“Following the Right One”


Reading:     Matthew 3
Text:           Matthew 3.13-17
The baptism of Jesus has been looked at as problematic by some.  If baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, why was Christ baptized?  This is often asked by those who do not believe in the necessity of baptism in salvation.
Consider a very simple argument for the baptism of Christ.  If Christ had not been baptized there would surely have been people who would say, "Jesus wasn't baptized, so why should I?"  Christ was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" (3:15).  Note that in Psalms 119:72 the Bible says, "all thy commandments are righteousness."  This means Jesus was baptized to fulfill the commandment of God.  We can draw the conclusion that Jesus was baptized because it was a commandment of God.  Not for Jesus specifically, but for all people.  Baptism is a command and Jesus felt He should be baptized to keep all the commandments of God.  This has great significance for us.  We need to be baptized because it is God's command in putting away sin.  To reject baptism is to reject a command of God.  Not even the sinless, Son of God felt He could ignore this commandment.  How can we?          -TM

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