What Relationship Exists Between Righteousness, Baptism and the Blood?

"Righteousness, Baptism, and the Blood"

Steven J. Wallace

 

When Jesus began His ministry, He required John to baptize Him? Why? Jesus answered, "to fulfill all righteousness." This is the first time righteousness is found in the New Testament, and it is connected to the act of baptism.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Later on a mountain, Jesus counseled His disciples to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). In teaching Gentiles, Peter affirmed that God is no respecter of persons "but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:35). It should be evident that righteousness requires us to seek it and work it.

While righteousness must be worked to be accepted, there are no works of merit or works of the law of Moses that justify us. Still, righteousness requires action or works of faith (Jas. 2:21-26).

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for in it the righteousness of God is revealed (Rom. 1:17). Some conclusions about righteousness are:

• It is to be sought after with a view toward the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33).

• It is to be worked even among Gentiles (Acts 10:34, 35).

• It is revealed in the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16, 17).

• It finds some form of fulfillment in baptism (Matt. 3:13-15).

BAPTISM

Jesus taught that we must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom (Jn. 3:3-5). Recall point 1 above. The very Gentile who heard he must work righteousness was later commanded to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:47, 48).

While the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, it is apart from the law (Rom. 3:21). Righteousness is revealed through "faith in Christ Jesus to all and on all who believe" (Rom. 3:22). Although it is not found in keeping the Law of Moses, it is found in what God set forth (3:25, 26). What did God set forth? God set forth His Son as our propitiation or mercy seat. Only through the mercy seat can we be redeemed and declared righteous today. What does this have to do with baptism? Let's observe the link between baptism and the blood.

BLOOD

Paul explained to the Romans that Christ's death is the demonstration of God's love toward us (Rom. 5:8-10). We can see from this text that:

• Jesus died for us while we were sinners.

• We are justified by His blood.

• We shall be saved from wrath through Him.

• Reconciliation is through the death of God's Son

• We shall be saved by His life. Jesus now lives to make intercession for us as our priest (cf. Heb. 7:25).

Notice, "He might be the just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26). So how do I exercise faith in Christ and apply the blood of God's mercy seat to my soul? Paul answers this important question:

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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" (Rom. 6:3, 4, emp. added).

When immersed, we are brought not only into Christ but also into His death. That is where God's mercy seat is applied! When we rise from baptism, we are enabled to walk in the newness of life that glorifies the Father. Notice the parallels:

• Justified by blood (Rom. 5:9)
  Justified when baptized (1 Cor. 6:11).

• Saved by the blood (Rom. 5:9)
  Saved when baptized (1 Pet. 3:21; Mk. 16:16).

• Sins remitted by blood (Matt. 26:28)
  Sins remitted when baptized (Acts 2:38; Col. 2:12, 13).

• Life is found through the Lord giving His flesh (Jn. 6:51)
  Life is found when we are baptized (Rom. 6:4, 5; Col. 2:12).

• Sins washed away by blood (Rev. 1:5)
  Sins washed away when baptized (Acts 22:16).

The conclusion: When we are baptized into Christ, we are justified (declared righteous) through the blood of Christ, "And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Rom. 6:18).