The Works Of John The Baptizer
Matthew 3:1-17 reads,
3:1
In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 3:2"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" 3:3For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make his paths straight."
3:4
Now John himself had clothing made of camel’s hair, and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 3:5Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 3:6They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 3:8Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 3:9Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.3:10
"Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 3:11I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 3:12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."3:13
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 3:14But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"3:15
But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. 3:16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."3:2 implies that because the kingdom of heaven is at hand people ought to repent. In other words, the coming of the kingdom of heaven should find people having already repented.
What are people to repent of?
3:6 shows that the people John baptised confessed their sins at the time of their baptism. Implying that baptism and confession of sins accompany one another.
3:8 implies that the repentance that John spoke of concerned sin. In other words, people should repent of their sins prior to the coming of the kingdom of heaven, for the coming of the kingdom of heaven should find them already having repented of their sins.
What Is Fruit Worthy Of Repentance?
Fruit worthy of repentance, also called "good fruit" in 3:10, includes confession of sins and subsequent living a life devoid of sin. In other words, one abandons a sinful lifestyle and commences to live a righteous or good lifestyle.
When Baptism In Water Should Be Performed
3:11 shows that water baptism is performed when one repents of one's sins, confessing them and living a life devoid of them.
Another Baptism - In The Holy Spirit
3:11 also shows that there is another baptism, a baptism of the Holy Spirit. This baptism is performed by Yah'shuah the Christ, the one greater and mightier than John.
John in 3:14 implied that he needed to be baptised by Christ in Christ's baptism of the Holy Spirit, rather than in water baptism, which he undoubtedly had already had.
3:16 shows that after his baptism in water, Christ received his baptism in the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. In other words, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the coming into one of the Holy Spirit and his indwelling presence in that one.
Make Disciples And Baptise Them
Matthew 28:18-20 reads,
28:18
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 28:19Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 28:20teaching them to observe all things which I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.John Preached Baptism Of Repentance For Forgiveness Of Sins
Mark 1:1-11 reads,
1:1
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2As it is written in the prophets,"Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
Who will prepare your way before you.
1:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,1:4
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 1:5All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. 1:6John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. 1:7He preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 1:8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."1:9
It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 1:11A voice came out of the sky, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."Mark 16:14-18 reads,
16:14
Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 16:15He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16:16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. 16:17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; 16:18they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."To facilitate one's salvation one should both believe the gospel and be baptised.
Which baptism is Christ speaking about, the one in water, the one in the Holy Spirit, or both?
Luke 3:1-22 reads,
3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 3:2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3:3He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance to remission of sins. 3:4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,"The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord.
Make his paths straight.
3:5Every valley will be filled.
Every mountain and hill will be brought low.
The crooked will become straight,
And the rough ways smooth.
3:6
All flesh will see God’s salvation.’"3:7
He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 3:8Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! 3:9Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."3:10
The multitudes asked him, "What then must we do?"3:11
He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise."3:12
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"3:13
He said to them, "Collect no more than that which is appointed to you."3:14
Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?"He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."
3:15
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, 3:16John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, 3:17whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."3:18
Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 3:19but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 3:20added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison. 3:21Now it happened, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the sky was opened, 3:22and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."Fruit Worthy Of Repentance Stems From The Heart
John taught the people what "good fruit", "fruit worthy of repentance", that which facilitates the remission of sins, was. 3:11 shows that it involves sharing what one has with the needy, those who do not have what one has. It involves being upright in the performance of one's duties, without exceeding or abusing one's authority or position. It involves being appreciative of what is due to one.
It is therefore evident that good fruit, worthy of repentance, involves not only the doing of good, but also a good heart that facilitates and motivates the performance of good. In other words, it is not just action only, but action together with the heart facilitating the action.
3:17 shows that Christ was to baptise not only in the Holy Spirit, but also in fire. What is baptism in fire?
3:18 shows that it involves a separation being made between the wheat and the chaff, with the chaff being burned up with unquenchable fire. Who are the chaff?
