Daily Friendship with God # 1 Baptism in water

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus is our example of how to live life. One thing He exampled for us was baptism. He said  “it is proper for us to do this(baptism) to fulfill all righteousness.

And He (Jesus) said to them(His followers), “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16

Jesus words in Mark 16 speaks of the importance of being baptized. 

….all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him. (1 peter 3:20b-22)

The action of going into the waters of baptism is one of the most important acts of faith and privileges that a friend and follower of Jesus can do. First Peter three was written to help followers of Jesus understand that baptism brings about a clear conscience towards God by knowing that their sins have been washed away. Water baptism is a Physical action that is symbolic of a spiritual truth that is profound. This truth not only gives Jesus followers a clear conscience towards God but it also gives us the foundation for living free from sin. This is explained in Romans 6.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1-4

The New Testament was written originally in the Greek Language. In Greek the word baptized in Romans 6 means to be immersed or submerge, The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (baptô) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizô) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

Romans 6 notes a spiritual baptism. In that spiritual baptism we were baptized into Christ, His death, and buried with Him through baptism into death. Next Romans 6 tells us the results of those truths, which is so we can walk in the newness of life (having been raised with Christ as noted in Colossians 3). The idea here is that we at the point of believing that Jesus died for our sins, we spiritually by faith believe that our old sinful life (with all its sins) were immersed into Jesus death on the cross. Then we remaining immersed in Christ were buried with Him. Next remaining immersed in Christ we were also raised from the dead (with Christ) so we can walk in a brand new life. The concept of dying with Christ and being raised from the dead with Him is noted in the book of Colossians chapter 3

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)

Physical Baptism into water is the representation of spiritual Baptism into Christ that results in producing a permanent change. When Jesus was baptized many things transpired which are noted in Matthew 3:13-17

First, “the heavens were opened to Him” . This is the idea that all the blessings that come from our heavenly Father were open to Him. Once you take a step into the waters of baptism it opens a whole new set of blessings for you from heaven above. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Secondly, in the waters of baptism Jesus was also baptized in the Holy Spirit. “He (Jesus) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”

Jesus is our Savior’s name which means God is Salvation or God who Saves. Christ is His title not His last name. Christ means the Anointed one.  In God’s word to be Anointed means to be empowered and set apart for the specific use of God’s mission on earth. Jesus said what His mission was.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

because he has anointed Me

to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Directly after Jesus’ baptism He began His public ministry and mission. 

At the point that Jesus was baptized into water the Holy Spirit came upon Him. In this we see there were two baptisms that took place in Jesus life at his water baptism. God welcomes His followers into water baptism as well as into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The first baptism is into water. In the life of a follower of Jesus this is to represent being spiritually immersed into Christ death, burial and resurrection resulting in being born again as noted in John Chapter 3. The second baptism is into the Holy Spirit. There are many aspects to understand concerning the topic of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. All of the blessings that come with the baptism of the Holy Spirit will be discussed in Daily Friendship with God # 2 Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The third results of Jesus’ baptism in water was, He was affirmed in the love of our heavenly Father.  “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  The affirmation of our heavenly Father’s love is one of the greatest blessings that a person can ever experience . To know that your Heavenly Father is well pleased with you is the very thing that you were created for as noted in Revelations 4.   

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

Fulfilling the purpose you were created for is one of the most significant things that each individual innately desires. God through baptism combines the truth of fulfilling the purpose you were created for with another truth, which is the desire to be loved, affirmed and accepted. Both of those truths are accomplished in taking the action of being baptized. Each individual must choose to be baptized and is it one of greatest and most important choices you will ever make. the next step is up to you. The waters of baptism are inviting you into a whole new life of blessings. God loves you so much that He send His Son Jesus to give you the example of baptism in water and the Holy Spirit. He did this so that you will receive all the blessings that comes from the results of following His example.  In the waters of baptism you will come to know and experience God in a deeper, more personal and a powerful way.   

To schedule  a time to step into the waters of the new life of blessings from God through baptism text or call 949-584-7656.