Baptism: Identifying with Christ

[Bro. Bill]

Baptism: Identifying with Christ

Matthew 3

Christ began His public ministry with baptism. At the time, John the Baptist was calling people to confess their sins and demonstrate repentance through immersion in the river. So why did Jesus, the sinless One, ask to be baptized? At first, John actually refused, knowing Christ was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). But Jesus wasn't demonstrating repentance; He was sacrificially identifying with sinful humankind.

As Christians, we're called to follow His example in all things, becoming more like Him as we grow in our faith. That's why baptism is the first step in following Jesus. As He was willing to identify Himself with us, we publicly identify with Him when we are baptized, which is a symbolic way of declaring, "I have trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior and believe that the debt of my sin is fully paid through His sacrifice. I believe that as He rose from the dead, I will also be resurrected through Him. I look forward to walking in God's will while I'm on the earth and living with Him throughout eternity. Since He loved me enough to identify Himself with me in my sin, I will show my love for Him by following His example right now, and for the rest of my days."

Baptism demonstrates our connection not only with Christ but also with our spiritual brothers and sisters--past, present, and future. We're joining everyone who has walked before us in faith, saying that we are members of one body, redeemed and brought to life by the same Lord.
Dr. Charles Stanly

[Leemo]

Thanks for always taking the time to post , I enjoy

[lovemylegacy]

Thanx Bro Bill

[LWolken]

Baptism: Can believers and pastors "Identify" with Christ by rejecting the very writings which indeed "Identify" Christ?

John 5:46-47 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me [Jesus]. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my [Jesus] words?"

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.

2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

Matthew 3

Christ began His public ministry with baptism [Mikvah-Priestly Purification-Numbers 8:6-7, Exo 19:6,10,14, Nehemiah 12:30]. At the time, John the Baptist was calling people to confess [make covenant with their mouth-renewing their marital vows, Exo 19:8] their sins [lawlessness] and demonstrate repentance [turning back-returning to instruction] through immersion in the river. So why did Jesus, the sinless [sin is breaking the law-1 John 3:4] One, ask to be baptized [Purified]? At first, John actually refused, knowing Christ [The Word of God] was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin [Lawlessness] of the world" (John 1:29). But Jesus [Word of God in the Flesh] was actually reminding us that we are a Royal Priesthood forever in the order of Melchizedek if we choose [Many are called but few choose] to go through the purification protocol required for becoming His priests.

As Christians [Christ like, Christ kept the Law], we're called to follow His example [by keeping the Law] in all things, becoming like Him [free from blemish or lawlessness] as we grow in our faith [faith is obedience-Matthew 8:5-10]. That's why baptism [purification] is the first step in following [obeying] Jesus. As He was willing to identify Himself with us [As our High Priest], we publicly identify with Him [priestly ordination] when we are baptized [died to our old lawless nature and become follwers of Him, The Word/Law in the flesh], which is a symbolic way of declaring, "I have trusted [obeyed] Jesus Christ [The Word of God] as my Savior [Deliverer] and believe that the debt [penalty] of my sin [past lawlessness-death] is fully paid through His sacrifice. I believe that as He rose from the dead, I will also be resurrected through Him. I look forward to walking in God's "will" [keeping His Law/Instructions-Psalms 40:8] while I'm on the earth and living with Him throughout eternity [Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done]. Since He loved [by giving us commandments/instruction] me enough to identify [reveal] Himself [The Word-Living Instruction John 1:1,14] with me in my sin [lawless/instructionless state] , I will show my love [loyalty-by keeping His commandments-John 14:15] for Him by following His example [sinless, obedience to the Father's Instruction, laws, word etc.] right now, and for the rest of my days."

Baptism [Priestly Purification] demonstrates our connection not only with Christ [as our High Priest] but also with our spiritual "brothers" and "sisters" [Mattew 12:50, Mark 3:35, Psalms 40:8] past, present, and future. We're joining everyone who has walked before us in faith [faith is obediece] , saying that we are members of one body, redeemed and brought to life by the same Lord.