Jesus' Baptism And Ours

The death of Jesus on the cross and his burial in the tomb and his resurrection from the grave were reenacted there as I confessed Jesus as the Son of God before that congregation and Elbert Henry buried me in that water in Jesus Name, and raised me up to a new life in Christ. It was a wonderful day.

I’m convinced by the Word of God that the righteousness Jesus fulfilled in his baptism was not for himself, but for us.

Jesus was not a sinner like me. When Jesus came to be baptized, he didn’t need to do it for himself, we needed him to do it for us. Part of the righteousness Jesus fulfilled there was ours. 2 Cor 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus, God become flesh, Word of God as a man, came to the waters of baptism in his righteousness to reach down and touch the place where sinners could reach up to touch the forgiveness of God and receive his righteousness there. Like John, we meet Jesus in the water. There in the waters of baptism, all our sins are washed away from us by his blood. Acts 22:16 There in the waters of baptism, we enter into the death of Jesus and are raised up into his life. Romans 6:2-4. There in the waters of baptism, God removes our old self and clothes us with Christ. Gal. 3:27-28. There in the waters of baptism, we make a pledge and appeal to God for a clean conscience and he saves us. 1 Peter 3:21. There in the waters of baptism we receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38. There in the waters of baptism we experience the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Listen to Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Jesus paid for our sins on the Cross, there he died for you and me. His body was buried in the tomb. But Jesus rose from the grave. This is the center piece of God’s work of salvation. Why then is baptism so important? Because it centers on the very heart of God’s work of salvation. It stands at the heart of the gospel message and proclaims its grace. Baptism is not an optional ceremony for those who believe in Jesus. Baptism is reenactment of Jesus death, burial and resurrection where the sinner meets the Savior and is cleansed of sin and filled with the Holy Spirit.

That’s why Jesus said, “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely, I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt. 28:19-20

That is why when Paul sums up the 7 central matters of Christian unity in Ephesians 4: 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--