To Fulfill All Righteousness
Matthew 3:13-17
John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”Then John consented. 16As 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. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
P __ __ __ __ __ __ is how we organize ourselves as United Methodists.
P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is how we live out our faith together.
Baptism is the Sacrament of B __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
Holy Communion is the Sacrament of R __ __ __ __ __ __.
For this reason, we are baptized O __ __ __ O __ __ __ , because once we belong to God, we belong to God.
Whereas we celebrate Holy Communion O __ __ __ __ , because we are constantly in need of renewing our relationship with God.
The P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Love of God brings us to a point where we accept for ourselves God’s claim upon our lives.
Then the J __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Love of God takes over and makes us “right” with God.
As we continue our faith journey we encounter the S __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Love of God which helps us live each day in a growing relationship with God.
From this brief passage in Matthews’ gospel we can learn three truths about baptism in the life of our Lord that are applicable to our own lives.
The first is that Baptism is about B __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .
The second truth is that Baptism is about B __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .
Righteousness means “Right R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .”
“You are all (children) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26,27
And the third truth is that Baptism is about B __ __ __ __ __ .
TODAY’S PREACHER
Dr. Rev. Ray Owens is Pastor of Visitation at Calvary UMC