The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 3:1-6, “Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, ‘THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’ (Isa. 40:3)
4 Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.”

It’s quite common for a secondary player in a thespian production to upstage the main character for a brief time. That is precisely what John the Baptist (lit., John the baptizing one) did by arriving on the scene prior to Jesus.

It was John who said, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mat. 3:11).

“Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’
15 But Jesus answering said to him, ‘Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he permitted Him” (Mat. 3:13-15).

Water baptism overtly demonstrates that one has accepted Christ as LORD and Savior. Yet, John stated that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

A careful examination of Scripture reveals that “Spirit baptism” (i.e., coming to know Jesus Christ as one’s LORD and Savior) is primary. Baptism in water, while not necessary for salvation, is nevertheless the “fulfilling identification of a righteous, spiritual life.”

Accepting Christ as LORD and Savior without baptism in no wise
renders your salvation invalid; however, accepting Jesus Christ and submitting to water baptism is an act of righteous obedience
(cf. Acts 8:36-39). That is why I ask first, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?” If you have, baptism tells others that you have accepted Him. But, if you have not accepted Him as Savior, baptism in water has no spiritual value at all in your life.
Study the Scriptures! Trust Jesus as your Savior! Then be baptized!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom