The Baptism of Jesus

Well this morning were continuing our study in the Gospel of Matthew, and that the writer of this first Gospel of Matthew is telling the story of Jesus in our study we come this morning to Matthew chapter 3 verses 13 through 17, where Jesus is about to begin his public ministry. I will remind you that Matthew began his gospel that by reminding us and declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Then he has explained that Jesus is conceived of a virgin, that is, birth is given this precious name that we been mentioning offering.

Already this morning that he is Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. And then last week we met John the Baptist that Old Testament prophet who cries in the wilderness repents for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Prepare the way of the Lord make straight his parents and also repented. We saw confess their sins and they demonstrated that they had repented by bearing fruit in keeping with repentance and in the passage. The day we meet Jesus when he survived 13 years of age.

According to Luke chapter 3 verse 23 Jesus comes from Galilee to the liberal Georgian where John has been baptizing many so we want to learn about Jesus so that we can follow him more closely so that we can love him more dearly, so that we can surrender to him will be gently and to share our faith more passionately with others.

So today I want to do what John the Baptist did, I want to point you to our wonderful Savior to say, as John did, will hold the line of God. We see him this morning. We listen to the Savior's first standard rate. Matthew chapter 3 verses 13 through 17. Here is the word of God to us this morning. Let's read it together then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him say I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me. But Jesus answered him, let it be so. No, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented 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 please. Thank you. Please be seated. Spurgeon said no one outgrows Scripture. The book widens and deepens with our years like that and we want to focus this morning on this wonderful passage of Scripture select if you have your Bible, we branded the time to it to Matthew chapter 3 verses 13 through 17. Who is Jesus.

Matthew has been telling us already and will see in this passage that Jesus is the son of God. He is the son of God people dispute that today but were going to hear the voice from heaven saying this is my son John we saw last week is a great Old Testament prophet, but John readily admits that Jesus is greater than him. John is the forerunner of Jesus and the forerunner is not as great as a person who is following John is less important than Jesus because John if you look back at verse 11. While John baptized with water. He said Jesus baptizes verse 11 of chapter 3. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. That's a more powerful baptism not just a baptism of water by the baptism of Holy Spirit power and file.

He also says in verse 11 that he is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. John those I Jesus comes to him that it is Jesus who should be baptizing John there 17. John would've prevented them saying I need to be baptized of you and do you come to me I would need to John chapter 1 that John says of Jesus, after me comes a man who is trying to before me because he was before me on children. Here's a question. How is it that Jesus is before John even although Jesus is born after John. John is born first and then Jesus.

So how is it that Jesus says of John here. In fact, is before me a really difficult question. Matthew was already told us that Jesus is no ordinary man, not even just a prophet.

He his name will be called Emmanuelle, which means God with us.

In what way is Jesus ranked higher than John because Jesus himself is God and before ever he came into this world in his incarnation, he existed eternally as God, and now in this wonderful saying that we just read, God the father declares Jesus to be the son of God.

I think of this in the Old Testament, the priests were anointed, anointed with oil and Matthew is presenting Jesus as the King and when Jesus now is baptized in the Jordan by John the Spirit of God rests on him. Verse 16 and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him, the Holy Spirit coming down on Jesus is the anointing of the Messiah for kingly service.

This in fact is his coronation done in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 42 by the middle of your Bible. Not sure what Isaiah is encouraging to buy a Bible I want to help you to get to know it's and you'll never get to know it by keeping it on the shelf, but I want you physically to get your Bible to time to its you don't know what Isaiah is there's an index right in the beginning Isaiah chapter 14 to because Isaiah is doing many things he's prophesying of a Messiah Messiah who is going to come and he's writing about 750 years before Christ was born. But now here in Isaiah chapter 42 verse one makes a particular prophecy regarding the coming Messiah. Listen to what he says.

Isaiah 42 verse one behold my servant whom I behold one of the descriptions of our Lord is the servant of the Lord will hold my servant whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights were going to hear from an open heaven. The delight of the father as he looks at his son, my chosen, in whom my soul delights I have put my spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations, and now in fulfillment of the prophecy, the Lord Jesus the Messiah. We see the spirit of God coming on the him the King is being anointed as the Messiah would go over to chapter 61 of Isaiah Isaiah chapter 61 verse one verses which our Lord reads" and we which are mentioned by Luke and we chapter 4 verses 18 and 19 unit is the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, as the prophecy the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. I wended the Lord's anointed son at his baptism is related.

