“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
TEXT — Matthew 3:13-17
Message
Jesus presented Himself to John the Baptist as a candidate for water baptism, emphasising this ritual’s necessity after genuine salvation. Despite John the Baptist’s objection, Jesus insisted on fulfilling all righteousness. It was also a way to show the world the proper way to be baptized: not by sprinkling water on the candidate, but immersion in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. As Jesus came out of the water, a voice from heaven affirmed His divinity as the Son of God. This public divine approval was to launch Him into His earthly ministry.
Heaven gave this approval so that doubts about His ministry, origin and purpose will be settled from the beginning. Of course, doubters continue to spread lies and rumours about Christ, even at and after His death. In fact, his bodily resurrection has remained a subject of controversy in many non-Christian circles today. However, none of these has in any way been able to diminish His divinity, authority and messiahship. For those who will put their faith and confidence in Him, they will continue to enjoy unsurpassable peace and divine fellowship that will outlast this present world.
At Pentecost, Peter had the assignment to convince a doubting world of God’s divine approval of Jesus. His famous Pentecost sermon climaxed with his call to Israel to surrender to “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).
You have a wonderful opportunity to come to Jesus for your salvation, sanctification and power of the Holy Ghost as well as other blessings procured through His sacrifice at Calvary.
Thought for the day
Christ’s unique divine approval affirms His authority to bless you.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
Christ Divine approval guarantees our divine approval to eternal life if we abides to the very end. May God grant us the abiding grace.
Christ Divine approval guarantees our divine approval to eternal life if we abides to the very end. May God grant us the abiding grace.