Wednesday, March 7, 2012
John And His Methods
John 1:4-5
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John’s Preaching. “Preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (4b).
Preachers of our day must preach like John the Baptist! They must confront sin and call people to repentance for the forgiveness of sin. They must tell the people the truth!
John’s Practice. “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (5b).
John baptized people. He did not baptize people to make them right with God. People were not being baptized to have their sins forgiven; they were being baptized because their sins had been forgiven.
They went to John and were immersed into the river Jordan to declare publicly that their lives had been changed by the power of God. They were baptized to give glory to the God Who had forgiven their sins and made them whole.
This baptism was about a change of life! It is a picture of a person dying to the old life of sin and rising again to a new life of holiness.
John’s Power. “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him” (5a).
Many people came to John to be baptized by him. Some traveled many miles on foot.
They made a break with their past and were changed by the power of God. They responded to the preaching of John and they came to him confessing their sins and turning from their sinful lifestyles.
*******
People still need to be told they are sinners.
They still need to be confronted with the need for genuine repentance.
Then they will come confessing their sins and turning from their sinful lifestyles. They will want to be baptized!
*****
John’s Preaching. “Preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (4b).
- John's message was a message of confrontation. He confronted sin and calling on people to repent. They had sinned and they must change their minds regarding sin. They must clean up their lives in preparation for the advent of Jesus!
- John's message was a message of change. He told the people that their repentance would result in the forgiveness of sins. Their repentance would result in God’s forgiveness!
Preachers of our day must preach like John the Baptist! They must confront sin and call people to repentance for the forgiveness of sin. They must tell the people the truth!
John’s Practice. “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (5b).
John baptized people. He did not baptize people to make them right with God. People were not being baptized to have their sins forgiven; they were being baptized because their sins had been forgiven.
They went to John and were immersed into the river Jordan to declare publicly that their lives had been changed by the power of God. They were baptized to give glory to the God Who had forgiven their sins and made them whole.
This baptism was about a change of life! It is a picture of a person dying to the old life of sin and rising again to a new life of holiness.
John’s Power. “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him” (5a).
Many people came to John to be baptized by him. Some traveled many miles on foot.
They made a break with their past and were changed by the power of God. They responded to the preaching of John and they came to him confessing their sins and turning from their sinful lifestyles.
*******
People still need to be told they are sinners.
They still need to be confronted with the need for genuine repentance.
Then they will come confessing their sins and turning from their sinful lifestyles. They will want to be baptized!
4:08 AM
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Labels:
baptism,
forgiveness of sin,
John the Baptist,
methods,
repentance
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