A Baptism that is Pleasing to God

Matthew

A Baptism that is Pleasing to God

April 23rd, 1967 @ 10:50 AM

Matthew 3:13-17

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 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. 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.
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QUMRAN AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

Dr. W. A. Criswell

Matthew 3:1-13

1-19-69

 

I.          Introduction

A.  John the Baptist in the wilderness (Matthew 3:1-6, Luke 3:1-2)

B.  Where he grew up, preached and baptized was Qumran

C.  Dead Sea Scrolls discovered at Qumran

 

II.         The
community of Qumran compared with John the Baptist

A.   Asceticism

      1.  Of the Qumran community

a. Separate from the corruption and evil of the world

b. Came as a result of Maccabean degeneration

2.  Of John the Baptist

a. A man in communion with God before he is sent out (1 Kings 19:15-16)

b. He was conversant with whole stream of history (Mark 6:18, Matthew 14:8)

3.  It is God’s will that we be salt and light

B.  Ablutions of Qumran and baptism of John the Baptist

      1.  Qumran had many ceremonial washings, ritualistic bathings (John 3:23-26)

2.  Baptism of John an initiatory rite, not repeated

3.  First time world saw a man baptize another was when John did it

 

III.        The
meaning of the ordinance

A.  To John, a sign of purification

B.  It signifies the death, burial, resurrection of our Lord

C.  God gave him the pattern (John 1:19-21, 33, Exodus 25:9, 40, Matthew 21:25)

D.  No burial and resurrection, no gospel and no
baptism (Romans 6:4)

E.  Jesus put the baptism of John into the heart of
the church (Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19, Acts
8:36-39)

F.  We can’t do much for God; but what we can, we
ought (Psalms 50:10-12, Haggai 2:8)