Network Discipling Ministries

FULFILLING RIGHTEOUSNESS

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented – Matthew 3:15

Read This: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21, 22; John 1:31-34

The Scriptures say that John the Baptist was busily engaged in baptizing the crowds that flocked to him in the wilderness, when Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by him. Although John knew that he was God’s appointee to announce the arrival of the Messiah, he did not know him personally (John 1:31, 33). However, when the Baptist saw Jesus approaching in the distance, he shouted to his Jordan audience:

²⁹“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” ³⁰“This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘after me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’”

John 1:29, 30

Firstly, the only way John could have made such a declaration concerning Christ was through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, since this was the very first time he saw the Anointed One. Secondly, he introduced the long-awaited Messiah as God’s appointed Lamb for taking away the sin of the world—and not as the conquering King of the Jewish nation, whose mental framework had no room for a dying Lamb or for the Gentile world. Thirdly, John clearly stated that Jesus was not only greater than he; but that He also existed before him.

Of course, John was surprised by Jesus’ request for baptism, as would be expected of anyone in his position. How could the lesser be appointed to baptize the Greater? Therefore, John objected: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:15, NRSV). Jesus responded with the very comprehensive and all-important answer, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness” (v. 15).

Intrinsically, Christ did not need to be baptized since He had absolutely no sins to be repented of—making John’s baptism of repentance irrelevant to him. However, Christ had to fulfill all righteousness as the Head of God’s new spiritual humanity. Everything we are to be, and to do, as God’s regenerated spiritual children, Christ already did, not only as our Example, but also as our Regenerator—the One responsible for our new life.

Consequently, Paul could confidently state that every born again believer has been re-created in Christ (not Adam) for good works, which God had prepared before hand (in Christ), so that we could now walk successfully in them (Ephesians 2:10). Christ fulfilled or completed all righteousness (including baptism) before releasing the merits of His life in the incorruptible seed (1 Peter 1:23) of the believer’s spirit. Therefore, we are saved only by God’s grace, which credits us with all that Christ already completed in Himself. Thank God, we are saved by His righteous life (Romans 5:10), and not by the filthy rags of our self-righteous works (Isaiah 64:6).