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Luke 3:21-22
John the Baptist preached “a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3, NKJV). Even though Jesus did not sin and therefore was not in need of “repentance for the remission of sins,” He set the example for us to follow in His footsteps as He connected Himself to water baptism, which is our outward acceptance of our belief in Him, so that He may connect the physical baptism to the spiritual baptism. This also shows how He connects the Old Testament (physical) law to the New Testament (faith). It is also important that we notice the trinity of the Godhead all being present in this event; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
This is the door being opened to spiritual worship.
This is the transformation from the physical ways of the Law to the spiritual ways of faith.
Jesus states in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” When we are baptized we go under the water as going under the grave with Jesus in our sin, and when we come up out of the water we are being raised from the grave with Jesus in victory over our sin and into a new life in Him. This is the sign of true repentance that we make in believing in Jesus and following Him; there is true repentance or a “change of direction” in the path of our lives as we leave the old ways of the sinful nature behind and put on the new nature of Christ Jesus. Jesus died publicly on the cross to pay for our sins; as we make a declaration to follow Him, it is only right that we make a public declaration to declare Him our Lord and Savior through baptism.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving us the outward profession of accepting Jesus into our hearts and putting on a new life in Him. Thank You for “the way, the truth, and the life” (John14:6) in Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.