew Jesus at least as his second cousin and probably knew a good deal about his second cousin. His their mothers knowing each other and being fairly close relatives. While Elizabeth was pregnant with John, Mary came to visit her. So, obviously, they were fairly close and so, this wasn't a stranger walking up to John and God had called John early in his life even though he's approximately the same age as Jesus. He had already begun his ministry and he was baptizing people.

The baptism of repentance in the Jordan River and we'll come back a little more to that in a moment and so, he is down in Judea which is the southern part of Israel near Jerusalem and Jericho in the Jordan River baptizing people was interesting when I went to Israel to have the opportunity to visit the Jordan River near the spot where Jesus was baptized. It may have been, you know, a mile up or a mile downriver. We can't be sure but but it was really neat to be in that place that is still there today. A river that is still there in the same spot where it was hundreds of years ago when Jesus was baptized by John. Jesus lived in Nazareth.

That's where he was raised by Mary and Joseph and now, Galilee which is in the northern part, Jesus had traveled from down to Judea in the southern part near Jerusalem. It would seem for the Passover feast. This was the time of the Passover in context here in John. So, Jesus being in Judea where his cousin John the Baptist is comes to John who is baptizing in the River Jordan and having been chosen by God, John for this specific ministry to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ and to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus ministry. Jesus comes to John and says, would you baptize me?

Or actually, he just plainly says, baptize me, okay? He came to be baptized by John. How did John respond? How does it say here? It says, he forbade him.

What does that mean? It it means he resisted the request. Jesus came to John. He says, John, would you baptize me? And John says, wait a second.

Wait a second. Before we we do that, let's before we go there, he says, I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me. Jesus comes to John and says, baptize me. John says, well, wait a second. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Shouldn't you be baptizing me? Now, it isn't clear at this point in time that John knew for sure that Jesus was the Messiah but he will know for sure in just a moment but at this point, it isn't clear that he did but what he did know is that there was something very special about his cousin, Jesus. And that Jesus was unlike other people. And that Jesus didn't need to what? He didn't need to repent of his sins.

Which was the main focus of John's baptism. But John, who was a sinner, did need to repent of his. And so he says to Jesus, I think it ought to be the other way around. You see, the Jews had over time adopted a practice, a little background here of requiring Gentiles to be fully immersed or submerged, baptized in the fashion that John the Baptist is following here. To signify their total break from paganism to Judaism.

When a Gentile wanted to become a worshiper of the Lord G of of Jehovah, God, and join in Judaism. They would make the Gentile be baptized and he would be fully submerged, immersed in water, and it was a picture of him leaving behind his pagan beliefs and his pagan way of life and entering totally into a what? A a new life as now a worshiper of the true and living God in Judaism and they were practicing this and had been practicing it for some time. So, John the Baptist John the Baptist capitalized as led by the Lord on this practice that the Jews already had but instead of baptizing Gentiles, he was baptizing who? He was baptizing Jews.

Well, they didn't need to be baptized. They were already Jews but you see they did. It was the Jewish ritual that day as I said that John capitalized on and used as a sign of repentance. Not only for Gentiles but also for Jews. You see, it wasn't only the Gentiles that sinned, it was also the Jews and particularly, it was the Jewish people that God had called John the Baptist to prepare their hearts for the coming of their what?

Coming of their Messiah. And in order for them to be prepared for the coming of Jesus, they needed to repent. They had gone their own way. They had become immersed in a religion of self righteous works. They didn't see their sin.

They needed to. For they would never receive a Messiah who came to save them from sin if they didn't see they were what? Sinners. Any of a savior. So, God called John to this particular ministry to baptize Jews as the Jews baptized Gentiles as a sign of repentance, as a reminder of their sin, and their need for a savior.

To prepare their hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. This is quite significant as John was calling Jews to humble themselves as they humbled Gentiles in a similar fashion. To seek forgiveness of their sin. To declare to them that they were not accepted by God just by virtue of simply being a good Jew. There is more that is required.

