The words in
Matthew 3 v 1-6 contain so much. John’s
clothing and food was different to other people but he was sent before the Lord Jesus to
prepare the way of the Lord. No-one brought
forth of a woman was greater than he was but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he was. Take note of what he said. In verse 5 it says that people from Jerusalem and
the whole region went out to him to confess their sin and be baptized. His was the baptism of repentance which was
different to the baptism of the Lord Jesus. Paul
asked some believers about what baptism they received.
They had only received the baptism of repentance and not the baptism of the
Holy Spirit.
The Greek word Hupo means
power and authority. The people were driven by
power and authority to confess their sins. Baptiso
means to be emerged in water. If you confess
your sin, you die to that sin. A corpse is
dead. It cannot lie, be immoral, gossip or
shout. If you are baptized, you are dead to
sin and raised to new life. If you are
baptized but nothing happens in your heart, then you are like a brood of vipers. The Pharisees and Sadducees also went to be
baptized but John called them sons of snakes. Repentance
is not cheap. 2 Corinthians 7 v 10 says than Godly sorrow brings repentance
leading to salvation. You have to experience
real remorse and grief for what you have done. John
did not respect the Pharisees because they were not sorry about what they had done. Repentance means to change your mind. This is like a car that stops and goes in reverse. You distance yourself from the
old way like boozing. You do not rewind and
repeat what you did before. You have remorse
and are contrite and penitent. Have you really
repented and experienced John’s baptism? Then
you will receive grace from God.
The Pharisees came but how
can you be baptized if you are not truly sorry and repent from your sin? Confessing sin with the wrong motive also does not
help. In Luke 3 v 10, people were touched. They asked, “What should we do?” John said that the person with two tunics should
give to the one who had none and share their food with those that didn’t have. Such deeds show that you have repented. The tax collectors were told to only take what was
appointed and soldiers were told not to intimidate any one.
Others were told to be content with their wages. It is a tragedy if you are a Christian and you do
not turn from your old ways of bitterness, lack of forgiveness, slander and finding fault.
May God help us to understand
the message of John the Baptist: that you have experienced the power and authority to
truly repent. Have you distanced from sin? If you have not experienced this regret and
repentance, you are to be pitied. |
