Baptized into Righteousness: Living Changed by Water and Spirit

I began by remembering my own baptism, the warmth of the water, my dad’s steady hand, and the sense—hard to name—that something in me had been changed for good. Matthew shows us a very different riverbank: cold water, muddy current, no towels, but the same deep sense that people came up different than they went in. Then Jesus steps into that line. John recognizes him and protests, but Jesus says this must be done “to fulfill all righteousness.” In that act, Jesus stands where sinners stand, not because he needs to repent, but because he chooses to stand with us and to begin the work that will end at the cross.

I drew a line from Naaman’s story—the proud general who almost missed his healing because the Jordan looked too ordinary. His turning back, his obedience, opened the door to grace. John’s obedience did the same. And in the waters, Jesus himself becomes obedient, and his obedience changes us for good. When the heavens open, the Spirit descends and the Father’s voice names him Beloved. The Spirit hovered over creation’s waters and over Mary’s womb; now the Spirit rests over baptism’s waters, marking a new creation and anointing Jesus to be both King and servant.

Baptism is a visible sign of an invisible grace. It does not save us or work magic; it marks us as belonging to God. The Spirit does the work, and the seal is permanent. That identity leads to a way of life. In our Wesleyan heritage we name it plainly: do no harm, do good, stay in love with God. These are not slogans; they are practices that align us with God’s desire to save and heal. As we renew our vows, we ask how our obedience will show in New Ulm—how grace in us will become grace for our neighbors.

So today, as hands touch water, remember your baptism and be thankful. Remember the promises—made by you, or for you—and renew them. Seek righteousness, not as mere “being good,” but as living aligned with the Kingdom that is breaking in. Marked by grace, let us be obedient to God.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Obedience opens the door to grace Obedience rarely feels dramatic. It often looks like doing the simple thing God has asked when we would prefer a grander sign or a cleaner river. Naaman, John, and Jesus each chose obedience, and in that choice, the way of grace opened. We do not obey to earn favor, but to step into the place where God has already decided to meet us.
• 2. Jesus stands where sinners stand By entering the water, Jesus took his place among the very people he came to save. He did not need cleansing; he chose solidarity. Our ministry begins in the same posture—standing with, not above, those in need. This is how love takes on shape, weight, and credibility.
• 3. Baptism names our true identity Baptism is not our achievement; it is God’s claim on us. The Spirit marks us as beloved, and that identity is stronger than our failures or our successes. Living from that name changes how we see others, because the beloved are sent to love. Identity precedes mission; it does not replace it.
• 4. Righteousness means alignment, not mere niceness When Jesus speaks of fulfilling all righteousness, he points to alignment with God’s saving purpose. This alignment shows up in concrete practices: doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God. Niceness avoids trouble; righteousness engages the world with holy purpose. It is the difference between being safe and being faithful.

1. What objection does John make to baptizing Jesus, and what reason does Jesus give in reply? What words or phrases stand out in John’s protest and Jesus’ answer?
2. What three visible signs follow Jesus coming up out of the water in Matthew 3:16–17? How does the sermon connect those signs to earlier moments in Scripture (Creation, Mary, etc.)?
3. In the sermon the preacher compared the people baptized by John and Naaman’s story. What specific similarities were pointed out about their situations and responses to God’s command?
4. According to the sermon, what do people notice about themselves after baptism—what is “changed for good”?

1. What does the phrase “to fulfill all righteousness” suggest about Jesus’ purpose and about Matthew’s meaning of “righteousness”? How would that have reframed the baptism for Matthew’s first-century readers?
2. How does Jesus’ decision to stand in the same place as repentant sinners (even though he does not need cleansing) challenge conventional ideas of authority, holiness, and leadership?
3. In what way does the descent of the Spirit and the Father’s voice function as a sign of “new creation” in the sermon’s argument? How do those signs link Jesus’ baptism to both Creation and his mission to save?
4. The sermon says the Holy Spirit “seals” the baptized and that the seal is permanent. What does that permanence mean for how a person should understand failures, sins, and efforts at discipleship?

1. Remember your own baptism (or the promises made for you). When and how did it happen? Name one specific promise from your baptism you will consciously renew this week and one concrete action you will take to live that promise.
2. The sermon said obedience often looks ordinary rather than dramatic. Identify one “small” thing you’ve been resisting because it seems too simple or too ordinary (a conversation to have, a phone call, a visit, a volunteer task). What will you do about it this week? Set a day and time.
3. Choose one of Wesley’s three rules mentioned in the sermon—do no harm, do good, stay in love with God. What is one specific habit you will begin for the next 30 days to practice that rule (for example: a nightly 5-minute prayer to “stay in love,” a weekly errand to help a neighbor, or a pause-before-speaking practice to avoid harm)?
4. Who is one person in your life right now who needs someone to “stand with” them rather than give advice from above? Name them and one concrete thing you will do in the next two weeks to show solidarity (sit with them, bring a meal, listen without fixing).
5. When have you acted out of shame or fear instead of from being “God’s beloved”? Describe the situation and one alternative action you will try next time that springs from the identity of being beloved.
6. As a group: identify one practical outreach in New Ulm that would show “grace in us becoming grace for our neighbors” (examples: a help day for a household in need, a simple community meal, visiting a care facility). Decide one immediate next step (who will contact whom, what date to aim for) before the next meeting.