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📝 = Fill in the Blank
We’re going to continue in our series, "THE WAY” this morning, a study on the way that Jesus took to get to us. Last week shared in a message called, "I’m On My Way!”
After our run in with the boy, 12 year old Jesus, the next 18 years go silent in all of the gospels. Jesus emerges again on the scene to officially begin His Ministry at the age of 30.
For us, the phrase is often, "But first, COFFEE.” For Jesus it was…
📝 But first, BAPTISM .
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?””
Matthew 3:13-14
“But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.”
Matthew 3:15
The amplified version puts it like this…
“But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is THE FITTING WAY for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.”
Matthew 3:15
In other words, It’s time John.
And THIS IS THE WAY TO MARK THIS MOMENT. After hearing this, then John the Baptist, baptized Jesus. Verse 16 says,
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”
Matthew 3:16
“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.””
Matthew 3:17
And that’s how chapter 3 ends. It ends with Jesus, the Son of God being baptized.
Baptism isn’t a small thing. Baptism isn’t something to be overlooked. Baptism isn’t something to be skipped over or to be taken lightly. The end result of Jesus’s baptism was this…GOD WAS WELL PLEASED.
I want to speak to you from this subject today….
THIS IS THE WAY
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
📝 Baptism is an outward SIGN of an inward CHANGE.
The same way that my ring is an outward sign, of an internal covenant made between God, Logan and myself, so it is with baptism.
📝 Baptism doesn’t SAVE you. GRACE alone saves you.
📝 "For BY GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!””
Galatians 2:21
Baptism doesn’t SAVE you. GRACE alone saves you, but when you get baptized, be sure to do it like Jesus did it.
Let’s look at verse 16 again…
“When He had been baptized, JESUS CAME UP IMMEDIATELY FROM THE WATER; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”
Matthew 3:16
📝 Biblical baptism happens through IMMERSION in the water, not by being SPRINKLED with water.
“Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was MUCH WATER there. And they came and were baptized.”
John 3:23
Why would you need MUCH water to baptize someone if baptism were just a sprinkle? A Dasani water would’ve been suffice for that.
To be taken back in the water, to be immersed in the water is symbolic. Colossians 2:12 speaks to this where it says,
“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.”
Colossians 2:12
“Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”
Romans 6:3-5
This is why when I take people back into the water I always say,
"Buried with Him, in the likeness of His death. Raised to walk, in the newness of life!”
When we’re baptized, we’re reminded of what Jesus did for us. When we go down into the water, we’re reminded of Jesus’ death on the cross and His payment for our sins. But when we come out of the water, we’re reminded that three days later, Jesus rose from the dead! We rejoice with 2 Corinthians 5:17 where it says,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17
Jesus told John, "Do it it now…THIS IS THE WAY!!! This is the way to what???
📝 THIS IS THE WAY TO DRAW THE LINE.
Baptism is the way to draw the line. Baptism is the way to say enough is enough. Baptism is the way to say the buck stops here! Baptism is the way to say this is my new beginning. Baptism is the way to say I’m not going back! Baptism is the way to draw the line between who used to be, to who God is calling you to be. It’s where you draw the line between JACOB and ISRAEL. It’s where you draw the line between the carpenters son and THE SON OF GOD! But first, BAPTISM, because this is where I draw the line.
“But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.”
Matthew 3:15
In other words, Jesus was saying…
📝 THIS IS THE WAY TO SUBMISSION.
John as you take me back in that water, I’m dying to myself. As you take me back in that water, I’m saying that my life is no longer my own. I’m dying to myself, and I’m submitting my ways, my heart, and my agenda to my Heavenly Father. Paul said it like this in Galatians 2:20…
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
James, the half brother of Jesus made it clear in James 4:7 when he said,
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
From this scripture we arrive at this thought…
📝 Total SUBMISSION to God, releases STRENGTH to resist the devil.
Wherever the enemy isn’t fleeing, exposes the area that you’re not submitting to God.
As we’ll see next week, Satan tempted Jesus, and tempted Jesus, and tempted Jesus, then he had to flee, because Jesus was fully submitted to God. Jesus was so submitted that He said in John 6:38,
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38
📝 THIS IS THE WAY TO MY PUBLIC DECLARATION.
📝 My LIFE is not my own.
📝 I IDENTIFY with Christ.
📝 I LEFT IT in the water.
And trust me, that’s what you’re going to have to tell your past, that’s what you’re going to have to tell those punk demons, those lying thoughts that say, nothing has changed, you’re still the same old person, come on let’s go do this, or come on let’s go that. You’re going to have say, no thank you! My life is not my own! I now identify with Christ! The things that I used to do, I don’t do anymore. The places I used to go, I don’t go anymore. You know why…because I left it in the water!! Galatians 3:26-27 says,
“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, LIKE PUTTING ON NEW CLOTHES.”
Galatians 3:26-27
Tell every demon that’s been assigned to your life…
I’VE CHANGED CLOTHES.
What are you doing here Jesus? I shouldn’t be baptizing you. You should be baptizing me. I hear you John, I understood what you’re trying to say, but John, THIS IS THE WAY.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible about Baptism is about God using Phillip to baptize an Ethiopian Eunuch. The Eunuch was sitting there reading his Bible, Phillip asked him if he understood what he was reading. The Eunuch said how can I unless someone explains it to me. Philip went on to tell him the good news of Jesus Christ. Immediately this Eunuch was ready to take his next step. Acts 8:36 says,
As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?" Acts 8:36
And he said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Acts 8:37-38
WHAT’S KEEPING YOU FROM BEING BAPTIZED?
“What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’”
Acts 22:16
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