Christ's Baptism & Ours

Mark chapter one and then we're going to turn over to Matthew chapter three. So, Mark chapter one and then we'll turn back to Matthew three where we will spend the majority of our time today in the scriptures. So, Mark chapter one, Mark begins his gospel with the ministry of John the Baptist who we looked at a couple weeks ago. John spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we talked about last week that Jesus would give which was far superior to his and then that brings us to verses nine through 11 this morning verses nine through 11 In Mark one and it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in Jordan and straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the spirit like a dove descending upon him and there came a voice from heaven saying, thou art my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Let's go to the Lord in prayer once more.

Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for the privilege to be here, to proclaim your word, for the privilege to be here to worship, receive your word today. Lord, forgive us Lord of our sins and our our failures Lord, make us more willing dear Lord today to follow you in every aspect of our life Lord, we thank you for what you've done for us. You gave your life on Calvary's Cross. You rose again from the dead.

We through faith in you might know eternal life that only you have to give. Lord, we pray if there's one here today that's never trusted in you as Christ as savior. We pray today that they would come to know you and Lord, we thank you for the privilege of proclaiming your gospel message We pray that in all things Christ would be exalted In Jesus name, we do pray. Amen. If you would turn back to Matthew chapter three Matthew chapter three and we're going to look at the parallel passage to Mark chapter one.

Matthew gives us a few more details than does Mark chapter one. So, therefore, we're going back to look at Matthew there. Last week, we talked about as already mentioned the difference between John's baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit which John declared that Jesus would bring. For as Christ himself was superior to John, Christ being heavenly, divine, and John earthly. So, the baptism that Jesus would produce being also divine spiritual and eternal to be superior to John's baptism in water For when one places his or her faith in the person and work of the risen Christ, we are born again.

Not by water, not by the will of man, but by the will of who? But by the will of God and the holy spirit which he has given to us, who seals us in Christ Jesus until the day we stand in heaven before him. Blameless and without spot. Not based upon our works or our merit but based upon the blood of Jesus Christ. Who cleanses us from what?

From all sin. However, neither the inferior nature of John's baptism nor the righteousness of Christ deterred him from seeking to be baptized of John. So, we're going to look and study that today as we look at Christ's baptism and ours. As Christ sets forth an example here in Matthew three. Steps that he commands us to follow in.

Matthew three, we're going to begin reading in verse 13. Then, cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. Just a couple of notes here as we read through. Jesus was born in Bethlehem but his family once again settled a few years later back in Nazareth in Galilee which is in Northern Israel up by the Sea Of Galilee. At the age of around 30, Jesus Christ came back down to Judea.

He had actually been there several times probably in years before that because the Jews came to Jerusalem for the Passover and other celebrations throughout the year but this time was different. This time was special and so Matthew records here. Jesus is coming down to Jerusalem, down to Judea, to the Jordan River for a specific purpose and that is to be baptized by John. Verse 14, but John forbade him saying, I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me. John said, no, wait a minute.

Why are you coming to me? To be baptized. Shouldn't it be the other way around? We'll come back to that in a moment and Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it or allow it to be so now. For thus, it becometh us, it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Then, he suffered him 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. In whom I am well pleased. So, Jesus came to John as we read here to be baptized in the Jordan River and John's immediate response was what? No. Why are you coming to me to be baptized as we read in verse 14?

John resisted Jesus request and rightly so. For John's baptism was a baptism that identified who? Repentant. Next word, sinners. Repentant sinners.

Who had come to make a public confession of their sin. But Jesus had. No. Sin. You see, the Bibles are very emphatic on this as they declare over and over again.

We are sinful but not who? But not Jesus. Second Corinthians five twenty one, for he hath made him that is God hath made Jesus to be sin for us who knew no sin. That we might be made the righteousness of God in or through him. First John three five and we know that he was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin.

