JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw The Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him; And lo a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ”  Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Matthew.  In the days after King Herod died, there came a man, John the baptizer, preaching in the wilderness preparing the way for Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 3:1-3)  People from all over Judea came to him, confessing their sins, and he baptized them in the Joran River. (Matthew 3:4-6)  John made it clear to them that he was only baptizing them with water, but there would come another who was mightier than he, who would baptize them with The Holy Spirit and with fire. (Matthew 3:11)  Jesus, The Christ, came from Galilee to be baptized by John. (Matthew 3:13)  After He was baptized, as He was coming up out of the water, He saw The Spirit of God descending from heaven like a dove and lighting upon Him.  Then a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

 

APPLICATION

Jesus, The Christ, was sinless. (2 Corinthians 5:21 and Hebrews 1:15)  He was not baptized for the repentance of sin; He was baptized because it was appropriate and proper in order to fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15)  Jesus, The Christ, was identified as God, The Son, by God The Father, when He spoke from heaven and sent God, The Holy Spirit, from heaven to Him as a visible sign in the form of a dove.  Baptism by water cannot save us.  The ordinance of baptism is an outward sign of an inner transformation.  When we believe, we die to the control of sin and change into a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, The Holy Spirit of God immediately indwells us. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)  All we have to do is believe, confess, and invite Him into our heart, and He will come into us. (John 3:16, Romans 10: 9-10, and Revelation 3:20)