Look if you want in John chapter three verses five to nine. Verse five, John three. Then, went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, oh generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance and think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father, for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

The Pharisees and Sadducees who were essentially the teachers and leaders of Judaism in that day came out to see what was going on and apparently, some of them to be baptized by John because it was the celebrated thing to do and John said, wait a second, hold on a minute. You, Are you humbled in your heart? Do you admit your sin? Do you come with a repentant heart? Because John knew that many of these religious leaders of his day, they didn't think they were sinners.

They they didn't think they needed a savior. They thought because they were quote unquote good Jews and descendants of Abraham that they were better than everybody else. John says, no, you're not. John says, God's able to make out of these stones right here. Children of Abraham, if he so desires.

Being a descendant of Abraham isn't enough. Your self righteous works aren't enough. Do you really understand what this is all about? Because many of them didn't. They didn't and they didn't have a desire to repent and acknowledge before God who they really were and what they really needed.

So, Jesus comes to John back to where we were and asked John to baptize him and John says, wait a second, shouldn't that be the other way around? Because are am I not the sinner who needs repentance? And not you? Which indeed was true. Jesus answering verse 15 said unto him, suffer it or permit it so to be so now.

In other words, permit this to happen, please. For thus, becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then, he permitted or suffered him. Jesus said to John, please just permit me to do this. Because it is what is been required of me.

It is part of an important part of my ministry and as we'll see, Jesus's introduction. To the world as the Messiah and the son of God. And so he said, this is God's will. This is the Father's will. So permit it so to be.

So John conceded to Jesus' request and he baptized him. This concession and the baptism of Jesus resulted in a different kind of revelation than the other baptisms that John had done. It says in verse 16 and Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water and low the heavens were open unto him and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him and low a voice from heaven heaven saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Baptism identified Jesus not as a repentant sinner but it identified Jesus as the obedient what? Son of God.

It identified him as an obedient son of God. By the command of the father, sent to die for the sins of the ungodly and rise again from the dead that we through faith in him might be saved. As Jesus went down in the water, he signified beforehand his what? His death that he would die on the cross for our sins and as he rose back up out of the water, he signified beforehand his what? His resurrection from the dead.

And as he obeyed the will of the father, left us an example, signified by his baptism, the ministry and purpose for which he had come and what he would do. The heavens opened. And John the Baptist saw the spirit of God descending upon Jesus as a dove and a voice from heaven saying, this is my what? Beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Yes, Jesus needed to be baptized.

He didn't need to be baptized because he was a sinner. He didn't need to be baptized because he needed to repent. He needed to be baptized to fulfill the will of the father. He needed to be baptized to signify what he had come to do. And to identify also with those who would believe and trust in him.

And follow in this ordinance that he exemplified here in Matthew chapter three. Christian baptism following the pattern of Christ does not only identify one as a repentant sinner but also as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, your savior and Lord. So, when the Christian comes back up out of the water, he is identified with his risen savior. As a child and a servant of God. Turn if you would to Romans chapter six and verse four.

Romans chapter six verse four. Paul using the symbolism of baptism to encourage the Romans, Christians, to live a holy life and to avoid sin in their life and to have victory over sin in their life. Says in verse four, of Romans chapter six, therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death. That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Me read that again.

Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death. That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life as we are raised up. By our father and given new life in Jesus Christ, not by the waters of baptism but by faith in Jesus Christ alone. To save us from our sins. You see, Jesus did not become the son of God at his baptism, did he?

Did he become the son of God at his baptism? No. He was already the son of God. Before his baptism but he was identified and introduced to those there before him as the son of God at his baptism. So, as Jesus did not become the son of God as baptism, so a person doesn't become a Christian.

By baptism. But by faith in Christ alone. Baptism doesn't save us. Baptism just introduces to those who are watching. That we are a child of God, that we became a child of God.

