January 11, 2026
LINK TO SERMON ON YOUTUBE
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TEXT: Matthew 3:13-17
TOPIC: Baptism
SERMON SUMMARY:
Living Into Your Baptism: The Baptism of Jesus
This morning we journeyed to the River Jordan to witness the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before diving into that sacred moment, I want to help you understand what baptism truly means.
In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that we must be born of water and spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Just as physical birth involves water and breath, spiritual birth involves water and the breath—the Spirit—of God. On Pentecost, Peter preached the three steps to salvation: repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus, and receive the Holy Spirit. These steps remain true for us today.
At Jesus' baptism, we witness the Holy Trinity present together. The Son is baptized in water, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove consecrating Him for ministry, and the Father's voice declares Jesus' unique sonship: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." When John objects to baptizing Jesus, saying he needs to be baptized by Jesus instead, Jesus insists they must "fulfill all righteousness"—do what God has ordained.
Here's the crucial point: Jesus had no sin to repent of. When He entered those waters, He was identifying with you and me. He took our sins into the Jordan, beginning the work of substitution that would culminate at the cross. He identifies with us and invites us to identify with Him.
Our baptism is not a one-time event that happened in the past. You are not a "wet Christian"—you are a baptized, consecrated believer called to live into your baptism every single day. Whether you were baptized as an infant or an adult, the promises made at your baptism must be lived out continuously. You belong to God and God alone, born of God and for God through the waters of baptism by faith, repentance, and obedience.
Go and live as the consecrated believer you are.
Discussion Questions
Fr. Jose teaches that baptism is not a one-time event but something we "walk into every day." What does it practically look like to "live into your baptism" on a daily basis?
How does understanding that Jesus identified with us in His baptism—taking on our sins even before the cross—change your perspective on your own baptism and relationship with Christ?
The sermon distinguishes between being a "wet Christian" and a "baptized Christian." What are the signs in someone's life that they are truly living as a consecrated, baptized believer rather than just going through religious motions?
Prayer
Father God, thank You for the gift of baptism and for Jesus who identified with us in the waters of the Jordan. Help us to live not as merely wet Christians, but as truly baptized, consecrated believers who walk daily in the promises made at our baptism. May we continually repent, receive Your Holy Spirit afresh, and live as Your children—born of You and for You. Consecrate us anew for Your ministry and give us the grace to fulfill all righteousness according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The Rev. Jose Poch graciously volunteers at St. Luke’s as an Assisting Priest. Retired from over 40 years of rectorship, most recently at St. David’s in Burbank, Fr. Jose has served God and God’s people faithfully as a priest, a police chaplain, a conference and retreat speaker, and a spiritual father to many. During his tenure at St. David’s, he guided the church through a number of major transitions, including the church’s exit from the Episcopal Church and entrance into the Anglican Church. Fr. Jose was one of the founding clergy of the Western Anglican Council and the Diocese of Western Anglicans. Before leading St. David’s, Fr. Jose piloted St. Margaret and St. Ann’s in Los Angeles from a 30-member English-speaking congregation into a bilingual church of over 170. Fr. Jose has a Master in Theology degree from Fuller Seminary. He has been on the board of SOMA and ACTS 29, served as Chairman of the MDP, led numerous mission trips to Latin America, and has been an integral member of the Charismatic Movement in Los Angeles and the Cursillo Movement locally and nationally.
For over a century, the congregation of St. Luke’s has followed Jesus Christ through ancient forms of worship and spiritual growth presented in a contemporary style. St. Luke’s celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. The original stone building, made of stones from the local mountains, still stands on Foothill Blvd in La Crescenta—though the Anglican congregation has moved to a new building just a few blocks away near downtown Montrose. Retaining its biblically faithful foundation and liturgically rich worship service through the move, this long-standing Los Angeles church also carries on a tradition of warm welcome for newcomers. St. Luke’s is part of the Diocese of Western Anglicans, Anglican Church in North America, and the Global Anglican Communion. We invite you to join us online or in person this Sunday!