Matthew chapter 3 to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives on the opening of the prison to those who are blind to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. This is the ministry of the Messiah under the very beginning of his must of his public ministry as he supposed to fulfill the father's will.

As he comes John the Baptist is pointing to him. He's the forerunner he's prepared the way and now in the wonderful purposes of God, our Lord Jesus Christ comes and he is baptized by John and as he's baptized spirit of God descends on him so that he is in fulfillment of these wonderful prophecies. Think of this for 30 years who tells us of the Lord's age.

This event is like 30 says look after 13 years of relative obscurity we get a little picture of our Lord 2012 years old, but other than that, other than the events which are told in some detail of his birth for about 30 years. We know very very little about the Lord Jesus that after 30 years of obscurity as our Lord Jesus is being raised in this insignificant little time of Nazareth in Galilee, Jesus comes to be baptized. Isaiah said in Isaiah 64 verse one or that you would ride in the heavens and come down on the heavens are opened. Verse 14 the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and rests on our blessed Savior.

Can you picture it, and from an open heaven think of these wonderful words verse 17, and behold a voice from heaven. Can you hear the father. What's he going to say regarding his son after 30 years of watching him this is my beloved son, or this is my son, my well beloved, in whom I am well please the father is saying this is my son Matthew had referred to the son ship of our Lord in chapter 2 verse 15 when he says I dove in Egypt I called my son but now that is a clear declaration by the eternal God that this one that we know as Jesus is not just an ordinary man, not just a prophet, not just someone who's going to do miracles. But in fact is the eternal son of the eternal God, who is Jesus. How would you answer the question. Matthew is telling us here he is very son of God.

And so the baptism of Jesus we see the Trinity is that important. Of course it is. We are Trinitarian yoga people coming to your door. The Jehovah's Witnesses you speak to Mormons you speak to others who deny the Trinity.

They do not believe in God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. But here we see the Trinity, one God, who eternally exists in three distinct persons what's happening in the baptism of Jesus, God the father speaks this is my son, my well beloved, with whom I am well pleased. The Holy Spirit comes and rests on Jesus and God says this is my well beloved son. The father speaks the sun is baptized, the Holy Spirit comes and anoints our Lord Jesus Christ as he begins his public ministry all in fulfillment of the whole of the Old Testament Scriptures. This is the unique son of the eternal God. He is the anointed Messiah and that is very very important, as Matthew is presenting Jesus as the King there anointed king, the one in whom.

Now, the Holy Spirit rests, as is about to begin his public ministry he is the son of God.

I hope you understand that you may want Jesus just as your friend.

When the fold of a friend. You want Jesus to someone you contend to someone who can solve your problems, but think of this. This is God incarnate son of God who is Jesus. Matthew saying the father is saying we are saying he's the son of God. What's he going to do what's he doing in his baptism something wonderful, something which embraces all of us here he is identifying with sinners is a word you get that will think of this as our Lord Jesus comes. It is clear that he is the sinless Savior immediately after his baptisms baptism, the heavens are open to him. Verse 16. After 30 years, God the father gives unresolved prayer and praise of his son. This is my well beloved son an echo of some to where the psalmist says you are my son and God the father finds infinite joy in his son is well beloved son, who always does the things that please the father is what Jesus says in John eight verse 29 not always do the things that please the father and son here who always does the things that pleases.

I wanted to please my father I wanted my father's blessing, but sometimes I did not please my father sometimes.

I know I grieved my father and I'm sure I'm not the only son who sometimes grieved his father every single one of us has come short in terms of our actually father's but in terms of God. Not one person, other than our Lord Jesus Christ would honestly say I always do the things that please the father is the sinless Savior. He is unique.

The very best of people, the most sincere of the kind. This the humblest of people still fail still disappointed parents certainly come far short of God's standards. But this man, our Lord Jesus Christ as he comes and he stands in the waters of Jordan about to be baptized is the sinless Savior, Peter the man of action, said he committed no sin. John John, a man of love side of Jesus in him there is no sin.

Paul the great intellectual says in. He knew no sin. He did no sin. He knew no sin in the him was no sin can imagine that. Think of the purity.

Think of the utter holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ, not one step did he take that with side of his father's will. He never said one word that he needed to attract. He never thought one on the holy thought everything he did everything he said everything that he thought was an act of perfect worship to his father. He's completely different from everyone else. Matthew has told us this as he enters the world uniquely conceived of a virgin and throughout the Gospels will see some of it as we study through this wonderful gospel. The critics repeatedly with subtlety with hostility with deception. Sometimes they asked the Lord Jesus penetrating and difficult and deceptive questions to expose them to trap him to find fault in him, but with all of the questions with all of their conspiracy with all of their schemes, they can find no blemish in our Lord Jesus right I could select any one of your random and come up here and I could say to the rest of your is there anyone here could find fault in this person.

If you knew that your hand would be right up every single one of us mess up, but this one of Lord Jesus Christ is totally difference and John knows there's because he's described Jesus as the Lamb of God and so John here is been baptizing many, many people know our Lord Jesus Christ comes and what does John say verse 14. John would've prevented him. Of course I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me. John is really sinless and I'm I'm sinful.

You are sinless. How is it that you want me to baptize you that should be the other way around. John is right.

All of us would've said the same thing when we because this is the sinless Savior. This is the one who is 100% righteous from first to last, here is we must understand this here's the perfect Savior.

What does Jesus say in answer to the question on the face of it is a rather strange thing of the says verse 15 Jesus answered him, let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Jesus comes to fulfill all righteousness and the baptism of Jesus. Think of it was a visible display of the dedicated orb regions and surrender of our Savior, to his father's will.

He is perfectly righteous perfectly sunglass and he came to fulfill all righteousness under Lord here in particular fulfills all righteousness by identifying with sinners. This think of it, the sinless Savior is now taking his place among sinners. What was John's baptism was a was a baptism with water for repentance for confession of sins, but our Lord Jesus Christ had no sins to confess he didn't have to repent. He's he's perfect and so what is he doing being baptized by John Lord Jesus understood his mission.

He understood his name is Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins and as he stands in the water and as with great humility and in perfect obedience to his father and his God he is. I identifying with sinners. He's taking the place of people like you and me because this water baptism foreshadowed another baptism a baptism, the Lord spoke of, and in Mark chapter 10 for example, the baptism of the cross. Yes, he knew the reason why the father sent the son to come to die, the Lamb of God to take away sins of these monsoons is perfect. The sins of the world and then is baptism. Jesus is demonstrated that he's going to take our sin on himself and in this way fulfill all righteousness. The righteous one is taking on our on righteousness back to Isaiah, will you turn with me to Isaiah 53. If you're familiar with the book, your Bible, you know that Isaiah 53 is one of the greatest chapters in the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah is in Isaiah 53, when we read such wonderful Scriptures as he was pierced for our transgressions, he was cursed for our iniquities surely has borne our grief's, and carried our sorrows, but look at verse 11. Isaiah 53 not a member again. As I said Isaiah is prophesying of the coming of the Messiah becomes as the suffering servant and look at verse 11 of Isaiah 53. I dove the anguish of these souls talking of the cross, he shall see and be satisfied by his knowledge shall the righteous one is the righteous one, Messiah by the knowledge shall the righteous one, my servants, God's servant, make many to be accounted righteous. How does our Savior do that answer, he shall bear their iniquities. Can you who are unrighteous be counted righteous. That's a question that all of us base. Can we deal with the sin in our lives and our frustrations and become short of the glory of God. I what's the answer to this verse 12 therefore I will divide him a portion with the many he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to dad was in this and was numbered with the transgressors.

Yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the trends our Lord Jesus Christ receipt symbolize that he is dies on the middle crossings numbered with these transgressors. But we see it here in his baptism he is number he is identifying with sinful people, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and so is our Lord Jesus Christ is being baptized is showing his solidarity with sinners. The righteous making the unrighteous righteous do you do that the cross of Christ, he takes my sin.

He takes my transgression racial when our rights are. No, the son of God.

For me, the cross and George, I know he suffered in my stead. By the end by the precious blood he shed my peace secured to say that you say that your piece has been secured. If you come to the place in your life. What you've come to the cross of Christ and have seen the son of God, the Lamb of God and through the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart you have an understanding of your own sinfulness your pride.

All of the sentence and you realize that you are yourself can never please God. Yes Jesus Karen this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. The father is pleased with his son, but he sinless with his God looks at you is not pleased. Yes, he loves you is not pleased with your sin with your transgressions with your rebellion and the answer to that is not to look within, not to look to others for a solution with us to look to Christ, the sinless Savior.

He is being baptized. The site that defined with us in great love and great compassion. He comes to us. Emmanuelle God with us numbered without transgressors numbered with the transgressors numbered with people like us, not a distant God but the God who comes to us comes to us perfectly in his son comes to save you two claims you to forgive you.