When we did what? When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone and we're saved. We are introduced to others as a child of God who will live and serve his risen savior. In Ephesians two eight and nine, it says, for by grace are you saved through what? Faith and that not of yourselves.

It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. In Acts sixteen thirty one, the Philippian jailer came to Paul and he got down his knees before out almost down his face before Paul and he cried out to Paul, what must I do to be saved? And Paul didn't say, go get baptized, did he? No, he said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. For we're saved not by dunking in water.

We're saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans ten nine that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Does Paul say anything about baptism in that verse? No. Because we're not saved by baptism.

We become a child of God. When we trust him with our soul, to forgive our sins, and to give us everlasting life. When we come to him humbly with a repentant heart, and we cry out to him. To be the Lord and savior of our life and give us eternal life. It says, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I'm afraid there are some even baptist who are confused about salvation. They think that because they got dunked in water, they're saved. But if that's all that happened, then all they did was get wet. They didn't get saved. I often ask people when I see them if they know Jesus Christ as savior, if they're saved, if they're going to heaven, and often times, particularly those that are baptist will say, oh, I was baptized when I was 12 or I was baptized when I was here.

I was baptized when I was 23 or 56 or whatever. And it's good that they were baptized. They should be. However, I have to ask another question and that is, are you saved because you got baptized? Are you saved by faith in Jesus Christ?

Because that's an all important question because I'm afraid there will be some people that wake up in a place called hell who are baptized in a baptist baptistry. But they were counting on baptism to save them. And not Jesus Christ. The church can't save you. The waters of baptism can't save you.

Only Jesus can save you. But if you are saved and know Jesus Christ as savior, you need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. In obedience to the father and be identified with him and what he did for you on Calvary's Cross. Through baptism. So then baptism is not a means to salvation but an announcement to all present that you are one.

It doesn't save you. It's just a public identification with your savior and a public announcement. To others that you have been saved. And that it is your desire to let them know. And to follow your savior.

Just as Jesus baptism announced the beginning of his earthly ministry. So, baptism introduces Christ's newly redeemed saint and his new ministry in service to his Lord and his king. It announces that the old life that was before faith in Christ has ended and that the new redeemed one in Christ now lives a new life through Christ Jesus. For if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away.

Behold, all things are become new. Let me read verse four again. The adverse in Romans six, therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. It doesn't end with baptism. It is just the first step of obedience in the life of a Christian.

That is to be followed by many steps of obedience as we walk with Christ and we serve Christ in our new life as children of God. If you would turn to Matthew 28, Matthew 28. Matthew 28 verses 18 through 20. Verse 18, and Jesus came and spake unto them saying, he is meeting with his disciples after his resurrection. He says here, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

All power, the word power there is exousia in the Greek. It means power. It also means authority. Jesus says, all authority, all power is given unto me and in heaven and in earth and based upon that power and that authority that is Christ, he gives a command in verse 19. He has the right.

He has the power to give the command and to help those that trust in him to fulfill it. Verse 19, he says, go you therefore. Based on my authority, go you therefore. Based upon my power, go you therefore and teach all nations. The word teach there means to teach them the what?

It means to teach them the gospel. It means to convert them to Christ. It means to disciple them. To win them to the Lord. So, he says, go you therefore and win people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Give them the gospel that they might be saved. And be believers and join the church that I am building. And then, he says, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost. Jesus said to his disciples, I want you to go. I want you to make converts, disciples of Jesus Christ and then I want you to do what?

I want you to baptize them. I want you to baptize them as I exemplify back in Matthew chapter three. I want them to publicly identify themselves as Christians. And I want you to baptize them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy ghost indicating the trinity and that each person of the trinity has a very important role and part to play in the salvation of every lost sinner. God the father sent God the son, his only begotten son to earth, who died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, who promised when he went back to heaven to send the comforter, the holy ghost, the Holy Spirit to come which he did and to fill and baptize not in water but spiritually.

