Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

To Matthew chapter three we go to find John the Baptist whose voice was crying in the wilderness making ready the way of the lord saying in verse two: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." That is to say the kingdom of God is near or coming soon. Jesus Himself says:

Mark 9:1 "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here

who mill not taste of death Until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

So, some who are living at that moment will be alive to see the kingdom established before their deaths. Yes, the kingdom has come! But that's another story.

John's first cry in making way for the Lord was to repent, which is more than sorrow over sin. It is a change of heart and a change of pathway to the way of the Lord-a godly sorrow ( 2 Corinthians 7:10 ). And as he told the Pharisees and the Sadducees in verse 8 that this repentance "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance." Or to continue to bear fruit that shows one has indeed repented as he continues along the good pathway.

These were individuals who were of the age of accountability, or held accountable by God for their actions. "…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," ( Romans 3:23 ). Those that hear the word of God and believe in them and then turn their pathway ( Acts 9:35 ) are called to baptism
( Acts 16:31-34 ). And those that sin after baptism are called in repentance to return to the Lord
( 2 Corinthians 7:8-12 ).

Next, John was baptizing. This was done where there was "much water" ( John 3:23 ). Baptism is described in:

Romans 6:3-6 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been

baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that

as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the

newness of life. For if we have become in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the

likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our

body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves of sin.

So baptism is a burial in the likeness of our Lord where there is "much water". We also see Ananias telling Saul in Damascus three days after Saul was converted by Jesus on the road to Damascus:

Acts 22:16 "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized and wash away your

sins calling on His name."

So we see that it takes more than just faith that Jesus is our Lord and savior as Saul still was covered with sin until he was baptized and in this baptism his sins were washed away! Does baptism save us? As we see it is one of the steps in the journey of life to salvation as it puts us in good conscious with God.

Note:  1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the

flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscious-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So, back to Jesus who not only willingly came to John the Baptist for the express purpose of submitting to this baptism which not only mark's the beginning of His ministry, but once again shows His humility in obedience to the Father as

 Hebrews 5:8-9 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal

salvation.

Although Jesus lived His life upon this earth without sin ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ), He sets the perfect example for us in His life so we may learn to walk as He walked ( 1 John 2:1-6 ).

So, for our answer today, as Jesus permits John the Baptist to baptize Him:

Luke 3:21-22 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was

praying, Heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove

and a voice came Out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased."

We now see the descending of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus in bodily form like a dove and then the great voice of God the Father commending His Son who will now begin His ministry upon this earth submitting to the Father in all things with humility from this baptism to His death upon the cross.

So there we have our answer to today's question. Won't you take time to mirror yourself to the word of God and see if you pass the test ( 2 Corinthians 13:5 )? Let us submit with all humility to that watery grave to the newness of life or return to Him if your life has drifted from Him. Won't you come and be healed? Won't you whisper "I yield"?