OceanSide church of Christ

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IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

Wayne Rodgers

TEXT:  “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17).

THESIS: To encourage us to strive to be pleasing to God in our life.

INTRODUCTION:

1.     God is always pleased with those who will submit to His will. 

2.     God was pleased with John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:13-15)

3.     God demonstrates that he is well-pleased with Jesus. (Matthew 3:15-17)

a.      The heavens were opened up to Him.

b.     The Spirit of God descending upon Him.

c.      The voice from heaven saying, “…This is my beloved Son…”

4.     If we will learn this lesson of obedience, we too can be pleasing unto God, our Father.

DISCUSSION:

I. GOD WAS WELL-PLEASED WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST. (Matthew 3:13-15)

A. John did the will of the Father.

                                   1. John fulfilled the prophecy given by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), which is also found in Matthew 3:3 - “…The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

                                   2. In Matthew 3:1-2, John the Baptist is “…preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

B. In verse thirteen, Jesus comes to John to be baptized of him.

                                   1. Though John had “forbad him, saying I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (Matthew 3:14)

                                   2. Jesus explains the purpose of this baptism: “…for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15)

                                   3. Therefore, John suffered him.

C. John in his obedience unto God gives us a great example to follow in our lives.

II. GOD WAS WELL-PLEASED WITH JESUS.  (Matthew 3:16-17)

A. Jesus did the will of the Father.

1. Jesus said, “…My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

2. The Hebrews’ writer said of Jesus, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey them.” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

B. In our text, Jesus tells John the Baptist: “…it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15)

                                   1. This was indeed an act of obedience.

                                   2. Christ was concerned about doing the Father’s will.

                                   3. Jesus “…said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” (Luke 24:44)

                                   4.  Luke records for us: “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” (Acts 3:18)

C. Christ in His life gave us the perfect example – (1 Peter 2:21) “…that we should follow in his steps.”

III. WILL GOD BE PLEASED WITH US?

A. We are required to do the will of the Father, as well.

                                   1. “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

                                   2. It is required of us to give glory and honor to God our Father – (Revelation 4:11) “…for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

B. Because Christ fulfilled all righteousness, we too have opportunity to be pleasing before God.

                                   1. To be saved by our faith and obedience (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:32; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 5:8-9) through the Gospel plan of salvation. (Rom. 1:16)

                                   2. To live in faithful service (Rom. 12:1-2; Revelation 2:10)

Rom 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

C. May we serve as an example to others in our obedience to the Father in heaven.

                                   1. As the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

                                   2. May God be able to say of us as His children: “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.”

CONCLUSION:

1.     God is always pleased with those who are obedient to His will.  Jesus is essentially saying to us…

2.     Illustration: Blame Me Not

Ye call me Master and obey me not,

Ye call me Light and see me not;

Ye call me Way and walk not;

Ye call me Life and desire me not;

Ye call me Wise and follow me not;

Ye call me Fair and love me not;

Ye call me Rich and ask me not;

Ye call me Eternal and seek me not;

Ye call me Gracious and trust me not;

Ye call me Noble and serve me not;

Ye call me Mighty and honor me not;

Ye call me Just and fear me not;

If I condemn you BLAME ME not!            —Unknown

3.     John and Jesus have done their part in obeying the Father…

4.     If we understand how John the Baptist and Jesus both were pleasing unto the Father and fulfilled all righteousness, we can better understand how we might Him faithfully.

5.     May we ever strive to have humble hearts ready to obey the Father in heaven.