The Book of Luke: The Baptism of Christ | Lesson on Biblical Baptism (Luke 3:21-22)
Luke 3:21 “21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”.
I am preaching on the baptism of Christ today specifically and I will preach a comprehensive sermon on baptism here today. Firstly, let’s look at the priority of baptism. We are about to begin the ministry of Jesus Christ. He starts with getting baptized which is the kickoff to his earthly ministry. He begins where everybody should begin by getting baptized.
Why would Jesus get baptized? The first reason why he would get baptized himself is to be an example for all of us. All throughout the Bible we are told to be follower of Christ and walk in his footsteps. If he is commanding all of us to get baptized then he also would get baptized as an example. It says “ 21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized,…”.
Not only was Jesus baptized as an example but also as a sign. Notice it says “and praying, the heaven was opened,”. We should all be baptized and follow his example but this is probably not going to happen for you at your baptism. Then it says “22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him…”. Here the Bible says the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. Most people think that when the Holy Ghost came down, he came in the shape of a dove. I don’t necessarily think it’s saying that he descended in the shape of a dove but he descended like a dove would.
We see the Trinity here. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. We have the person of the Holy Spirit descending upon God the Son. Then we see “and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”. Here is the voice of God the Father. Jesus was baptized as a sign of who he was. This happened at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus when he was baptized. It also happened at the Mount of Transfiguration when there was a voice from heaven. This was God’s way of showing a sign of who Jesus was.
This sign is not only for us that are reading the Bible but for those who were around at that time and most specifically as a sign for John the Baptist. John 1:32-33 “32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”. John is stating that God who sent John also told him what he would see as a proof of Jesus being the Christ.
In the Old Testament we don’t have baptism. However, when John the Baptist shows up on the scene, he starts the process of baptism. People like to claim that baptism existed in the ancient world but John himself explained that he got the idea of baptism from God. God told him to baptize people with water. God also told him that you will have a baptism where you will see the Spirit of God descending upon him and that is the person who baptizes with the Holy Ghost. I’d imagine that when John was baptizing people he would stop and look up to heaven to see if he saw the Spirit of God descending. When Jesus was baptized, John saw the Spirit of God descending upon him.
The first point that I want to make is that we see the priority of baptism. Baptism is important. It is an ordinance because it was ordained by God himself. God told John to begin this ordinance. Jesus made a priority of it when he began his earthly ministry. When he began his ministry, he started with getting baptized. Just as Jesus made it a priority for himself, in the same way when someone decides to begin their walk with God, they should be baptized. Baptism has nothing to do with being saved. Think of the thief on the cross who gets saved on the cross but does not get baptized. However, baptism has everything to do with discipleship or being a follower of Jesus Christ. The first step in following God is getting baptized. Every believer should make it a priority to get scripturally baptized because it is the first thing God wants you to do after you get saved. In the Bible, people always got baptized as soon as possible.
Acts 16:29 “29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”. They answer to this jailer that to be saved, you have to believe. Notice verse 32 “32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”.
Notice that the same hour that they get saved, they also get baptized. Notice that word “straightway”. That means immediately. Baptism is your first step in your walk with God. Today people act like baptism is not a big build but God made it a priority. Jesus made it a priority. When he started his earthly ministry, he started by getting baptized. All of us should get baptized when we are ready to start our earthly walk of following God.
#1 – The priority of Baptism. As soulwinners, we should make a priority of baptism and try to get our converts saved and baptized. Matthew 28:19-20 “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”. The great commission is that we should get people saved, then we should get people baptized, then we should teach them to observe all things.
#2 – The process of baptism. Acts 8:26 “26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.”. Here the Ethiopian Eunuch is reading the scripture but what we will see is that he doesn’t understand it.
Verse 29 “29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”. In verses 32-34, we see the scripture he was reading.
Verse 35 “35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?”. The eunuch sees the water as they are going and the eunuch is asking him what is preventing or keeping him from being baptized. Verse 37 “37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”.
By the way, I’m not preaching on the King James Only topic. However, if you have the NIV or one of these modern versions, you will see that verse 37 is skipped and taken out of those verses. Why would someone remove this verse? They obviously have a motive to intentionally take out such a key verse. Verse 37 is teaching us that baptism comes after salvation. You should be baptized after salvation, not before salvation and not for salvation.
Sometimes I ask people if they have been scripturally baptized. Not all baptism is scriptural. Some people say “I was baptized as a baby.”. As a baby, you weren’t saved. In fact, a baby isn’t even condemned. You must first come to the age of accountability where you are realized that you are guilty and then you believe on Christ and get saved. If you got baptized to get saved then that isn’t scriptural because you were trusting in your works at that time. You don’t get baptized to get to heaven but you should get baptized once you know that you are on your way to heaven.