Why won't you come to him. Why would you do is John who says repentance turn from your sin and look for Christ there and there alone is salvation and to know that there the son of God. For me, the cross injured. How do you think you're going to stand before a holy, sinless God without the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ being credited to your account.

This is the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and right at the beginning of his ministry. This is being declared that the sun comes perfect. Perfect obedience to his father and he comes to atone for the sin of the world how wonderful, wonderful want to say a few words of back baptism reminds me of the story of the Baptist pastor who always preached on baptism whatever message he preached.

He brought in baptisms over this preaching on the Genesis 3 the fall we said about 3 pints number one what Adam did number two what Adam said, number three, a few words about baptism so I will have a few words about baptism, but baptism is in the text and live. Although I'm not a Baptist pastor that I believe in baptism and I want to say this kindly when you listen because I realize this is a controversial subject and some of your confused I'm a retard could talk about baptism. Many of you hundreds of you this morning are going so I was I was baptized. The baby that that's all right but want you to listen to me want to say this but all authentic followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to be baptized, that baptism is a command of prior to his ascension. The Matthews going to tell us very end of his gospel in Matthew chapter 28. Prior to his ascension. Lord Jesus Christ commands us to make disciples of all the nations, that is to go and bring the gospel to everyone and were going to be celebrating Madden reflecting on that in challenging ourselves in the missions conference, which begins next week that we as a congregation take that seriously want to go to the end of the world with the gospel, but we don't just go with the message of the gospel.

We do that we make disciples and part of that is Jesus says, baptizing them in the literally into the name of the father and of the son and the Holy Spirit that you have the Trinity again and parked the Christian message that those who believe that those who come to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and then baptized.

This is something which the Lord commands and it's something which they decide.

The apostles also preached go forward in your Bible to the book of acts. Matthew Mark Luke John acts there. You come to it. Acts chapter 2 and we will see this nice chapter 2 Peter is preaching the gospel Lord has died and been resurrected. He's ascended to his father and the Holy Spirit is common.

Acts chapter 2 on Pentecost, and Peter is preaching the gospel in the center of Jerusalem.

And he says this in verse 38 and Peter said to them repentance sounds like John the Baptist doesn't repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit verse 41, so those who received his word were baptized and/or added that day about 3000 souls.

There's a biblical practice to preach the gospel.

People believe and they are baptized over to chapter 8 Philip the evangelist is preaching tremendous preaching breach preacher filled with the Holy Spirit is preaching to Samaria to the Samaritans and reading this in acts eight verse 12 but when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized. Both man and woman.

Peter preaches it to the Jews 3000 believe that baptized Philip is preaching the same message to the Samaritans, which is the gospel and their baptized peers of mine from Africa from Ethiopia.

In fact, acts chapter 8 verse 34 in these been worshiping God in Jerusalem and is returning home, and he's reading of the book that we've been talking by the book of Isaiah, but he does understand too much about it.

Verse 34 the eunuch said to Philip, this man from Ethiopia, about whom I asked, does the prophet say this about himself or by someone else. What we know, because I told you it's about the Messiah.

So what does Philip do that.

36. Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this Scripture. He told him the good news about Jesus. The man is reading what we know is Isaiah 53 that already read to you and Philip is saying to him is that services this is all about Jesus and so Philip preaches the gospel to this man and as they were going along the road and came to some water in the eunuch said, see, here is water. What prevents me from being baptized, a commanded the chariot to stop you both went down into the water. Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him when he came up out of the water.

The spirit of the Lord carried Philip away gospel is presented. The Ethiopian is baptized over to chapter 10.

The apostle Peter as the gospel is being sporadic scum to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and now is going to the Gentiles. This wonderful man called Cornelius comes to saving faith in Christ. Verse 47 of acts 10 can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have seen the gospel is not just for Jewish people, not just for Samaritans, not just for Africans but everyone for the whole world. Verse 48 and he commanded them notice it. He commanded them to be baptized on one other thought a day on his one authoritative no on the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, who told Peter I want you to go and preach the gospel to all the nations and to baptize them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit, and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ's user when using John and fingers. Those who are saved by God's grace, whoever they are to be baptized as the outward sign that there disciples of Jesus. It's kind of our colors are kind about uniform. So here just couple weeks ago. You are good and I other side of the world in New Zealand. And it was after the Super Bowl and I went wandering around in New Zealand and I see this woman with a Kansas City shirt you think she was ashamed to be wearing that shirt now that was a team's color. She was proud of its this is my team won the Super Bowl. There world champions as Americans would say that really good start in New Zealand. By the way, we are world champions. I love Kansas City. Of course you do. The best team. The one I just got a uniform just got colors which identify her with that team.

