Identify!

Scripture: 

“But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” …And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17

Study:

After Eve and Adam sinned, there needed to be a perfect sacrifice to justify humanity for his sin. Jesus, having no sin, willing accepted God's plan to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' first step in fulfilling God's plan was to be water baptized. He did this to identify with his people. As Jesus came from the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon him to affirm his calling, which included the cross, death, and resurrection. Then God/Father said, “I am well pleased.”

   

In the previous post, we discussed that man's first step to salvation is confession and repentance followed by water baptism. It is not the water that saves but what the baptism represents. Baptism is an outward action to identify us with Christ and the work He accomplished for us to fulfill our righteousness. As we identify with Christ we follow his example of dying to himself. We die to sinful way of life, and choose to submit to the Holy Spirits' direction in our life. In other words, by our identity with Christ, we are made righteous in Him. When this happens God/Father will be pleased. And note this, not only will God notice, but others will identify us with Christ. 

Application: Jesus identified with us and we will identify with Him. If our lives do not identify us with Jesus, the act was meaningless. Does our walk identify us with Jesus?

Prayer: 

Dear Father, Jesus, help us remember that our identity is in you, and may we live accordingly. Amen.

Is Your Baptism unto Salvation?

Scripture:

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3: 11-12

Study:

In the previous passage John the Baptist was teaching and baptizing with water. He explained the value of water baptism to represent the believer's confession and repentance of sin. This sounds as though John was teaching a two step process of being saved, first, confession and repentance, then later, something else.  However, "John's baptism" was before Jesus had begun his ministry and before the giving of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he explained that his baptism was to prepare the way for "the ONE coming after him, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire," and that His (Jesus) work was superior to his (John's)," actually, completing God plan of salvation. 

In the previous passage he told the the Pharisees and Sadducees that their baptism was nothing more that being "dunked" in the water. Maybe they had confessed and were sorry for their sins but there was no evidence of turning away from their sin. John told them, (paraphrased), "Unless there is evidence, producing "good" fruit, you are not "saved" and "you will burn with the chaff and surely die." However, if you truly repent, you will be given the Holy Spirit and fire. 

Many people go into the water and are "dunked" but come out of the water, living no different from when they went in. Maybe they confess their sins, and for the moment are sorry for having lived a sinful life. They have good intentions to live the Christian life but turning from their old life is another story. Most want to claim the reward of being saved without turning away from the old habits and lifestyle and turning to Jesus' way. In fact, many have no intention of submitting to the Holy Spirit's working in their life to enable them to resist the temptation to sin. Unless  faith becomes active in our lives we have been deceived and have not been truly "saved." 

Application: If we want to lead others to Christ our lives must be convincing that Jesus is alive. in our lives. Repentance means to "turn around and not go back." If baptism represents the inward change, and the way we live our lives is the outward evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our life, then why aren't we seeing evidence in the lives of those who profess to be Christian? How can we live life WORTHY of our calling? 

Prayer: 

Dear Father, help me to submit to be obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, to truly turn from my old ways and not look back. Holy Spirit come. To you Father in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Baptized by Water

Seeing the Light:

"In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.... Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,... and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.... But he said to them...Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.... (for) Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. " Matthew 3: 1-10.

Study:

God had been silent since the prophet Malachi, some 330+ years, and now a new man is on the scene, John the Baptist. John not only proclaimed a new gospel, but instituted "baptism" by water, by those who accepted the doctrine of confession and repentance of their sins. He was telling the people to come, confess their sins and be baptized with water. Repent means to turn from, making an about face, turning to something new.
  
The Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, but were not sincere in their faith. In other words they had not truly repented for their conversion had not made any difference in the way they were living their lives. John illustrates this point by saying that a tree bears good fruit and those trees that are not producing the fruit that the tree claims to produce is cut down. 

There are many who have been baptized with water. They say they believe. Even Satan and those possessed by demons believe. Our belief will move us to confession and repentance of our sin. It is healing to confess our sin but confession alone is not enough. If we do not turn from the sin and go in a different direction, we will continue in that sin or some other sin. To repent means that we choose a different way. The Bible contrast defines two ways; one that includes life, light, and good, versus the the other which includes death, dark, and evil. 

If we want a new life absent of death, dark and things associated with evil then we must confess our sin and turn from those things and choose the new life. Confession and repentance is the first step to a new life that includes the giver of life -  Jesus. Evidence of true confession and repentance is how we live our life or as John said, we will bear "good fruit." 

We planted a plum tree but when it produced it's fruit it was not a plum. The fruit was about the size of a pinto with a seed the size of a pea. We cut the tree down carried it to the dump. 

Application: Has Christ made a difference in the way you live? If you have not allowed Christ to made a difference in your life I would challenge you to repent from those things in your life that do not represent Jesus.  If you have never known Christ, confess and repent and live for him. Either way - Turn and choose Jesus today.

How do you understand confession and repentance? 
  

Prayer: 

Dear God, thank you for providing a way for me to restore my relationship with you through confession and repentance.  We all have the human desire to satisfy our own needs but convict me of my wrong doings so that I will turn from sin before I allow sin to take my thoughts captive. Convict and forgive me for my sin and help me to choose you in every area of my life. Keep me from the evil one that would lead me into temptation. Holy Spirit come. Holy Spirit come. To you Father in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.