Every newborn believer into the body of Christ and seal them in Christ Jesus until the day of redemption and we could go on and on and on about the ministry of the Holy Spirit but that's not what our message is on today. He said, you go, you give them the gospel, you win them to the Lord, and then you baptize them as I have demonstrated. And do it in the name of the father and of the son. And of the Holy Ghost. To identify them.

As my children before the world. Now, in our society, there isn't a cost associated so much with baptism. But in much of the world, there is a great cost associated with baptism. You see, most people in our country, in our society that are baptized, it's not considered a a a terrible thing. It's not considered a betrayal.

Of their heritage, of their family, of their former religion. But in most of the world, it is. It is very difficult, very often. Forget though to get those whose families are steeped in Roman Catholicism to be not only saved but then to be baptized because it's not at the point where they say, hey, I trusted Christ as savior that their family gets upset. It's when they get what?

It's when they get baptized and they publicly identify with Jesus Christ that their family gets upset. I had young men when I was a youth pastor in Georgia who got saved but they they their their families were migrant workers that lived across the field from the church and they were very Catholic and they didn't want their children to get baptized because to them, it was a betrayal of their family, not only of their faith in the Catholic church. In some places around the world, in in Hindu areas in India and stuff. I am told that when somebody get back gets baptized, that the family has a funeral for them. And buries an empty coffin and no longer talks to them, associates with them anymore.

To their family, they're dead because they got baptized. In Muslim countries, baptism is likely to get you killed. Because you're identifying a break from Islam which is against the law and so people all around the world that get baptized, identify with Christ, they do it often at great peril and at great cost. But it doesn't begin to compare with the cost that Christ Jesus paid for us on the cross of Calvary. When he died for our sins, that we might be saved.

From hell and from sin. From the very lake of fire for all eternity. Because of what he suffered there for us. The least we can do is follow him in believers baptism and in obedience to the Lord. As he commands here, that his disciples teach them, convert them, win them to Christ, and then baptize them and then finish verse 20, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you and low, I am with you all way even unto the end of the world, amen.

Jesus said and you don't stop there, you win em to the Lord, you baptize them, and now you disciple them, you teach them, you train them, you teach them to observe all things that are in my word that they might know how to live a Christian life that brings glory to the Lord and and that proclaims to the world in their words and in their actions. The holiness and the love of Jesus Christ and the need of others to come to know him as savior as we have. And so this is just a piece of the puzzle in living the Christian life that we entered into, not by the waters of baptism but by faith in Jesus Christ. It is a matter of obedience to the father. It is a matter of identifying ourselves and being introduced to the church as the children of God.

It is fulfilling all righteousness. Both the congregation of the saints in performing this ordinance. Obey the command of the father that was given here to his disciples and the new believer in Christ in yielding to baptism. Also, obeys the will of the father and following through. With this important ordinance.

And so we have two today and I'm will have them to come in just a moment. For baptism. But before they come, I want to give you an opportunity this morning to consider, are you saved? Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior today? It's not the waters of baptism and it's not coming to a baptist church and being on the road.

It's not in doing good things for your neighbor. It is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is only by God's grace through faith in his son that we are saved and I'd like to ask you this morning, do you know him? Have you been saved by his grace? Let's pray.

Dear heavenly father, we pray Lord that you would open up the hearts of those that are here today. That if there be one here that's never trusted Christ as savior and Lord, that they would come as we give this hymn of invitation that we might share with them how they might be saved today and know it and Lord, we pray Lord if there's one here that's trusted Christ as savior but has yet to be baptized in obedience to your word that they would consider their need to be baptized and that soon Lord, they would be baptized in obedience and following your steps also. And I pray Lord today for those that are come will come for baptism. That they would truly understand the purpose and the meaning of what they are partaking in and Lord that they would indeed by your grace live a life that is glorified to the one who has saved them and given them eternal life. In Jesus precious name, we do pray.

Amen.