I will arrange it tells you I'm married, it's a sign that says see you. It's a symbol of my marriage. Another ashamed to be married. I don't find this argument to get off.

I win it all the time why because it tells people when I meet them that John Monroe is married and I'm not ashamed to be monitored by wife sitting in the second front seat pendulums to be awake.

Thank you. Many of your plantar fence you where their colors team machines be something wrong with with you when you something wrong with a married man who was ashamed to where Lorraine something wrong with a follower of Jesus Christ was ashamed to take his or her stand. Jesus Christ. Paul says I'm not ashamed of the gospel.

Proud of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, so that whatever we go another ashamed to be a follower of Christ by baptism.

I stood as a young man just before my 17th birthday's are excited and looking up and stood there and said I'm a follower of Jesus Christ is it with all your friends there no, but I went out and bought a little prayer in which said Jesus saves, and I went to my high school with her very very few followers of Jesus Christ. Aware of why I wanted people to know them a follower of Jesus Christ of the most important thing about me is still them a follower of Jesus Christ as baptism thing of all that Christ is done reach down and save me, cleanse me given me eternal life, so that when I die, I am going to be forever with the Lord. Think of all of the crazy things people believe nowadays I'm telling them all think of all the amazing statement said in the belittling delivery people are not afraid to say that ashamed of their political beliefs however strain some of us may think they are no they believe them want people to know them to communicate them. Why is it that we who are followers of Christ who have the greatest miracle that anyone can have data to be saved by the grace of God and we are ashamed as it were, to say to someday.

I belong to Jesus Christ or we are too proud or what. What ever reason are too lazy that we don't take a stand and humbly submits to this beautiful command to be baptized. Water baptism doesn't save us. It doesn't cleanse us from our sins.

But no, it's a sign, symbol and seal of the outward uniform that were wearing God's grace saved by God's grace that certain words, baptism is the outward and visible sign of the inner work of the Spirit in our hearts and this baptism, please hear me comes after we are saved, not before it is that why I was baptized as a baby will please listen to me on this bongo defensive think afresh about this from Scriptures. This is our authority to the baby believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Very interesting. Some of us are going to Germany and the Reformation tour late this summer I been reading about the Reformation rereading about and then reading a biography by Martin Luther in reading about the theology of the reformers and Martin Luther coming from the medieval church was an amazing my mainly used by God and emphasized justification by faith, so others are the reformers are saying to Luther, if you believe in justification by faith, why you still baptizing babies and he tried to say, initially, that the faith of the parents was enough for the child but that doesn't seem right doesn't much as you want your children to be to be saying you can't save them your faith and save your children or your grandchildren. No and then he said this and I we have and here's a quote strange statements. Martin Luther is best. I would say he is what he says a child becomes a believer of Christ in baptism speaks to him through the mouth of the one who baptizes since it is his word. His commandments and his word cannot be without fruits, there was his logical biblical argument doesn't work for baptizing babies and and you look at that and say come on Luther's and the gospel believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

Much as we love our children and we encourage parents to dedicate them the faith. The example of apparent can never save their child. Salvation is personal is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the individual and then the baptism is a symbol of what has already taken place about personal identification with Jesus and the body of Christ.

The formative conversion every true believer receives the spirit of God and that Holy Spirit baptism is symbolized by unwanted baptism. So when you're baptized your publicly and personally declaring that you have died with Christ that you have been buried with Christ that you've been raised with Christ, to walk in newness of life is. Paul argues in the opening verses of Romans six that we are united with Christ united with Christ and that baptism as we stand in the baptismal waters, and as we go under the water and as we come. I love the water is a beautiful visible portrayal of our dance with Christ of our burial with Christ and the resurrection with Christ by one of our themes. This year is surrender to God's will surrender to God's heart for us in surrender to God's will receive perfectly exemplified in the Lord Jesus Christ. What's he doing is baptism. Among other things, he is willingly surrendering to his father's will. Lord Jesus says in a passable thing of this evening to do with the bread of life. Lord says in John six verse 38 Fry came down from heaven. Think of this fry came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ is 100% surrendered to the will of his father and when were being baptized, we are say I surrender, I surrender to the will of my God my Savior. My father, I am his and he is mine belong to Christ, you surrendered to God's will. Paul tells us in Romans four, Romans 15. But even Christ did not please himself.

