(Matthew Chapter 3)
Here we see the beginning of John the Baptists ministry. John came to do two things. He came to prepare the way for the Lord and to bear witness to Jesus as being the Christ. Was it necessary for him to do this? Probably not, but under the law a matter was considered true if two or more people witnessed it. And besides, it was prophesied that John would appear and do this work. He was the prophet that came in the spirit of Elijah as spoken of elsewhere.
Now we see John preach baptism as a sign for the repentance of sins, and this was very important. He introduced this process that was later carried forward into the New Covenant. John also made the point that it is not enough just to be baptised for repentance but you needed to be live a repentant life. He told the Jews that they could not simply rely on their genealogy to save them; they needed to “…bear fruit that befits repentance.” It is the same today. You cannot go through the motions and expect salvation; you need to live in accordance with the word.
Now the New Covenant did not exist in John’s time because it was not ratified and could not come into existence until after Jesus had died. The Old Covenant required the sacrifice of goats and bulls and the blood of these animals sufficed to do two things. Firstly they brought the covenant into existence & secondly they were the offering for sin. Jesus death was similar in that His blood brought the New Covenant into effect, but it was not an offering for sin but took away mans sin. To enter the New Covenant then we need to enter into Jesus’ death, which is done through baptism.
Now John also recognised Jesus was mightier than himself for he said when Jesus came for baptism that he (John) needed to be baptised by Christ. But we see in Jesus’ answer a very interesting response. Jesus said he needed to be baptised by John, “…for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Baptism is necessary to meet the requirements to fulfil all righteousness and without baptism this cannot be achieved. In Jesus’ case he did not need to be baptised, as John knew, but by being baptised Jesus provided an example for us all to follow. No person can say they do not need to be baptised because Jesus was not baptised. That is how important baptism is in the new covenant. Indeed baptism is the mechanism by which we enter the New Covenant through Christ Jesus. He said elsewhere that, “I am the door” and we need to enter by the door. We do that through being baptised into his death.
We also see that God the Father was pleased with Jesus and this process because God the Father gave his seal of approval saying from heaven, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”
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JOHN’S BAPTISM AND NEW COVENANT BAPTISM
Why do men accept the Scriptures about John’s Baptism but reject the Scriptures concerning New Covenant baptism?
JOHN’S BAPTISM
Matthew 3:13-15….14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. (NKJV)
Matthew 3:13-15…….15 Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.” Then John gave in to him. (God’s Word-Translation)
Jesus was required to be baptized in water by John the Baptist in order to fulfill all righteousness. Had Jesus rejected John’s baptism He would have been disqualified as a perfect sacrifice for mankind. Jesus was without sin, however, He still had to do all that God required Him to do.
You will notice Jesus did not say I was baptized by John as a simple act of obedience, but it really was not essential in order for me to fulfill all righteousness.
Luke 7:29-30 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves not having been baptized by him. (NKJV)
Luke 7:29-30 And all who heard John preach—even the most wicked of them—agreed that God’s requirements were right, and they were baptized by him. 30 All, that is, except the Pharisees and teachers of Moses’ Law. They rejected God’s plan for them and refused John’s baptism. (The Living Bible–Paraphrased)
When men today claim that Christian water baptism is either not essential to salvation or they outright refused to be immersed in water, are they rejecting God’s counsel? Are they rejecting God’s required for forgiveness of their sins?
Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.(NKJV)
Why do men believe that John the Baptist baptized in water for the remission of sins and then disbelieve the apostle Peter when he told the three thousands, (Who were baptized under the New Covenant) to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins? (Acts 2:38)
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the wrath to come.(NKJV)
John the baptist said men have to be baptized to escape the wrath of God. Men today say Christian baptism is simply a way to demonstrate their faith.
Why do men believe what God said about the baptism of John and rejected what God said about New Covenant baptism.
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IN WATER
1. Mark 16:16 ….and is baptized will be saved…(NKJV)
2. Acts 2:38…be baptized…for the remission of sin…(NKJV)
3. Acts 22:16…Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins…(NKJV)
4. 1 Peter 3:21 ..which now saves us, namely baptism..(NKJV)
5. Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (NKJV)
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