Before we begin today’s sermon would you join me in praying the words our Lord taught us to pray?

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be donein earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Amen

Introduction

Please Stand for the Reading of God’s Word

Matthew 3:13-17 ESV  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  (14)  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  (15)  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  (16)  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;  (17)  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

You May Be Seated

Verse 13 starts off the story of Jesus’ baptism with a little detail that is often missed…

Matthew 3:13 ESV  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

Jesus walked from Galilee to the Jordan river to be baptized by John.That’s a 60 mile walk! That would take 2 days of walking at 12 hours a day without breaks!What does that teach us? Jesus went out of His way to be baptized…And not just a little out of his way… the Ethiopian Eunuch needed only to walk a few feet to be baptized…But Jesus walked 60 miles! That shows us that BAPTISM WAS AND IS IMPORTANT TO JESUS!

Pray Pray Pray Pray Pray Pray Pray Pray Pray

Guys we are going to get back to Luke, I promise! But Amanda reminded me that it is Baptism Sunday and she couldn’t remember a time that we preached on Baptism,So today we are going to preach on Baptism… it was important to Jesus so it should be important to us too.

Point One: Baptism is an Early Step of Righteousness

Point one this morning is that Baptism is an early step of Righteousness in a believers life.John protested protested Jesus baptism, did you catch that in this morning’s reading?Jesus didn’t have any sins… Jesus did not need to repent or be cleansed. John urged Jesus “It is You that should Baptize me!”But look at how Jesus responded in verse 15…

Matthew 3:15 ESV  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

Jesus says “Yes, Baptism Me because in so doing we will be fulfilling righteousness.Righteousness simply means “right standing with God” or “Being right in God’s eyes”.To behave righteously, you simply need to obey God, and of course anything outside of righteous living is sinful living.So what do we know by Jesus attributing righteousness to baptism…We know that baptism is something God wants us to do!Therefore even though Jesus never sinned, never repented, never was saved… He still was baptized because God calls us all to be baptized!Though Jesus did not per say, need to be baptized, He know He must be baptized to fulfil and please the Father and to be a perfect example for us.In Short, God says get baptized, Jesus get’s baptized, and God is pleased.But how does this apply to us?BECAUSE JESUS COMMANDS US TO BE BAPTIZED AND TO BAPTIZE OTHERS!

Acts 2:38 ESV  And Peter said to them, “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.

Mark 16:16 ESV  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (19)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching the