{"id":46450,"date":"2021-12-23T13:21:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T10:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=46450"},"modified":"2025-05-20T02:50:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T23:50:04","slug":"have-you-fulfilled-all-righteousness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/12\/23\/have-you-fulfilled-all-righteousness\/","title":{"rendered":"Have You Fulfilled All Righteousness?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Matthew 3:13\u201315 (NKJV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\nAnd John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’<\/em><\/p>\n


\nBut Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.”<\/em><\/p>\n

In this short exchange, Jesus uses two crucial phrases we must reflect on deeply:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is fitting for us<\/em>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTo fulfill all<\/em> righteousness\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) \u201cIt is fitting for us<\/em>\u201d<\/h3>\n

Jesus did not say,<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is fitting for me to fulfill all righteousness,\u201d<\/em> but rather, \u201cIt is fitting for us<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This distinction matters. Jesus includes others in the act of fulfilling righteousness not only Himself. He is laying a foundation for His followers, showing that righteousness is something we must all walk in, not just admire from afar. It is a shared call.<\/p>\n

As believers, we are united with Christ (Romans 6:5), and therefore we must walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). If He submitted to baptism to fulfill righteousness, so must we. He is our example in all things (1 Peter 2:21).<\/p>\n

2) To Fulfill All<\/em> Righteousness<\/h3>\n

There is a difference between practicing righteousness and fulfilling all<\/strong> righteousness.<\/p>\n

You fulfill righteousness when:<\/p>\n

You believe in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10)<\/p>\n

You partake in the Lord\u2019s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26)<\/p>\n

You proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15)<\/p>\n

You live a holy life (1 Peter 1:15\u201316)<\/p>\n

But all righteousness<\/strong> includes an essential act many overlook: baptism in water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Even though Jesus was sinless (Hebrews 4:15), He still underwent water baptism not because He needed cleansing, but because it was the righteous thing to do in God\u2019s redemptive plan. By doing so, He endorsed baptism as an act of obedience and alignment with God\u2019s will (Luke 7:29\u201330). To refuse baptism is to reject the counsel of God.<\/p>\n

So if Jesus, the sinless Son of God, chose baptism to fulfill all righteousness how much more should we?<\/p>\n

Why Water Baptism Matters<\/h3>\n

In the New Testament, baptism is never presented as optional. It is commanded by Jesus (Matthew 28:19) and preached by the apostles as essential for salvation and identification with Christ\u2019s death, burial, and resurrection.<\/p>\n

Acts 2:38 (NKJV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Romans 6:3\u20134 (NKJV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
\nTherefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Biblically, true baptism<\/strong> involves:<\/p>\n

Full immersion in water<\/strong>, symbolizing burial and resurrection (Mark 1:9\u201310; John 3:23)<\/p>\n

In the name of Jesus Christ<\/strong>, reflecting apostolic teaching (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5)<\/p>\n

Sprinkling or pouring does not reflect the biblical pattern. Jesus wasn\u2019t sprinkled Scripture says, \u201cHe came up from the water.\u201d<\/em> John baptized in places where much water<\/strong> was available (John 3:23).<\/p>\n

What If I Haven\u2019t Been Baptized Properly?<\/h3>\n

This is a serious question. If you\u2019ve never been baptized, or if your baptism doesn\u2019t align with the biblical example (full immersion in the name of Jesus), and yet you have come to know the truth can you still be saved?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sobering answer is: Not according to Scripture.<\/strong><\/p>\n

James 4:17 (NKJV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God may show mercy to those who never had the chance to hear or understand the full truth (Acts 17:30). But once truth is revealed, we become accountable (Hebrews 10:26).<\/p>\n

The Enemy\u2019s Strategy<\/h3>\n

In these last days, Satan aims to keep believers from fulfilling all righteousness. He doesn’t mind if you do some<\/em> things just as long as you don\u2019t do everything<\/strong>. He wants people to settle for partial obedience because partial righteousness still leaves room for disobedience.<\/p>\n

But Jesus is coming back for a blameless<\/strong> bride (Ephesians 5:27) a people who have embraced His full counsel, including repentance, faith, holiness, and baptism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So now, the most important question remains:<\/p>\n

Have You<\/strong> Fulfilled All Righteousness?<\/h3>\n

Not just believed.
\nNot just prayed.
\nNot just attended church.<\/p>\n

Have you followed the Lord into the waters of baptism, as He did so that together, with Him, you fulfill all righteousness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maranatha.<\/strong><\/p>\n