Today you are going to witness men and women being baptised. Some of them will share why they are doing this and what Jesus means to them.
To find the pattern of why we baptise we must go to the Bible.
Matthew 3:13-17:Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ 15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’
This is on of the most exciting services we have a Christians, to celebrate the baptism of believers and to this on Easter Sunday is especially marvellous.
In the Book of Acts, we read that the early church placed much significance in water baptism. When people would turn their lives over to Jesus, the leaders of the early church were immediately looking for a body of water deep enough to submerse them in. They didn’t wait for weeks or months. They performed this ordinance as soon as possible after salvation.
Water Baptism is so significant that Jesus Himself was baptised in water prior to starting His earthly ministry. May we always endeavour to follow Jesus’ steps in all things.
The Trinity Is Present.
John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, was preaching a message of repentance. People were responding to his message and he was baptising them in water to wash away their sin and purify them. On one such occasion, Jesus comes to be baptised. Jesus had no sins to wash away as He was sinless, but yet He came and humbled Himself to lead us into all truth.
Notice that the trinity was present at Jesus’ baptism; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Godhead; the three in one was there emphasising the significance.
God the Father expressed His love to His Son in a very tangible fashion: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
Jesus, the Son of God, submits Himself to water baptism as our example. As the Son of God, He had no need to be baptised in water. As the Son of Man, our example, He willingly submitted Himself to John to be baptised.
The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and empowered Him for His upcoming earthly ministry that started now and ended at the cross, “As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him."
(Matthew 3:16)
Water Baptism is a Picture of Salvation
After the resurrection and prior to Jesus ascending to heaven He left His followers with a simple commission. Followers today refer to it as The Great Commission. This Great Commission is "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
Water baptism is a picture of salvation. Just as at the baptism of Jesus, the Trinity is involved in salvation. God the Father loved you so much that He sent His Son to die for your sins.
Jesus, the Son of God, came in total obedience to the Father and gave His life for your sins on the Cross. The Holy Spirit came on the third day and brought life back to the body of Christ and Christ rose again and is alive forever more.
This baptism can only happen when the person is old enough to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It is conscious decision to be baptised. It has to be for according to the Great Commission, Baptism is for disciples, not followers, nor attenders, but is part of the discipleship process.
Baptism Is a Picture of Death and Resurrection
Romans 6: 3-5: Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
There is nothing magical or special about this water in the pool today. It’s just water.
There is a picture here though. It reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is risen! Baptism is our identification with His death and resurrection for us.
It shows that we have died to the old life and are being raised, in Christ, to live the new life.
Wrapping It Up!
Water Baptism is very significant. It is significant to God and it is significant to us. Water Baptism will not save us. Only Jesus can save us from our sins, but water baptism is an important step we take as we follow Jesus on our journey from earth to glory.
The gospel message is still the same today as it was when it was first heard:
Acts 2: 38: Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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