Why is repentance essential before baptism, as seen in Matthew 3:5? Setting the Scene at the Jordan “Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region of the Jordan went out to him.” (Matthew 3:5) Crowds stream to John. They have heard his thunderous cry: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2) Their response is not casual curiosity; it is a turning of hearts that leads straight into the waters of baptism. Repentance: The God-Required First Step • Scripture never treats repentance as optional; it is commanded (Acts 17:30). • John’s message links repentance and baptism so tightly that the rite is called “a baptism of repentance” (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). • Jesus preserves the same order in the Great Commission: “make disciples … baptizing them” (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is, by definition, one who has turned. Why Repentance Must Precede Baptism 1. Acknowledgment of Sin – Repentance admits personal guilt before a holy God (Psalm 51:3–4). – Without that admission, baptism would be a hollow ceremony. 2. Inner Change Before Outer Sign – Baptism symbolizes burial and resurrection with Christ (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). – The symbol has meaning only if an inward death to sin has already begun (Romans 6:6). 3. Divine Forgiveness Is Tied to Turning – “Repent and be baptized … for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). – Forgiveness is God’s response to repentance; baptism testifies to it publicly. 4. Preparation for the Spirit’s Indwelling – John declares: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes One … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 3:11). – The Spirit inhabits a cleansed, yielded heart (Acts 5:32). 5. Continuity with God’s Covenant Pattern – Old-covenant renewals always begin with repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14; Jonah 3:5–10). – New-covenant initiation naturally retains that moral sequence. How Repentance and Baptism Work Together • Repentance = turning from sin toward God (inner reality). • Baptism = testimony that the old life is buried and the new has begun (outward witness). • Joined, they declare: “I was wrong, God is right, and my life now belongs to Him.” Cautionary Example: Empty Ritual Without Repentance The Pharisees and Sadducees who approach John are rebuked: “Produce fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). Mere participation in a ritual cannot substitute for a repentant heart. Personal Application Today • Examine: Have I truly turned from sin, or am I seeking a religious badge? • Confess: Name sins specifically to God (1 John 1:9). • Obey: Submit to baptism as the joyful, public seal of a repentant, forgiven life. |
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