Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17)

When we look at the context of Matthew 3:13-17, we see that Jesus’ baptism is his ordination into priesthood. In the Old Testament, a man would be ordained for priesthood at age 30. At his baptism, Jesus is ordained not to the Aaronic priesthood, but to the priesthood of Melchizedek, as noted in Hebrews.

Not only this, but, when we realize that the voice from heaven is quoting Psalm 2, we can see that Jesus’ baptism is also his coronation as king.

I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.” (Psalm 2:6-7)

Looking at the context in Isaiah 42 helps us to see that the words of the voice from heaven show us that Jesus is the Messiah.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1)

Equally important, the baptism of Jesus is the beginning of a new creation. Just as the Holy Spirit hovers over the waters in Genesis 1, and just as the dove is sent out by Noah after the flood, the Holy Spirit hovers on and rests on Jesus at his baptism.

And, directly after this, Jesus, as the new Adam, is tempted by Satan just as the first Adam was; but Jesus does not fall into temptation and, later, defeats Satan on the cross.

The Nicene Creed says, “We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” Baptism is not a public declaration of your seriousness about Jesus. It is a public declaration of Jesus’ seriousness about you.

The phrase “one baptism” of course means that we shouldn’t get baptized two or more times. But the more important meaning of “one baptism” is that Jesus’ baptism is the only baptism. We are baptized into Jesus’ baptism.

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

This is how we are saved—by being baptized into Christ. Why? Because baptism is how we enter the Lord’s death. The water of baptism is not only water, it is also the blood of the Lord which he shed for us. We are washed in that blood not just by “asking Jesus into our hearts”, but by baptism. This is why Jesus refers to his death as his “baptism”.

“But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!” (Luke 12:50)

So, Jesus is not only King and Messiah. He is also the sacrifice that we partake of and whose death we enter into in order to enter the new creation—the Kingdom of God.

These are basic and essential Christian truths. Sadly, these are preached less and less today, even in good churches. Modern Christians think that it is important first to build relationships with people, encourage them, prepare their hearts, and convince their minds before preaching the gospel.

But salvation is a plunge into death, and sinners cannot be convinced to take that plunge. We drown in the waters of baptism—it is a violent end to the life of a sinner. Baptism is crucifixion. Baptism is us accepting that we are guilty. Baptism is about us dying to the world and all worldly hopes and forms of support.

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4).

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

Do you realize that no one chooses to be baptized? Our fallen, sinful self can never be convinced to choose to die with Christ. So how does it happen that we come to Christ?

We come because he calls. And that call always happens through the proclamation of God’s word.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:44).

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”” (Romans 10:14-15)

The reason you can’t encourage or persuade somebody to be born again is because prior to being born again we are spiritually dead. Dead people cannot be encouraged or persuaded about spiritual matters because they are dead.

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:28-29)

The new birth is always a miracle, not the result of effective church ministry. Everyone who comes to the waters of baptism, whether they realize it or not, is responding to the call of Christ. We are like Lazarus in the grave, and Jesus calls to us, “Lazarus, come out!”

It doesn’t matter how good the worship band is. It doesn’t matter how persuasive your friend is. It doesn’t matter how good the pastor’s preaching is. The only way we are baptized is because Christ calls us out of death. We have no more choice over our new birth than we have over our old birth. No one can come to the Son unless the Father draws him. All Protestants agree that, unless God calls through his word, a sinner cannot enter the waters of baptism.

Faith is a gift from God. Faith is not an openness to God that we can cultivate in the heart of sinners.