“ When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting upon Him: …” (Matthew 3:16 NKJV).

The baptism of Jesus opened Heaven! To understand this verse it is important to know that John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River by immersion (vs. 13). Our text verse above also says Jesus “went came up immediately from the water,” meaning He had been in the water. Even Roman Catholic leaders, who know the Bible and history, grant that Jesus was baptized by immersion in the Jordan River. Several years ago on a mission trip to Europe, I saw a baptismal pool in a very old Roman Catholic Church. The guide explained that originally the Roman Catholic Church practiced baptism by immersion. The bible does not authorize changing baptism to sprinkling. Here’s why.

The Greek word for “baptize” literally means, “immerse” under water. So the baptism of Jesus was a prophetic picture of what He came to do as He began His public ministry. When He was immersed, He was saying, “I came to die and be buried.” When He came up out of the water, He was promising His resurrection.

Paul later explained our application, “Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4). Note that Paul clearly relates water baptism to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, which is the gospel. Paul added, “I declare to you the gospel… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day…” (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

So God opened Heaven at the water immersion of Jesus to confirm the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus pictured in baptism. Believing the message of the cross and resurrection opens Heaven to everyone by faith. Only baptism by immersion conveys the gospel picture. Sprinkling misses both the meaning of the word and the purpose of baptism as well. This does not mean baptism by immersion is necessary for salvation, as we shall see below.

God also opened the Heavens to send the Holy Spirit. As soon as Jesus was baptized, … The Heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God ascending like a dove and alighting upon Him” (Matthew 3:16b). Here we have Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist had said, “I indeed baptize you with water …, but He who is coming after me (Jesus) is mightier than I,… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

Paul explains it, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body –whether Jews or Greeks, or whether slaves or free –and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:13). This is a spiritual baptism (without water) and is the same as the new birth. Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-6). When you receive Jesus as your personal Savior, the Spirit of Christ comes in and baptizes your soul into Christ. This is spiritual baptism and is the baptism that saves.

So the issue here is not whether you have been immersed or sprinkled. You are not saved by any kind of water baptism, including immersion. Believing the gospel, which baptism teaches, saves you. If you have personally believed in Jesus Christ and claimed His cross and resurrection for you, you are saved. If this is true, then why have water baptism? Because Jesus commanded it as a public confession after you are saved. Jesus intended it as a public identification with the local church. It also helps spread the gospel. It pleases God, adding the joy of obedience. Water baptism is not necessary for salvation but it is necessary for obedience, showing you want to please Jesus and follow Him.

First, be sure you are baptized spiritually by receiving Jesus as your Savior. Then, celebrate it publicly by water baptism by immersion.

God will bless you and the local church, and someone else may be saved through the gospel sermon you picture in the waters of baptism. Above all, Jesus will be honored! Amen.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 19th, 2007 at 7:38 pm and is filed under Blog Entries, Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.