Verse 38 “38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”. First baptism must be after salvation. However, we also see that baptism is down by immersion or fully submerged in the water. They went down into the water. This is not sprinkling or pouring. We also see this at the baptism of Jesus.
Matthew 3:16 “16 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:”. Jesus was an example that we should get baptized but also how we should get baptized. It says “went up straightway out of the water”. In order to come up out of the water, you have to be in the water. Baptism is going down into the water and coming up out of the water. Sometimes people will tell me that they got baptized but when they were baptized it was by pouring or sprinkling. That isn’t scriptural baptism because you have to immerse someone in the water. Sprinkling or pouring is not a biblical method of baptism.
John 3:23 “23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.”. John the Baptist baptized where there was much water. Why is that? Because he was dunking people into the water. If you are just sprinkling or pouring then you don’t need a lot of water.
Some people might wonder if this is that important. It was a priority by Jesus. In addition to that, many of our forefathers in the faith were killed for baptizing people by immersion after salvation. We take the name Baptist because our Christian forefathers would baptize new converts after they got saved. These Bible believing Christians who were also soulwinners began to teach their converts that they needed to be baptized or re-baptized because their infant baptism or sprinkling wasn’t a valid baptism. The result was that the Catholics who were their enemies at the time mockingly called them “Anabaptists” or re-baptizers. Many Anabaptists gave up their lives at the stake being burned for their stance on baptism. The term baptism is important to me. It doesn’t just mean that we understand true baptism but that we understand true salvation. Salvation is by faith alone and we should be baptized after salvation. Even today there are people who convert to Christianity in a country with a false religion and by choosing to get baptized after they are saved can sometimes get killed, get kicked out of their family, get mocked, etc…Why would they get baptized if they would risk their lives? There is a priority of baptism. It is very important.
We talked about the priority and process of baptism. Let’s talk about the purpose of baptism. The first purpose of baptism is to identify yourself with Christ. Romans 6:3 “3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”. The purpose of baptism is to be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4 “4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:…”. Baptism identifies us with Jesus Christ.
I often use this illustration of wedding when explaining baptism. On the day that my wife and I got married, I gave her a ring and she gave me a ring. The purpose of our wedding rings is not to get us married. The wedding ring does not make us be a married couple. If I am wearing it or not, it doesn’t change whether or not I am married. You can be married by going through the process without the ring. However, the wedding ring shows people that we are married. If a person won’t wear a ring then it makes you wonder if they are embarrassed about showing they are married. When people refuse to get baptized, it’s as if they are embarrassed about being associated with Jesus Christ.
Not only is it to identify you with Christ but also with other believers. Acts 2:41 “41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”. As a Church, we are a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the body of the Lord Jesus Christ on this earth. In order to be a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to get baptized. This is a prerequisite to being a member of a biblical, New Testament Church. Now we accept baptism from a Church of like faith and practice. However, you need to be biblically, scripturally baptized after salvation. The result is 3,000 people who join the Church.
I want you to understand what I am saying but some people take this a little too far. It is important not only when you get baptized and how you get baptized but also by whom you get baptized. The purpose of baptism is to identify you with Christ and other believers. Therefore it matters where or by whom you got baptized. What I mean by that is the ministry by when you are baptized. Let me just prove that to you.
Matthew 3:13 “13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”. John is a humble man and says that he should get baptized by Jesus rather than him baptizing Jesus. Matthew 3:15 “15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”. Jesus is saying that if he is going to do things right then he needs John to do it.
Why is Jesus making it a point about who baptizes him? There are a lot of religious leaders at that time. Jesus could have gone to the Priests or Pharisees or Scribes. The reason Jesus needed to be baptized by John was because it would identify him as the Son of God but also identify him with John the Baptist. It matters what ministry you got baptized in. Sometimes people say to me “I got baptized after I believed, by immersion.”. I don’t feel like we need to rebaptize people that have already been scripturally baptized. However, sometimes people got baptized by a Pentecostal, tongue speaking Church. Is that who you identify with? It doesn’t have to be a Baptist Church but you better make sure that the Church you get baptized at is right on salvation. It doesn’t matter who individually or physically baptizes you. What matters is the ministry which you are identifying with. If you get baptized at a Pentecostal Church by a saved person but it doesn’t count. Let’s say you get baptized at a Church that is right on salvation but the person who physically baptizes you becomes a heretic. That doesn’t negate the baptism.