Hebrews four fifteen, for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. You see, Jesus didn't need to be baptized and repent of his sins because Jesus was not a sinner. Now, you and I, we need to repent of our sins. We need to come to Christ in faith to be saved from our sins. But not Jesus because Jesus was not a sinner.

But Jesus told John that it must be done to fulfill all righteousness. In order to fulfill the righteous will of his father in heaven. Jesus said, this needs to be done. It is the father's what? It is the father's will.

As Christ obediently sought in obedience to his father to identify himself with sinful man for whom he had come to die. You see, Jesus wasn't a sinner but Jesus came and identified himself with who? With us or he came to die in my place and he came to die. In yours. As we'll talk about in a minute, when we are baptized as believers in Christ, we identify ourselves with Christ.

When Christ was baptized, he identified his self. With us. Philippians two five to eight. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. And made himself of no reputation took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death He suffered for sins, not his sins but ours.

Became obedient unto death even the death of the cross. Galatians four, four, and five, but when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Jesus came, he was incarnated. He took upon him human flesh. He became one of us.

That he might die for us. That he might be the mediator between us. And God. Romans eight three and four. For what the law could not do and that it was weak through the flesh.

God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemns sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. You see, the law was weak. The law cannot save because you cannot keep it and neither can I because we are what? Because we're sinners.

But Christ came in the flesh. He became a man and he kept the law. Not only did he keep the law, not only did he obey his father's will perfectly. But as being the spotless lamb of God, he could take your place and mine and he could exchange our sin for his what? For his righteousness.

That we might be justified before God in heaven. So, as Jesus was baptized that day as he went down in the waters and came out, he identified himself with us and with the sacrifice that he would make. In our behalf. So, John seated, conceded to Jesus request and did as he requested resulting in a different kind of revelation. In Matthew three sixteen and seventeen, as Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water.

By the way, that tells us he was immersed because he went down what? In the water and he came up out of the water. He wasn't sprinkled. He wasn't poured. He was immersed.

Jesus came 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 saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. First of all, it identified him with sinful man for whom he came to die. So, baptism identified Christ not as a repentant sinner but as the obedient what? Son of God. Sent by the command of his father to die for the sins of the ungodly and rise again from the dead that we through faith in him might be saved.

For as he came up out of the waters, the spirit testified who he was as he descended on the form of a dove and the father testified as he spoke from heaven, audible words which John heard. This is my beloved son. In whom I am well pleased. So, Jesus ministry began and his public identification as the son of God the Christ, the Messiah, of Israel, and the savior of the world who would die for the sins of mankind who would be buried and after three days would what? Rise again.

From the dead. In Matthew twenty eight eighteen through 20, we read earlier Christ thus commanded his disciples to baptize their converts to Christ in similar fashion. By immersion and in the name of the father, son, and holy ghost. Signifying the triune nature of God and each one's vital role. In our salvation.

For Jesus came and spake unto them, his disciples saying, all power, authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go, you therefore and teach all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy ghost. The word teach there is not the normal word, the the most common word for teach in the New Testament. It is a word that means to win souls to Christ.

To see people saved. For we're saved and then we're what? Baptized and then we're taught off to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded us to do. For the father sent the son to die on the cross to redeem us from sin, that the Holy Spirit might regenerate us and bapt ize and seal us into one body in Christ Jesus which baptism doth signify And as such, believers baptism following the pattern of Christ does not only identify us as a repentant sinner but also as a child of God. As Christ identified himself with us, we through baptism picturing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ identify ourselves.

With him. For just as Christ came to die on the cross for sin and was buried and three days later rose again. So, the Christian when he submits himself to believers baptism following his profession of faith in Christ. Thus, signify the same. First Corinthians fifteen three and four.

For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received. How the Christ died for our sins according to scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. What does the apostle Paul call this in first Corinthians 15? He calls it the gospel. The good news by which we are saved.

For fall, as Paul said in Romans one sixteen, for I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God. On the salvation to everyone that what? Believe it to the Jew first and also to the Greek and when we put our faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, who rose again from the dead. God keeps his what?

