"and all flesh shall see the salvation of God!" (Luke 3:6)
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight." (Mark 1:3-5)
"... and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:6)
From the scriptures, we know that John baptized in the wilderness, preaching "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:3-5)
As we also know from the third chapter of Malachi, John was prophesied to be the forerunner for the Christ -- Jesus. As the prophet Malachi scribed -- "Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come," saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." (Malachi 3:1-4)
From these scriptures combined, and many more, we understand John the baptizer to be the forerunner to Jesus, the one prophesied to announce the Lamb of God to the world. We also know that this same John was full of the Holy Ghost from the womb -- from the scriptural account of when his pregnant mother met Mary who was also pregnant at the time with Jesus. But John was not the promised Messiah, instead always pointing to Jesus as the prophesied Christ.
"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." (Acts 19:4)
Mark and Matthew reconfirm that John baptized in the wilderness, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. This same message is confirmed in both Acts 13:24 and Acts 19:4. Notice also that all who went out AND were baptized of him [John] in the river of Jordan, confessed their sins. Equally important is that not everyone was baptized. Indeed, there were the "generation of vipers" -- those standing on the bank as John identified them -- who did not go into the water.
"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham to our father" -- for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Luke 3:7-8)
Continuing in Luke 3, John again points to Jesus -- the Lamb of God, saying, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto John, "Master, what shall we do?" John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ..." (Luke 3:12-16)
"... when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened ..." (Luke 3:21)
"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan." (Mark 1:8-9)
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire ..." (Matthew 3:11)
"And they asked him, and said unto him, "Why baptize thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water but there stands One among you, whom ye know not." (John 1:25-26, 33)
Repeatedly, John the baptizer pointed to Jesus, not accepting for himself man's titles of Master, Elias, or "that Christ." John always pointed to the ONE who would baptize with the Holy Ghost. It is important to note that Jesus did not baptize anyone. We understand this point from John 4:2.
"Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples." (John 4:2)
A couple of more points worth noting, particularly when there are so many within the modern day religious culture denying the importance of water baptism.
First, Jesus clearly states, "... he that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)
And from the context that we are writing about this day -- "And all the people that heard him [John], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30)
The point being --- water baptism is an important component of salvation. The message of water baptism did not start and stop with John the baptizer but continued to Peter standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost -- wherein the first 3,000 souls in the New Testament church were saved.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:36-41)
More to come on this subject. Stand in the offering plate.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight." (Mark 1:3-5)
"... and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:6)
From the scriptures, we know that John baptized in the wilderness, preaching "the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:3-5)
As we also know from the third chapter of Malachi, John was prophesied to be the forerunner for the Christ -- Jesus. As the prophet Malachi scribed -- "Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come," saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." (Malachi 3:1-4)
From these scriptures combined, and many more, we understand John the baptizer to be the forerunner to Jesus, the one prophesied to announce the Lamb of God to the world. We also know that this same John was full of the Holy Ghost from the womb -- from the scriptural account of when his pregnant mother met Mary who was also pregnant at the time with Jesus. But John was not the promised Messiah, instead always pointing to Jesus as the prophesied Christ.
"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." (Acts 19:4)
Mark and Matthew reconfirm that John baptized in the wilderness, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. This same message is confirmed in both Acts 13:24 and Acts 19:4. Notice also that all who went out AND were baptized of him [John] in the river of Jordan, confessed their sins. Equally important is that not everyone was baptized. Indeed, there were the "generation of vipers" -- those standing on the bank as John identified them -- who did not go into the water.
"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham to our father" -- for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Luke 3:7-8)
Continuing in Luke 3, John again points to Jesus -- the Lamb of God, saying, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto John, "Master, what shall we do?" John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ..." (Luke 3:12-16)
"... when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened ..." (Luke 3:21)
"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan." (Mark 1:8-9)
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire ..." (Matthew 3:11)
"And they asked him, and said unto him, "Why baptize thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water but there stands One among you, whom ye know not." (John 1:25-26, 33)
Repeatedly, John the baptizer pointed to Jesus, not accepting for himself man's titles of Master, Elias, or "that Christ." John always pointed to the ONE who would baptize with the Holy Ghost. It is important to note that Jesus did not baptize anyone. We understand this point from John 4:2.
"Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples." (John 4:2)
A couple of more points worth noting, particularly when there are so many within the modern day religious culture denying the importance of water baptism.
First, Jesus clearly states, "... he that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)
And from the context that we are writing about this day -- "And all the people that heard him [John], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30)
The point being --- water baptism is an important component of salvation. The message of water baptism did not start and stop with John the baptizer but continued to Peter standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost -- wherein the first 3,000 souls in the New Testament church were saved.
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:36-41)
More to come on this subject. Stand in the offering plate.
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