John 4:1 “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,”. The Bible says in verse 1 that Jesus baptized and made more disciple than John. However, notice verse 2. “2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)”. It was the 12 disciples who were baptizing under the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were baptized by the ministry of Jesus though he didn’t baptize anyone himself. At our Church, if I don’t physically baptize you but Deacon Oliver Gonzalez or our Evangelist Brother Matthew Stucky baptizes you then that is still under the ministry of Verity Baptist Church. Let me just say this as we are talking about the subject of baptism. Our stance at Verity Baptist Church is that only ordained ministers should perform baptisms. We don’t just see anyone performing baptisms in the Bible but those that are called and ordained.
1st Corinthians 1:13 “13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”. Paul is dealing with cliques and divisions because people are trying to line up into different groups within the Church. Verse 14 “14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;”. This is the greatest Missionary of all time and he is stating that he didn’t baptize people. He had the same mindset of Jesus. Just because it was his ministry, it doesn’t mean that he had to do all of the baptisms. He is using this as an example because people are fighting. By the way, that also proves that baptism is not part of salvation. Paul was the biggest proponent of the ministry of reconciliation but he is saying that he is glad that he didn’t baptize anyone. It shows baptism has nothing to do with salvation. Who started the Church of Corinth? Paul. They were baptized under his ministry but he didn’t physically baptize most of the converts. The point I’m making is that it doesn’t matter who physically baptizes you but it matters what ministry you line up with. I’m sure Judas Iscariot baptized some people. Since it was under the ministry of Jesus Christ, that doesn’t negate the baptisms.
We saw the priority, process and purpose of baptism. Let us look at the picture of baptism. Romans 6:4 “4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”. What does “like as” mean? It means in the same way or manner. Notice verse 5 “5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”. The Bible mentions being not only in the likeness of his death but also of his resurrection. When you get baptized, it pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When a person is sitting there and the water crosses their body, that is a picture of the cross. When they go under the water, that is a picture of the death. When they come out of the water, that is a picture of the resurrection. When someone gets baptized it is a picture of the gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus). It is also a picture that we will one day get the glorified body at the resurrection. By the way, sprinkling and pouring messes up that picture.
Baptism is also a picture of salvation but it is not salvation. One way I like to illustrate this by showing a picture of my kids. I could take this picture and tell you that this is a picture of my children but it is not my children. Likewise, baptism is a picture of salvation but it is not the actual salvation.
We saw the priority, process, purpose and picture of baptism. Let’s look at the persons of baptism. At the baptism of Christ, all 3 members of the Godhead are there. Luke 3:21-22 “21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”. We have all 3 members of the Godhead present at the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:16 “16 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: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”. At the baptism of Jesus Christ, all 3 members of the Trinity were present and represented. By the way, that proves that Oneness or Modalism is not true. At the baptism of Jesus, all 3 members were present. In the same way that all 3 members were present at the baptism of Jesus, all 3 members should be represented at every baptism.
Matthew 28:19-20 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”. In verse 19, he says to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. This is stating doing this under the authority of those members of the Trinity.
Jesus’s baptism was an example for all baptisms. Supernaturally all 3 members of the Godhead were present at the baptism of Jesus. In the same way, when we baptize every believer, all 3 members of the Godhead should be represented. We first ask people if they have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. After they say yes, we say “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. I bring this up because we reject this Jesus only baptism and Oneness/Modalism movement. If you got baptized in a Church doing it in Jesus only then I would tell you to get re-baptized. Those are people that deny the Trinity and are not saved.
Let me give you some concluding statements. Baptism is a commandment, not an option. Acts 10:48 “48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”. Not only is baptism a command but it is also pleasing to God. Luke 3:22 “22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”. Notice how it says “in thee I am well pleased.”. God the Father was pleased when his Son got baptized and he is also pleased when you get baptized.
Let me just give you 1 disclaimer. When I started baptizing people when we started Verity Baptist, we always used to consider baptism a priority. However, there was a time in my ministry where I was very afraid to baptize people. We had a span in our ministry where after I baptized someone, they never came back. There were people that were coming regularly to Church and then they make the decision to get baptized and never came back. This literally happened like 6 or 7 times in a row. I realized when I was reading in the gospels that whenever baptisms took place in the Bible, immediately something happened afterward.
Luke 4:1 is chronologically right after this baptism of Jesus. Luke 4:1 “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.”. Right after the baptism of Jesus, he gets temped with the Devil. When you make the decision to follow the Lord in baptism, get ready because the Devil will come after you. I want to warn and prepare you to get ready for the fight. Don’t let that scare you. Get in the fight with the Lord Jesus Christ and be ready to walk with him.
Let’s pray.