Jesus was sinless. He didn’t need to repent of any wrongdoing or have any guilt washed away. Christ was baptized for another reason: “to fulfil all righteousness.” By allowing John to immerse Him in the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus set a positive example for us. He identified Himself fully with weak, sinful human beings; He was willing to take all the steps THEY needed to take. Christ the Saviour never asks His followers to go anywhere He hasn’t been. He’s always leading, never pushing. So when believers are immersed in the waters of baptism, they are following in the steps of the Master.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection He gives us His righteousness.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
—2 Corinthians 5:21.

Transformed in God’s eyes from sinners into saints, we grow into that righteousness which is already our gift, and thus we live a new life in Christ. Through Christ’s birth and baptism He took His first step of inviting humanity into His life. The Saviour’s death and resurrection were His final, climactic steps.