By MICHAEL WILCOX

As Jesus Christ stepped to the water to be baptized by John, the statement was made, “I am in need to be baptized by You.”

The miracle of Jesus’ baptism was the dunking it was the testimony.

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17b)

Mankind is to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness – “suffer it to be done now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matt. 3:15)

I preached on this last Sunday in preparation of the baptisms that will take place this next Sunday. As I stated in that message, “no baptism has ever saved anyone.” One is not saved by being baptized. One is saved and then gets baptized. Christ was not stating that he was saved from sin by His baptism, but as he told John was being baptized to fulfill all righteousness. If we take a look at Matt. 28:19-20, we can get a look at what the righteousness was that Christ spoke of. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

Make sure this is what you are preaching or being taught – “to observe all things Christ taught.”

Many push very hard about being baptized and then let off of the rest of that passage. Christ was baptized to fulfill all righteousness and the testimony that followed from the Father backed up that that is exactly what Christ had done.

One is to be baptized, not to be saved but to fulfill just one of the things Christ taught us to be and to do. It is a testimony of what has already taken place by the repentance of our sins and the cleaning we received from it. The free gift given, but a most costly gift paid for from the blood of Christ. Christ did not stop at us being baptized but preached the full message that we too are to preach, “teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you.” Matthew 28 has the very last words Christ gives to the Church before going back to Heaven. This tells us how important those words are – “All that I (Christ) taught.”

If baptism is important, and it is, then all the rest that Christ commanded is just as important.

So, what is your testimony today? I was baptized or I observe all that Christ taught? Do not let shortcomings become your excuse for living (practicing) sin. Strive to fulfill all that Christ commanded. For if you were baptized a practicing sinner you came up from the water a wet sinner.