Friday November 27th-Matthew 3-Baptism
12:00 PM
Friday November 27th- Matthew 3-Baptism
Baptism is an outward sign of repenting, changing your old way of thinking, regretting your past sins and living your life in a way that proves repentance; seeking God’s purpose for your life.
John the Baptist-John was not just an ordinary man….His parents were both righteous. His father was of the division of Abijah and his mother was a descendant of Aaron. He was filled with the Holy Spirit while in his mother’s womb. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus.
But the angel said to him, “Do not
be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition
has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will
give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice
at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink
no wine or liquor, and he will be filled
with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many
of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power
of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the
disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:13-17
John lived his life to
introduce others to Jesus Christ; he was focused on the mission God had given
him. John also knew the importance of repenting of one’s sins in order to live
a holy and righteous life. And as a servant of God, he also was unafraid of speaking
truth, even when it meant calling out people such as the Pharisees and Saducces
for their sinful behavior. John was very well aware that the Messiah was coming and that he was
preparing the way for Him.
He knew that
his baptism was limited but He also knew that Jesus’ baptism was complete.
As for me, I baptize you with water
for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not
fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing
floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the
chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matt.
3:11-12
There were two prominent groups in Judaism at the time of Christ. Pharisees and Sadduces
Pharisees- based their beliefs on the law of Moses, but also on oral tradition. They were devout, zealous, and concerned with outward righteousness.
Sadduces- held primarily to the first five books of Moses. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead and did not adhere to the detailed laws of the Pharisees.
John saw right through them. They were self righteous and thought that because of their inheritance they thought they were saved. What more did they need?
Don’t people today say the same things? I am a good person and I live a good life what more do I need?
:7-10-But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
:11-As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Jesus’
baptism is of the Holy Spirit-true
repentance, and fire- judgment.
Jesus’ baptism is of the Holy Spirit-a true repentance, a willingness to change our old way of thinking, regret for our sins and live a changed life.
Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may
prove what the will of
God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
…with fire-judgment-unwillingness
to repent
:12-His winnowing fork is in His
hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His
wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Even though
He had no sin, He was willing to be baptized by John to fulfill all
righteousness.
Vs:14-17-Then Jesus *arrived from
Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to
prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to
me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way
it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him.
After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the
heavens were opened, and he
saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Titus 3:6-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind
appeared, 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, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life.
I would have
liked to be present when Jesus was baptized…Can you imagine hearing the Father’s
voice? It must have been life changing
for many who were there. I do not want to be like the Pharisees and Sadducees,
thinking I do not need the Lord in my life.
I need Him every moment of everyday.
As we are getting closer to the end of this crazy, turned upside down
year, let’s make sure we are His.
Col. 2:12-14-See to it that no one
takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the
tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather
than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily
form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule
and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made
without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of
Christ; having been buried with Him in
baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the
working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your
transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our
transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of
decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the
way, having nailed it to the cross.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
II Cor. 13:14
Lyn
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