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The story of Jesus’ baptism has staggering significance for those who are genuine followers of Jesus. Before I dive into this, read this clearly. If you’re not a Christian, none of what I’m about to write is true for you, regardless of your performance.

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that it can be gloriously true for you! Not by you’re works, but by the work of Jesus. You have only to turn from your sins and trust Him today.

If you’ve done that, then everything I’m about to write is true for you, regardless of your performance. I’m not writing about what could be if you’re good enough. I’m talking about what is because Christ was good enough in your place!!!

The Scriptures repeatedly talk about the fact that if you belong to Jesus, you are in Christ. Interestingly, the Bible uses baptism as an image for this union with Christ. Paul says in Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

If you’re a Christian, you’re in Christ. You’ve put on Jesus. And now, because the Father identifies with Jesus, God identifies with you.

Imagine you’re a third string defender for a soccer team. It’s the championship game and you’ve never got any playing time. Your all-star teammate scores the winning goal. Are you a champion? Yes!!! Why? Because the goal is credited to the entire team, even to the players sitting on the bench who don’t do anything. You’ve “put on” the jersey, so the victory accomplished by your all-star teammate is credited to you! [1]

If you are in Christ, what the Father says to the Son is true of you. Not because you deserve it, but because His victory has been credited to you. Not because you’re good, but because He is.

Christian, listen to what God says to you…  

"You are mine”

Because Jesus is the Son of God, we can be adopted into God’s family if we come to with Him in repentance and faith Hebrews 2:11 says Jesus is not ashamed to call us His little brothers and sisters. Why? Because “those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). If you’re in Christ, you belong to the Father.  

"You are loved”

If you believe in Him you too are God’s beloved, not because you are good but because you have been baptized into Christ! Ephesians 1:5-6 says “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”  

“I am pleased”

We all want to hear God say on judgment day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21) If you’re baptized into Christ, you will! Not because we’re awesome, but because He is!!!

I recently read Ray Ortlund inviting us to imagine that sin was the color yellow. If sin was the color yellow, everything we do has a shade of yellow. It’s all corrupted by sin. Some of our acts are deep yellow while others have just a yellowish tint. But they’re all corrupted to some degree. But if God hates sin, than how can He ever be pleased with me? We think we have to get all that yellow out. No! God is pleased with because He’s pleased with Jesus!