Weekly Sermons

A Fitting Founder

David Tinsley, being committed, charged with having assembled and preached to the people at sundry times and places in this county as a Baptist preacher, and the said David acknowledging in court that he has done so. On consideration thereof the court being of good opinion that the same is the breach of the peace and good behavior. It is ordered that he give surety for keeping the peace and of being of good behavior for one year next ensuing himself in the penalty of 50 pounds and two sureties in penalty of 25 pound each.    -Chesterfield County, Virginia Order Book, Feb. 4, 1774

Today we will look at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, and it will give us an opportunity to look at why believer’s baptism by immersion is such a precious teaching for followers of Jesus Christ.

State of Southern Baptists and Baptisms:

Southern Baptist Baptisms by select years:
1972    445,725 (most ever)
2000    414,657
2018    246,442 (74 year low)
2020    123,160
2022    180,177

Baptisms 2022:    Percentage of Churches:
ZERO        43%
1-5        34%
6-9        9%   Tabernacle baptized 8 in 2021-22
10+        13%  Tabernacle baptized 11 in 2022-23

Overall, Southern Baptist churches averaged 5.4 baptisms per church in 2022.

Urban churches (8.6) averaged more than suburban (5.5) and rural (3.1) ones.

Newer churches averaged more baptisms than older churches:

Church Founded:    Average Baptisms:
Since 2000    6.1
1950-1999    5.8
1900-1949    5.2
Pre-1900    4.9

Source: Lifeway Research

Read Matthew 3:13-17

John knew he was not worthy to baptize Jesus    V. 13-14

But from verse 14 we understand that John knew Jesus had no sin to confess and repent of. Indeed, from John 1:29, we know that John understood that Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

Jesus got baptized anyway, viewing it as the right thing to do    V. 15

The Greek word for fitting is the word prepo (G 421). It occurs 7 times in the New Testament, and means fitting, proper, appropriate, and acceptable.

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the Founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.    -Hebrews 2:10

What Jesus is indicating here is that He came to earth to fully identify with humans in every way, and would model doing the right thing no matter how much He was tempted or suffered. 

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”    -Matthew 20:28

Two ways Jesus’ baptism show He is our Fitting Founder:

First, His identification with us in His baptism foreshadows His identification with us on the Cross.

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. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.    -Romans 6:4-6

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.    -Galatians 2:20

He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.    -Psalm 91:4

Secondly, from His baptism we learn that Jesus will never ask us to anything He didn’t personally model for us.

The Triune God’s presence and pleasure in Jesus’ baptism    V. 16-17

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about 3,000 souls were added to them”    -Acts 2:41

“Now as they went down the road, they came to some water.  And the eunuch said, “See, here is water.  What hinders me from being baptized? -Acts 8:36

“…Although it is evident that the term baptize means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive church.”  -J. Calvin, Institutes, Bk. IV, Pg. 524

All three members of the Trinty were present at Jesus’ baptism – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.     -Matthew 28:18-20

Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.    -Hebrews 7:25-26