Baptism

Commanded by Jesus

This was not a new idea Zechariah 13:1 “ On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity “

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John 2:6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Exodus 30:19&20 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so they will not die. Also when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the Lord by fire.

The Greek word translated wash is” Baptizo” from which the English baptize comes from…which means dip, plunge under or submerge.

“Christian groups think of baptism not as a means by which salvation is brought about, but as a sign and a seal of the covenant. The covenant is God’s pledge to save humankind. Because of what He has done and what He has promised, God forgives and regenerates. One the one hand, baptism is a sign of the covenant, on the other hand, it is a means which people enter into that covenant…

“The symbolic view of baptism emphasizes the symbolic nature of the rite, by emphasizing that baptism does not cause an inward change, or alter a person’s relationship to God in any way. Baptism is a sign, or outward indication of the inner change that has already occurred in a believer’s life. It serves as a public identification with the person of Jesus Christ, and thus also a public testimony of the change that has oc c urred.” ( All About the Bible, pg 71 & 72 Thomas Nelson Publishers)

The wedding ring

The text for today Matthew 3:13-17 (kind of) Vs.11… “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Vs. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and he will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

vs. 13 Then Jesus came to Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

vs. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

vs. 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

vs. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, 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.

Parallel passage John 1:29-34 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I meant when I said, `A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.` I myself did not know Him but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John gave this testimony: I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. I would not have known Him except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, `the Man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit`. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.

vs. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”

Have you been obedient ? Because we are joint heirs with Jesus, can God say of us ….”This is my son or daughter, whom I love; with them I am well pleased”