BAPTISM
VALUE
Second
of seven in Let’s Get Busy Series
Matthew
3:13-17, Matthew 28:16-20
Matthew 3:13: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan
to be baptized by John”
At thirty years old, Jesus, who never sinned, was ready
to begin His ministry. In Israel two
thousand years ago, this was the age when parents give their sons and daughters
in marriage. But Jesus had a different
agenda. He was following His Father’s
will. Not Joseph. Yahweh.
People identify with and copy people whom we admire and
respect. Kids identify with superheroes.
Jesus identified with, and obeyed His Father (John 14:31). (Our Father in heaven). Christians are wise to identify with and obey
Jesus.
Once Jesus gave this command to His disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (from
Matthew 28:19a), baptism is no longer an option for the believer. The many Christians who don’t believe that
baptism is a command—IF they weren’t baptized as babies—fail to obey. This is rebellion.
Here’s four reasons to value Jesus’ command of baptism: A.) Baptism is a public confession of one’s
faith. We claim belief that God is our
Father, Jesus is His Son and our Savior.
We acknowledge that the Holy Spirit lives in us.
B.) Humbling ourselves in obedience to baptism honors
God. This shows the world who is Lord of
believers’ lives. C.) Baptism by
immersion symbolizes salvation’s power to transform old natures (buried under
water) into new creations (rising out of the water) into newness of life (2
Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:4).
D.) Public baptism draws a connection with all brothers
and sisters in Christ. We are one body
under the authority of the same Lord (Colossians 1:18).
Baptism is not a requirement for salvation. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace
[that] you have been saved, through faith—and this not from ourselves, it is a
gift of God—.” But in order to obey
Jesus’ commands, those who come to Him by faith, make the decision to identify
with Jesus by following Him in baptism. For
Jesus identified Himself with sinful man when He obeyed His Father—who sent
John the Baptizer ahead of Jesus (Matthew 3:1-3).
Take
Home Nugget
New believers are eager to show the world whose they
are. Veteran believers learn that God’s
light needs to shine brightly by their words AND actions. Jesus says in Mathew 5:14 that His disciples
are the light of the world. God’s light
is not hidden under a bowl, but shines brightly from a stand. James 2:17 says that faith not accompanied by
action is dead.
God wants His kids to follow their
leader, Jesus.
J.D.
Griffith
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