Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad HIM, saying, I have need to be baptized of THEE, and comest THOU to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered HIM.

16 And Jesus, when HE was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto HIM, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon HIM (upon Jesus):

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is MY beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

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I was baptized in water when I was 15, going forward at church by invitation of the pastor.

 

But I was not born again by the Spirit of God.  There was no real change in my life for I was not born again.

 

After I was born again, the Spirit of God said, "Be baptized."

 

As the minister lowered me into the water this time, I heard, "This is like being buried with Christ."

 

As I came out of the water, I heard, "This is like being raised with Christ."

 

Later I read the following scripture.

 

Romans 6

 

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS death?

4 Therefore we are buried with HIM by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of HIS death, we shall be also in the likeness of HIS resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with HIM:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over HIM.

10 For in that HE died, HE died unto sin once: but in that HE liveth, HE liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

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When we are born again, God changes us, giving us a new heart and a new spirit, putting in us HIS own Spirit, the Holy Spirit, whereby we follow God by HIS Spirit doing the will of God as we serve God.

 

We are totally different than we were before we were born again.

 

Now we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us to lead us and to guide us according to God's will.

 

We learn to walk according to the Spirit of God, following the will of God in the matter at hand.

 

II Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

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