The Message of John the Baptist

The Message of John the Baptist
Text: Lk 3:1-9
One of the initial steps in realizing the redemption brought by Jesus Christ is repentance. That was the focus of John’s message and ministry. John’s call was, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). What does it mean to repent? What is repentance all about? The late Southern Baptist preacher theologian B.H. Carroll said, “No matter how much one may desire to repent, nor how often he may resolve to repent, unless he actually repents he is lost, because God has made repentance a prerequisite to eternal life.” As the forerunner of Jesus, John was preparing people for being a part of God’s kingdom by calling them to repentance. That’s the theme of this mornings message.

THE APPEARANCE OF JOHN V. 1-2

Luke sets the historical setting of John’s coming. Again not as precise as we would give it today, but So Luke gives a Roman date (the known Roman ruler of their world, Caesar Tiberius), a regional date (Pilate, Herod Antipas & Philip son’s of Herod the great as well as Lysanias in Syria) and a Jewish date (when Annas and Caiaphas served as high priests in Jerusalem) so that the events he shared could be easily verified by people from anywhere.

Israel had been a slave in Egypt 400 years before God sent Moses. It had been between almost 1500 years between the deliverance from Egypt and the arrival of John the forerunner and Jesus the true deliverer. That might be hard for us to realize or visualize in our minds. We have only been a nation 234 years, in the grand scheme of the world we are young. But as Paul said concerning Jesus the fullness of time had come (Gal 4:4) and out of the wilderness God called John. Luke identifies John as the son of Zacharias so we know which John this refers to so it is verifiable.

John seems to be a unique person as were many of the prophets God called. Looking back at verse 80 in chapter 1 Luke 1:80 where Luke wrote: And the child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. NASB We don’t know how long John was living in the wilderness but when God called him Mark wrote he came clothed with camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, a description resembling the description of Elijah found in 2 Ki 1:8. We also know the Bible says John came in the sprit and power of Elijah (Mal 4:5-6; Matt 11:14; Lk 1:17). His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey (Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6) dried grasshoppers and honey that is found in the rocks. He was a man who lived off the land, he didn’t require much in the way of physical necessities. He wasn’t obligated to anyone other than God to speak the Word as God commanded him.

THE MESSAGE OF JOHN V. 2-3

Luke wrote in verse 2 The Word of God came to John. There is a connection there to the Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Ezra, Hosea, Joel and others who used that phrase in their writings “the word of the Lord came to …” John was the promised prophet of Isa 40:3, i.e., the one who was the voice calling in the wilderness” (Luke 3:4). His ministry was the bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It had been 400 years since Malachi, the last prophet in Israel, called the people to spiritual renewal and reform and now the Word of the Lord came to John calling him out of the wilderness with a message for the people.

Luke and Mark wrote John came (Lk 3:3 Mark 1:4) preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; NASB

Baptism

Before we talk about what the focus of John’s message was lets first be clear about what it wasn’t. John was not preaching baptismal regeneration. I don’t know if you’ve heard that phrase before or not. Baptismal regeneration ascribes to water baptism a sacramental meaning. That is water baptism conveys regeneration or is necessary for regeneration. Regeneration means to regrow Christian regeneration refers to being born again, saved, converted, trusting Christ. It is to be made a spiritually a new creation. Water baptism cannot regenerate or save a person, nor does it insure that a person is saved. Regeneration is signified by water baptism, and therefor water baptism is seen as the initiatory rite for membership in the local church as well as the universal church. Water baptism is a first act of obedience in response to regeneration or become a new creation in Christ.

How do we know baptismal regeneration isn’t what John was preaching and teaching? First the form of the Greek word for repentance used here is qualifying and defines the term baptism. John proclaimed water baptism as an act expressing repentance. Secondly we have the rest of the New Testament as a commentary to explain both baptism and regeneration.

There are many proof texts such as Acts 2:21 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, Acts 16:31 in response to the question of the Philippian jailer’s question what must I do to be saved; Eph 2:5, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. NASB

Rom 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. NASB We also have John’s own words in verse 16 which minimizes in a sense the water baptism he is doing compared to that done by the Holy Spirit. None of these important verses indicate baptism necessary for salvation.

Now having said that let me also briefly mention baptism by the Holy Spirit mentioned in only once in the book of Acts. What it’s not is a second act of grace or second blessing where a person who has been saved at some later point receives the Holy Spirit. All three gospels mention this as something that will come from Jesus that is different from that which John is doing. In the book of Acts 1:5 it’s mentioned in connection with the initial coming of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem the disciples were to wait for this baptizing by the Spirit symbolizing the permanent presence of the Spirit with believers and it’s repeated with the Gentile and the Samaritan believers signifying they have received the same Spirit as the Jews.