3:9 likens human being to trees, with a requirement placed upon them to bring good fruit, fruit worthy of repentance. Seeing that trees that do not bring forth good fruit are thrown into the fire, it is indeed implied that people who do not bring forth fruit worthy of repentance are thrown into the fire.
Seeing that Christ is the one to baptise people in fire, and those baptised in fire are those humans who do not repent, who do not bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, it is indeed evident that the chaff that John spoke about are unrepentant humans.
The Mouth Speaks Out Of The Abundance Of The Heart
Luke 6:41-45 reads,
6:41
Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 6:42Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye. 6:43For there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. 6:44For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 6:45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.Christ's words in 6:43-45 confirms John's teaching concerning repentance for baptism for the remission of sins, involving not only outward conduct, but also the heart that motivates the outward conduct.
John Acknowledged That Yah'shuah Was Greater Than He Was
John 1:24-34 reads,
1:24
The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 1:25They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"1:26
John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. 1:27He is the one who comes after me, who has come to be before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie." 1:28These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.1:29
On the next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1:30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 1:31I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel." 1:32John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 1:33I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whoever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 1:34I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."Baptism Of The Holy Spirit Greater Than Baptism Of Water
Christ is greater than John. John baptised only in water. Christ baptises not only in water, but also in the Holy Spirit. It is therefore implied that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is GREATER than the baptism of water.
1:31 shows that the reason John came baptising in water was for the revelation of Christ to Israel. Implying that baptism in water is tied to Christ, both to reveal him and also to point to him as the one who takes away the sins of the world.
Physical Requirement Of Baptism In Water
John 3:22-24 reads,
3:22
After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 3:23John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 3:24For John was not yet thrown into prison.Baptism in water, immersion in water, involves or requires much water.
How Yah'shuah Made And Baptised More Disciples Than John
John 4:1-3 reads,
4:1
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 4:2(although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples), 4:3he left Judea, and departed into Galilee.It is noted that the manner Yah'shuah baptises is by authorising his disciples to baptise those being baptised.
It is also noted that despite having commenced his baptism of people after John had already become widely known, and had baptised many for a period of time, Yah'shuah succeeded in making and baptising more disciples than John.
How did Yah'shuah do this?
4:2 shows that he used the disciples he had made and baptised to make and baptise more disciples, their doing this under his authority. Implying that a manner of making and baptising a great number of disciples in a short period of time is to teach those same disciples how to duplicate what one is doing. In other words, teaching them how they too should make and baptise Christ's disciples. It should therefore be a duty of Christ's disciples to both make and baptise disciples for Christ.
Acts 1:1-8 reads,
1:1
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 1:2until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 1:3To these he also showed himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and spoke about God’s kingdom. 1:4Being assembled together with them, he charged them, "Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 1:5For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."1:6
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?"1:7
He said to them, "It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within His own authority. 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."In 1:5 and 1:8 Yah'shuah explains what baptism in the Holy Spirit is. It is the Holy Spirit coming upon one. Therefore those upon whom the Holy Spirit comes have indeed been baptised in the Holy Spirit.
It should also be remembered from John's words that Christ is greater than John, having a baptism, of the Holy Spirit, that John did not have. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is greater than the baptism of water.
How To Be Baptised In The Holy Spirit
Acts 2:37-41 reads,
2:37
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"2:38
Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." 2:40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"2:41
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.2:38 talks about two baptisms, that of water and that of the Holy Spirit. For the baptism of water accompanies repentance from one's sins that one's sins may be forgiven. Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
2:38 shows that the baptism of the Holy Spirit comes AFTER one has repented of one's sins and has had one's sins forgiven.
Baptism In The Holy Spirit Available To All Human Beings
2:39 shows that the promise of the Holy Spirit, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, is available to all human beings, and not just Israelites. For the promise was to the Israelites that Peter was then speaking to, and also "to all who are far off", meaning the rest of human families.
2:41 notes that those who are baptised are those who receive with gladness the words of Christ that are preached to them.