God keeps his promises. And God saves every soul that comes to him. In faith to be safe from their sin. He said, then he that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Praise the Lord for his grace and his mercy whereby he has accepted us into the beloved, into his family, through his work on Calvary's Cross and not our own.

Baptism signifies this. In Romans chapter six and verse four, It says, therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death. The 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. Paul explained to the Romans Christians that baptism in water pictures what happened to us when we were saved and publicly announces to others that we are a child of God that we intend to do by God's grace and help. Our very best in living.

Our new life for Jesus Christ. The Bible says, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. That doesn't happen when you get baptized.

That happened when you got saved. When you put your faith and trust in Jesus. Baptism simply pictures that. And announces it before others. And just as Jesus did not become the son of God at his baptism so a person does not become a Christian by baptism but by faith in Christ alone You see, there are some that teach falsely that Jesus became the Messiah on the day he was baptized but no, no, he was the Messiah from the foundation of the world.

You see, Jesus Christ is eternal God. Come to Earth in the form of man to die for our sins. He was the Messiah before he came. He was the Messiah when he came. He is the Messiah and savior of the world today.

He didn't become the son of God. He simply publicly acknowledged and embraced the ministry the father had given him. Publicly announced to everyone who he was and what he had come to do John three sixteen says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. At sixteen thirty one says and they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved in thy house. John 10, Romans ten nine, that if thou should confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall what?

Believe in thine heart. God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. When does one become a child of God? You receive Christ as Lord and savior That's when you become a child of God Not when you go through the waters of baptism This simply is an act of obedience before the Lord and a public confession before others. Sad to say, there's a lot of baptist today that are confused.

There's a lot of baptist today if you ask them when they got saved. How will they respond? They'll say, oh, I got baptized when I was. Now, maybe they were saved and then they were baptized and that's just the way they're explaining it to you. But sad to say, there are many baptist that I'm afraid aren't saved.

Because they got wet. In the baptismal pool. They didn't get saved by the blood of Christ. We get saved only through faith in Christ. Not by the waters of baptism.

But once we have become a child of God, we have a responsibility to follow the Lord in believers baptism and be identified with him. So, then, baptism is not a means to salvation but announcement to all present that you already are one. By God's grace through faith in his son. And furthermore, just as Jesus baptism announced the beginning of his earthly ministry, so believers baptism introduces Christ newly redeemed saint and his new ministry in service to his Lord. And king.

It announces both an ending, an old life, and the beginning of a new life in Christ. Hold your place in Matthew but turn over to Romans chapter six. We read verse four a moment ago but I want to read a few more verses just to put it in context and see here what apostle Paul is saying that baptism pictures and should remind us of. Romans chapter six verse four again, therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together keness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Praise the Lord. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth, we should not serve sin. Before you knew Christ, you were a slave to what? Your sinful nature. You were a slave to sin.

You did what? It told you to do. And you were without hope. To escape its penalty or get victory over its domination in your life but through Christ, that has been changed. The old man has been crucified.

He's still around so to speak He tempts us tries to pull us down We do not we do not have to listen to him anymore We now have a new spirit that dwells inside of our heart changes us, has given us new desires, and gives us victory day by day as we walk in the spirit. And as we follow the Lord. In this new life that God has given to us, that we might serve him and no longer serve sin. Verse seven, for all that is dead is freed from sin. Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death, hath no more dominion over him. You know something? For the wages of sin is death but the what? The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Death no longer has claimed to us either.

For they can kill this body. This soul is going to live with God forever and they can kill this body but one day, I'm going to get a what? I'm going to get a new one. I'm going to get a new one. Praise the Lord Verse 10, for he that died, he died unto sin once but in that he live it, he live it unto God.

Likewise, reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Apostle Paul says, reckon yourselves dead unto sin. For Christ conquered that enemy on the cross of Calvary. When you trusted in him, he saved you. He has the power to destroy it.