Those who understand this as a second work of grace see the Holy Spirit as a power rather than a person. The Scripture makes it clear the Holy Spirit is the second person of the triune Godhead or the second person of the Trinity God the Holy Spirit. He is referred to as the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God the Spirit of the Lord and the Spirit of Christ. He is powerful but he is not a power and believers receive all of God’s presence at the moment of regeneration or the moment of salvation which itself is the work of the Spirit and we are filled with His presence (Eph 1:13-14; 1 Cor 6:19) and sealed by the Spirit of God.

Repentance

The Baptism John speaks of is a baptism which follows repentance, and is a sign of that repentance.

Repentance was a key element of John’s preaching, as well as that of Jesus. Matt 4:17 17 writing from that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” NASB Mark records Jesus words in Mark 1:14-15 14 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” NASB. Repentance was also a key aspect of Peter’s message in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:38), and It was Paul’s message as well. In Acts 20:21 Luke records Paul’s words that he was 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. NASB When Paul was giving an account of his ministry before King Agrippa recorded in Acts 26:19-20 he said: 19 “Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, NASB

In the Old Testament the requirements of repentance were “to turn from evil, and to turn to the good.” Theologically the idea was returning to God, or turning away from evil. Three times Ezekiel included God’s call to the people of Israel: “Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!” (14:6); “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses” (18:30); “Turn! Turn from your evil ways” (33:11). This same call to repentance was characteristic of other prophets as well ( Isa 45:22; 55:7; Joel 2:12-13)

In the New Testament, the key term translated repentance means to have a change of mind or to turn away from. John the Baptist called for people to make a break with the old way of life, to turn from it and turn to God. That is the key for our understanding of repentance.

In any presentation of the gospel for salvation repentance is implied if not actually stated. Luke records the strong calls for repentance in Jesus’ teachings ( 10:13; 11:32; 13:3,5; 17:3-4). In the Book of Acts metanoia repentance is often connected with remission or forgiveness of sins (see 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 26:18,20).

When we use the terms believe and confess in the New Testament they both contain within their usage the understanding of repentance. When the Philippian jailer asked what he had to do to be saved Paul & Silas responded believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 16:30). Paul was not saying just believe facts about Jesus but believe in Him, who He was, what His purpose in coming was and what He taught concerning our condition. The idea of repentance is implied here as well as in the proof texts we use most often in regards to salvation.

Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

NASB

Rom 10:9-11

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” NASB

Rom 10:13 for “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” NASB

For Paul repentance confession and faith all go hand in hand so that under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit there is the recognition of our condition as sinners, a contriteness of spirit because of condition much like that of Isaiah in Isa 6:5 that contriteness or genuine sorrow causes us to turn from sin and by faith turn to God which is by definition repentance.

In Acts 11:21 Luke quotes Paul: And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. There you see believing and turning used together. Later when Paul was giving an account of his ministry in Acts 20:20-21 describing the same event He said this “. . .I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. NASB

Rom 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? NASB

2 Cor 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

NASB

2 Tim 2:25-26 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. NASB

Peter does the same in Acts 10:43 preaching to Cornelius believers receiving forgiveness later in 11:18 he talks about God granting them repentance.

In salvation there is the free sovereign act of God’s mercy, and a conscious decision on our part to turn to God in faith (a turning that goes beyond sorrow and shame). The idea is when we recognize our sinfulness, our need for a savior there is a genuine sorrow for sin that causes us to turn away from sin abandoning are both evil intentions and evil deeds, turning to God in faith that repentance then by His grace and through His Spirit motive and conduct are radically changed.

Conduct V. 8

The third part of John’s message refers to conduct. In verse 8 John said: “Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance. NASB In other their actions the fruit of their lives would demonstrate the genuine nature of their repentance.

We often think James and Paul were on separate pages because James says faith without works is dead. But, going back to Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa in Acts 26:19-20 we see they are not. Paul said: 19 “Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. NASB

Listen to these passages:

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, NASB

Eph 4:22-24 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. NASB

Eph 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. NASB

Eph 5:1-5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. NASB

What is Paul saying? That our faith makes a difference in our works and our life.

Paul, James and John the Baptist are all in agreement with Jesus. We are saved by grace through faith but the genuineness of our faith is demonstrated through a changed life style. That’s what happens when we decided to follow Jesus. We repent of our sin and turn from it to serve the living God. Have you decided to follow Jesus, not be an observer but a genuine follower? That’s what we call you to today repent turn from sin and follow Jesus.