What makes your life significant?
• World looks for meaning: career, accomplishments, income, pleasure, family. But when you lack all that?
• When the world teaches us to look at ourselves to measure significance, Christians look to Jesus. Why:
• Starts w/Jesus’ Baptism; seen thru water, fire, Spirit.
John’s baptism (water/washing): repentance for forgiveness
Luke 3:3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
• Jesus baptized w/water! Repents of our sin, sides w/sinners, stand-in for us. (Leads to:)
Luke 12:49–50 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”
• Jesus baptized w/fire of cross! He accepts fire of Father’s wrath against us on Himself (your hell!)
Luke 3:21–22 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
• Jesus baptize w/Spirit! Same Spirit who hovers over waters, gives life to creation makes Jesus its Firstborn
• Father: “beloved Son; Well-pleased!” (“very good!”)
• How you know Jesus’ baptism is important: whole Trinity shows up!
Jesus’ Baptism has cosmic significance: for you & me!
Luke 3:16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Matt 28:19–20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
• Look who shows up at your Baptism: Trinity!
• Jesus exercises all authority in heaven & on earth to give you what He received through baptism!
• Jesus is our stand-in; what’s true for Him is true for us
Rom 6:2-4 How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
• Baptized w/water! Just as Jesus joins you in His baptism, He joins you to Himself in your baptism.
Rom 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
• Baptized w/fire! Jesus purifies us, punishment is paid!
• Judgment day early, “so shall you stand without fear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
Rom 6:8–9 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
• Baptized w/Spirit! The Firstborn of New Creation sends Spirit to do same for you.
• Father: “beloved Son; Well-pleased!” (“very good!”)
Baptismal water, fire, Spirit gives life cosmic significance
• Christ has joined Himself to you in His baptism.
• Christ has joined you to Himself in your baptism.
• What you do/who you make yourself to be doesn’t give life significance, but what God does for you & who He makes you to be