What One Should Believe Before Being Baptised In Water
Acts 8:12 reads,
8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.Those to be baptised are those who believe the good news concerning the kingdom of the Almighty and the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah. It is therefore essential that Christ's disciples preach both the good news of Yahweh's kingdom and the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah to prospective disciples that they may have an opportunity of believing, prior to their baptism in water.
How Some Believers Were Baptised In The Holy Spirit
Acts 8:14-24 reads,
8:14
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 8:15who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 8:16for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 8:17Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 8:18Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 8:19saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit." 8:20But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 8:21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God. 8:22Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 8:23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."8:24
Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken come on me."Baptism In Water Is No Guarantee Of Baptism In The Holy Spirit
It should be noted that just because one has believed the word of the Almighty and has been baptised in water, after one's repentance, does not automatically mean that one becomes baptised in the Holy Spirit immediately thereafter. For despite the Samaritans having received the word and been baptised in water, they had not yet been baptised in the Holy Spirit. It should therefore not be assumed that just because someone has received the word and been baptised in water they automatically receive the Holy Spirit, thereby being baptised in the Holy Spirit.
Laying On Of Hands Is Not The Only Way One May Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit
8:17-18 shows that ONE way that one is baptised in the Holy Spirit is by both apostolic prayer and the laying on upon one of apostles' hands. Nevertheless, it should not be assumed that this is the ONLY manner that one is baptised in the Holy Spirit. For the apostles Peter and John, who laid their hands on the Samaritans after praying for them, did not receive their baptism in the Holy Spirit by other apostles laying their hands upon them. For Acts 2:1-4 reads,
2:1
Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2:2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and it sat on each one of them. 2:4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.It should therefore be clear that one can receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit DIRECTLY, without apostles' hands being laid upon one. Therefore when it is Yahweh's will that one is baptised in the Holy Spirit directly then so is one. When it is his will that one is baptised in the Holy Spirit through the laying upon one of apostles' hands then so is one. There is therefore more than one way for one to be baptised in the Holy Spirit.
True Repentance Supersedes Belief In Christ And Yahweh's Kingdom
8:21-24 shows that true repentance does not involve the mere confession of one's belief in the kingdom of the Almighty and the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah, followed by baptism in water. True repentance involves confession of one's sins and changing from them, doing righteousness. True repentance involves not only visible actions, but also a change of heart that motivates the performance of good deeds.
Simon Of Samaria, A Believer, Had Not Truly Repented
From Simon's words Peter perceived that Simon's heart was not right before the Almighty, indicating that Simon had not yet truly repented, despite having professed his belief in both the good news of the kingdom of Yahweh and the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah, and been subsequently baptised. For Acts 8:13 reads,
8:13
Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles done, he was amazed.Baptism In Water Does Not Prove True Repentance
It should therefore be evident that just because someone believes the good news of the kingdom of Yahweh and the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah, and is baptised in water, does not automatically mean that one has truly repented, from one's heart. For those baptised in the Holy Spirit are those who have truly repented and have believed.
The Father Knows Those Who Have Truly Repented
It should also be noted that the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father, and comes from the Father. It should also be noted that the Father sees humans not as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, the things that he can see. But the Father looks at the heart, which ordinarily man cannot see. For 1 Samuel 16:7 reads,
16:7
But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Yahweh sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."Seeing that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father, and it is the Father who sees human hearts, and therefore knows those hearts that are truly repentant and those that are not, he baptises in the Holy Spirit only those humans who have truly repented. Therefore even if one has believed the good news of his kingdom, and the name of his Son Yah'shuah the Messiah, and has been baptised in water, if such a one has not truly repented, even as Simon of Samaria had not truly repented, such a one is not baptised in the Holy Spirit! Such a one may appear for a time to human eyes to have been baptised in the Holy Spirit. But, in truth, until and unless such time as the Father baptises such a one in the Holy Spirit such a one is not baptised in the Holy Spirit!
Simon Of Samaria Did Not Seek True Repentance
Simon's response to Peter in 8:24 also shows Simon's concern. He was more concerned with averting his perishing, than with seeking to truly repent. For he did not seek to have a change of heart, but only sought to avoid the penalty of sin without repenting of the sin bringing about the penalty!
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