The power to give you victory. So, wrecking yourselves dead to sin. And alive unto God. The Bible says, before you were saved, you were dead unto God and alive unto what? Sin.

What sin said, you listen, you heard, and you followed. What God said, you didn't hear and you didn't respond. If you go up to a dead body and you start start giving it orders, is it going to follow? Can't hear. Can't respond.

Before we came to Christ as savior, we couldn't in our heart truly respond to God because we were dead in what? Trespasses and in sins but when we came to Christ and we were saved, we were made alive unto God and Paul says, to reckon ourselves dead unto sin. So, now, as God's children, we are and have the ability by God's grace and by his spirit to follow the Lord and we are to no longer respond to what? Respond. Sin, it has no claim over us anymore.

Wrecking yourselves dead on the sin. And alive unto God and this new life that Christ has given us. Signified by bapt Thus, the purpose in baptism being to fulfill all righteousness. That is obedience to the express will of God for the Christian. Doing as Christ commanded Both the congregation of the saints in performing the ordinance.

As we baptize Daniel, I'll ask to come up here in just a moment. As he's baptized as we baptize him today, we are obeying Christ's command. And as Daniel is baptized today as a new believer in Christ, he is obey Christ's command and so on the day of Penteco we read and Acts chapter two obedient followed Christ's command also. Baptizing 3,000 converts in one day. Adding their number to the first church of Jerusalem.

Acts two forty one. Then, they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day were added unto them about 3,000 souls. On the day of Pentecost Peter got up and he preached a message When he concluded with his message, 3,000 people responded to the invi Three people responded in repentance and faith toward Jesus Christ whom some of them had seen crucified Only weeks earlier Of some of them may have stood in front of the Temple Mount at Fort Antonio and cried to Pilate, crucify. And now, Peter preached to them and commanded them and pleaded with them. To have a change of mind and heart upon who Jesus is.

He wasn't an impostor. He wasn't a fraud. He is indeed the son of God. He proved it. He rose again from the what?

Dead. He sent the Holy Spirit as he said he would. On that day and three thousand souls responded in faith. 3,000 souls were saved and added to the family of God, the body of Christ, baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body. And then, that day, that's what it says here.

That day, those people were baptized. Now, how long would it take me to baptize 3,000 people in this baptismal? It's behind those curtains there. We would be here at least all day. We'd probably be here all week to baptize 3,000 people.

I stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on the South end of the Temple Mount and they had been excavating below the Temple Mount on the South side and they found a baptismal pool. A pool where they kept water. The the pool was almost the size of half of our auditorium. Maybe a little bit narrower but almost that long. And when the Jews came to the temple, they would wash themselves ceremonially in the waters of that pool before they went into the Temple Mount.

The waters of that pool were about yea deep and not only could they go and wash their hands but they could also be what? Immersed. And they could do a lot of people and that pool very quickly I suspect 3,000 souls that day went through that pool They went down into those waters picturing the death of Jesus Christ their savior And they rose up again out of those waters. Proclaiming his resurrection. Before all the people of Jerusalem, as they gave public confession to their faith in Jesus Christ.

And then they were added to the local church. That is the church of Jerusalem. That day. You see, we understand that you become a child of God, a Christian, you receive God's gift of eternal life through faith in Christ his son. But the world out there doesn't.

But what the world out there does notice often times is baptisms. If you live in certain places in the word and certain cultures, when you get baptized, that is a public declaration. You're saying now, I'm a what? I'm a Christian. And they disown you.

In some countries, they bury their children and they have funerals for them and they never talk to them again. When they follow the Lord in believers baptism and they part ways with the religion of their fathers. In some places in the world, to be baptized is to literally put your life in jeopardy because being a Christian is against the law and publicly declaring it is even more so. So, to us here in The United States, we may take this a bit for granted but in other parts of the world, they don't. In other parts of the world, this is a big deal and it should be also.