Luke 3:21-22 (CSB): ²¹ When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”

Baptism is a picture of the washing of our sin and our inward repentance, and yet Jesus was not a sinner, so why was He baptized?    

Jesus was baptized to identify with sinners.  You and me.  What a wonderful savior!  The sinless God man to be identified with a sinful people He came to seek and save.  He who had all the righteousness and holiness, took His place among those who had no righteousness or holiness.  So it was not a display of repentance but a righteous identification with sinners, motivated by love and pleasing to the Father.

Jesus was baptized to demonstrate obedience to the Father.  The Son of God always obeyed the Father.  The Son was about the Father’s business during His entire earthly ministry.  And in this moment, you see the relationship the Son has with the Father, as the Father speaks identity over His Son.  “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”

Jesus was baptized as an outward first step to His public ministry.  The Holy Spirit descends upon the Son like a dove, in a way that could actually be seen.  And from this point forward, Jesus’ public ministry is launched.  And the church will continue that work, empowered by the Spirit, in Acts.  

Toward the end of His public ministry that began with His baptism, Jesus, with all authority, commissions His disciples (a charge that is also for us in our day).  

Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB): ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So one way a disciple of Jesus publicly identifies as a disciple is through water baptism.  With baptism, you’ve got this God-ordained act that translates globally, to every nation, throughout all of history, to every disciple of Jesus.  

As you stand in the water, it is a symbol of Jesus’ death on the cross.  As you go under the water, you are identifying with His burial.  As you come back up, you are identifying with His resurrection and the new life we have been given in Christ.  That you’ve repented from your old way of life, and you’re walking in the new life that you’ve found in Christ alone.  That your identity was once in sin and self, but now it is in Christ alone.  And now through life in Christ, you’re going to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.  

Baptism is personally and publicly identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  We are preaching the Gospel through the act of baptism.  It is a public testimony to the personal and inward change that Christ has done in your life.  

The word baptize in the Greek means to dip, plunge, or immerse.  In some sense, baptism is a picture of drowning.  That apart from the grace of God, the flood of God’s judgment would overtake you.  But by God’s grace and mercy, and through faith in Christ alone, you’ve been brought up out of those judgment waters and been given a new, resurrection life in Him.    

So a person does not pull themselves up out of the water, but they are pulled up by someone else, and that is a picture of Jesus pulling us from the muck and mire, setting our feet on a rock, pulling us out of eternal death and bringing us into abundant life.  We were drowning and lost, but Jesus has rescued and found us. 

I want to continually encourage and call you and me, to walk by faith and live in a way that welcomes and allows the Scriptures and their truth to shape our lives.  That we would be a people who follow in the example and testimony of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  

Some of you who are Christ followers have not publicly identified with Jesus through baptism yet, and taken this next step of faith and obedience.  

Some say, “Well, I’m not far enough along in my faith to get baptized.”

Or I don’t know enough, or I still struggle with this sin or that one.  And what you’re saying in a sense is, I’m not perfect enough.  But listen, nowhere in Scripture do you see that baptism was the culmination of someone’s faith and maturity in Christ.  In Luke 3, the people came with repentant hearts and confession of sin.  Baptism was the next step, but not their last step of faith and obedience.   

Remember, in baptism, you’re preaching the Gospel of Jesus, which says that you’re not saved by your effort and ability to overcome sin.  Rather you’re trusting in and dependent upon Jesus and His work on the cross and resurrection.  And then as a church, we’re seeing that testimony, and we’re saying, “Look!  A brother or sister in the Lord that we’re called to live alongside, pray for, encourage and love.”

Some say, “Well, baptism isn’t salvation, so I don’t need to.”  

You’re exactly right in saying that baptism is not necessary for salvation. We are saved through faith alone and not by works, including the work of baptism.  So it is not salvation, but it is publically identifying with the Savior who laid down His life for you, and the Lord in whom you follow and are seeking to become like.  So if you got baptized as an infant, or you’ve come to faith later in life and not gotten baptized, then my loving encouragement is for you to get baptized now as a believer in Jesus Christ.  In the New Testament, baptism by immersion was the example, and it followed a person’s conversion.  As a church, our desire is to follow in that example.

Some say, “Well, if I get baptized, this will cause family drama.”

Because of family heritage or upbringing, you are hesitant to get baptized because you’re afraid it will cause conflict in your earthly family.  In Luke 12, Jesus makes it clear that sometimes to obey the Lord will bring conflict among earthly families.  I believe there is a way to walk through that potential conflict in a way that loves the Lord, honors your family heritage, and glorifies the Father.  The fact that you are getting baptized now as a believer is often evidence of the faithful disciplemaking that took place when you were growing up.   What a gift!  The fear of man (ie: family tension) is not a reason we should dismiss baptism.  

Some say, “Well, I’ve been a Christ follower for so many years, and have not taken this step, so I’m TOO far along in my faith.”

How gracious and beautiful of the Lord to save you years ago!  Salvation is such a gift, and the good news is not just at our conversion, but in our everyday lives (including years later).  What never gets old is hearing a brother or sister in Christ testify to God’s grace and power in their lives.  It never gets old seeing a Christ follower seeking to follow Jesus in faith.  It spurs on the family of God, and it is a witness to the lost.  Don’t pass on such an opportunity to testify.  

What we often miss in the subject of baptism, is how God uses the public act of it, not just in the life of the person being baptized, but in the community of faith they are a part of and the unbelievers who witness it.  Baptism builds up the church and the faith of believers.  It gives us a visible picture of someone saying, my life has been changed by Christ, and it is about Him, and not me.  It is about His name and mission, and not my name.  When you witness and celebrate baptisms, you walk away spurred on in your own faith and reminded of the power of God through the gospel.  Moms and Dads, it is a testimony to your kids (no matter their age).  

Baptism is a picture of being in Christ and the new identity you have now in Jesus.  That the Father loves you, just as He speaks love over this Son in Luke 3.  And He is faithful to continue and finish the work He has begun in you.  Let’s not wait any longer to celebrate that reality through baptism.  Talk to an elder or pastor soon and let’s walk by faith together.