JESUS’ BAPTISM REVEALS THE CHRIST (Outline)
January 11, 2009 --
EPIPHANY 1 / BAPTISM OF JESUS --
Luke 3:15-17, 21,22
INTRO: Baptism is a blessed sacrament for every believer in the Christian church. God’s grace takes on a very visible form in baptism. Sins are washed away by the power of God’s word connected with water. This may cause us to wonder why Jesus came to be baptized. Jesus had no sins to be washed away. Jesus lived a perfect life. So, why baptize Jesus? This was also the same question that John the Baptist had.
There are actually a number of reasons that Jesus came to be baptized. First Jesus showed his perfect obedience to his Father’s will. Jesus also revealed his willingness to fulfill everything required in God’s law and everything written in the scriptures. At his baptism Jesus was also revealed as the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed. Jesus was baptized as an obedient, willing, fulfiller of all of the scriptures. "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations" (ISAIAH 42:1).
JESUS’ BAPTISM REVEALS THE CHRIST.
I. John the Baptist testifies.
II. The Triune God testifies.
I. JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIES
A. John the Baptist attracted quite a crowd. The people came from all over to hear and be baptized.
1. Verse 15. Some hoped that John might possibly be the Christ promised long ago. They ask.
2. John answers: “The one coming after me is far more powerful. I am an unworthy servant”.
3. John decreased so that Christ would increase. Verse 16a. None could be more humble.
B. Verse 16b. Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Can any be immersed in fire?
C. Verse 17. John’s message was harsh. Repent, judgment is close at hand. The Judge is near.
1. Jesus will separate the wheat from the chaff. There is punishment for the unbelievers.
2. Those who deny Jesus, reject him, and do not believe will be separated into unending fire.
D. Baptism, forgiveness, and repentance are the great blessings that our Lord God Almighty gives to us as individual believers and as members of his holy Christian church. Repentance is a vital feature of our Christian living. Repentance is recognizing one’s sins. When the believer recognizes (or admits) his sins, there is sorrow over disobeying God. Repentance consists of a second part. The second part of repentance is knowing and believing that one’s sins are forgiven. Too many today try to add more to repen-tance than necessary. The Lord simply calls the believer to repent. The Lord graciously and freely and once for all provides his forgiveness! "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord"(ACTS 3:19). Repentance is refreshing from God.
E. Baptize in its definition means “to wash”. There is no place in Scripture where we are told in what manner we are to baptize. The Lord’s simple command is “to wash” or baptize with water and the Word. Some contend there is only one way to be baptized. This simply is not true. Like the Pharisees they are trying to make a command out of God’s gospel. One can be baptized by sprinkling or immersion. Jesus baptized with fire. Are we immersed in fire? This would leave a gruesome, disfigured believer. The fire at Pentecost was only a small flame. Baptism is about God’s grace of forgiveness. "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word"(EPHESIANS 5:25b, 26). We are never to overlook this fact of Jesus’ love for the sinner.
F. Hell is not a popular topic in normal conversation. Some would try to explain away the punishment reserved for the unbeliever. Others try to deny that a loving God would establish a place of torment. Over and over God’s word is very clear about hell. The punishment of hell is just as real as the bliss of heaven. Man’s denial or rejection will not cause hell to cease to exist. "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power"(2 THESSALONIANS 1:8,9). Being separated from God forever is the greatest punishment that anyone could ever face.
JESUS’ BAPTISM REVEALS THE CHRIST.
John the Baptist testifies and confesses Jesus as Christ.
II. THE TRIUNE GOD TESTIFIES
A. Verses 18-20 are not in our text. They tell of John’s preaching the truth. Herod puts John in prison.
1. The preaching of God’s truth will bring about different reactions. Herod hated God’s message.
2. Many others came out from the cities and entire region to hear John preach God’s message.
B. Verse 21. Jesus came to be baptized. Note that Jesus prays. The Son of God, God himself prays!
C. Verse 22. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove. Note that all who see it know it as the Holy Spirit.
1. For added emphasis the heavenly Father speaks from heaven. Jesus is called God’s Son.
2. The baptism, the Holy Spirit, and the voice of the Father testify for all: Jesus is the Christ.
D. Our God is triune. Scripture defines our Lord God Almighty as three persons but yet, only one God. Humanly and reasonably speaking this is a mystery. The mystery of godliness is a matter of faith. Faith is the belief that is in our hearts. Faith is much more than the knowledge that is in our heads. Again, some would attack the teaching of the Trinity. Some say there cannot be a triune God since the words triune and trinity are not used in the Bible. Time and again Scripture teaches about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Theologians call this the trinity. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (JOHN 14:26). Jesus speaks of his Father and the work of the Holy Spirit (see also JOHN 15:26).
E. Today the heaven does not open up to declare Jesus is the Son of God. The crowds do not go out into a desolate area to hear an eccentric preacher proclaim God’s truth. How will people know and believe? God has placed faith in our hearts. Today, you and I and every believer are to be modern-day John the Baptists. Today God has placed into lives, homes, and possession the entire wisdom and counsel of God. Our Bibles contain all that we need to know about Christ and even to share Christ. "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world"(1 JOHN 4:13,14). Christ is Savior is our simple testimony. The Christ means Messiah. Messiah means anointed. Christ, our Messiah, anointed for man’s salvation.
F. Many of us have been believers for a long time. Thank God for that miracle of grace. Being saved we can be come very comfortable in the security of our eternal salvation. It can be hard for us to imagine any others not having this same certainty. Very often we do not have to go very far to find someone struggling with faith. Some are terrified of what death may bring. Others are scared because of all the bad news broadcast in today’s world. These struggling souls need to hear about the Christ, the Savior – our Savior and their Savior. "That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved"(ROMANS 10:9.10). What we believe in our hearts we confess with our lives and by our lips that others are saved.
CONC.: Jesus did not need to be baptized for forgiveness. Jesus did need to be baptized to obediently carry out his Father’s will. Christ obeyed because we cannot and do not. Jesus need to be baptized so that he could be introduced to the world as the Christ. "For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’" (2 PETER 1:17). JESUS BAPTISM REVEALS THE CHRIST. John the Baptist testified to this truth. The Triune God testified. Now we testify!. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) & 7:00pm @ Living Savior, Hays, KS
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EPIPHANY 1 / BAPTISM readings.:
ISAIAH 49:1-6;
ACTS 16:25-34;
JOHN 1:4-11;
(PSALM 2)