We live and also cited is all about self-fulfillment, pleasing myself to my one thing following my own agenda, even Christ didn't do that. One of the marks of a true believer in Jesus Christ, his submission is humility is surrender of Lord in the garden, not my will but yours be done. Part of that surrendered a very important part so surrender to him and be baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ asking why have some of you not done that is what baptism we talked a little bit about it last week is a transliteration of the Greek word baptism. So it means to put the plunge, or to immerse and so when Jesus is baptized.

Did you notice in verse 16, he immediately went up from the water doesn't suggest a little water on the head doesn't John the Baptist baptized were told in particular place because water was plentiful.

There when I read from Annex eight about Philip and the Ethiopian said they both went into the water and came up the water if I'm just sprinkling someone I don't need to go into the water with them. They don't come up either the one or and it is clear not only from the meeting of the word, but the practice of the early church. Baptism was for believers by emotion. Total margin stories told of the Baptist pastor in the Presbyterian pastor arguing about the more the baptism, the Presbyterian, believing in the sprinkling of a little bit of water on the head and that the Presbyterian says to the Baptist pastor residual Baptist is that of a man goes into the water up to his knees as he baptized in the baptism of course not sit well if he goes into the water up to his waist as he baptized Baptist pastor said no. He said what about if he goes up to her shoulders as he baptized the Baptist pastor said no.

The Presbyterian pastor then said well if he goes and clear up to the top of his head as he baptized Baptist said yes he is very often.

Presbyterian is helping a little bit of war, the top your head by logic by the Presbyterian and also very faulty theology as well. No, not just the head but the whole body is to be immerse symbolizing this wonderful surrender to Christ. Total surrender, but total union with Jesus Christ in this that in his burial, and in his resurrection and soy Martian not only symbolizes the meaning of baptism it's consistent with the biblical practice of baptism. As we concluded in our passage today. We see this amazing scene. When the Lord is baptized by John the Baptist to see it.

Thanks. Wonderful to truly one the most beautiful scenes of Scripture, the heavens opened misunderstanding they're coming right out of the water. Heavens opened, and God the father speaks the spirit sends on the sun and the voice says this is my son, my well beloved, in whom I am well pleased. Yes, God is well pleased when we surrender to his will.

God is well pleased when we show humility and obedience is God well pleased with you if you confess your faith in Jesus Christ. Have you repented of your sins. Have you trusted Jesus Christ who comes as a substitute in your place to die for you. Have you called her to Christ for salvation. When you trust him. You say so, you're saying yes I have you been baptized. Don't be ashamed to wear the colors of Jesus Christ to be a joy at Calvary to baptize you speak with one of the pastors with myself flat snow would be our great great joy to baptize you so beautiful sorry and symbol of the cleansing of our sin of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and of our union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. So you're saying yes I have trusted Christ that have been baptized.

You surrendered to God's will is is there something in your life. Some situation, some relationship, some plan something in your life premises are thinking of your future that you haven't surrender to God's will is, those that struggle. You know what's right and what's wrong you're battling it's the fighting it's under that in God's name do the right thing surrender to God's will and that ungodly situation stop that unholy practice terminates that destructive relationship surrender say to the Lord in terms terms of something he's calling you to do in a positive way to say, like Isaiah send me surrender to God's will.

Would we do that, you know what you must, you you you been talking about this for two long. Today you think of the amazing example of the Lord Jesus, the humble Christ the son of God who came not to do his own will to the will of him sent say I will do that.

Lord I say we buy with me and will each of us make a response for some of your college believer, the Lord Jesus Christ and you be saved for some of your you're so yes I am going to be baptized a trust for all of us. We say, I surrender, I surrender take my life and let it be wholly consecrated, Lord, to you and I are my I surrender all, today I repent a time for my selfishness for my self will brace your will, your Savior, father, help us, we thank you for your spirit who convicts us to think even though my brothers and sisters here that her vitals but her attentions some of never come to Christ open their eyes. Some struggled with this subject of baptism.

For far too long really humbled themselves today. Some of the surrender to Christ, I surrender, I surrender helpless to do that so that as it was said of Jesus at me be said of us. This is my son, this is my daughter, in whom I am well pleased. We ask it in this precious name