(#121)

2/25/2022

(#121)

John's Baptism.

1 2

What does the New Testament say?

• All the fakeness, ignorance and distortion does not change

the fact that there is a genuine Bible-based baptism that

has a real significance!

 Fakes have greatly distorted what it is.

 People who have no idea what the Bible says get baptized.

 It's easy to do the "ritual" without any heart changes.

 The Jews were already familiar with the concept.

Where it

started.

 The Old Testament contains various regulations related

to cleansing and purification, which involve ceremonial

washing or bathing.

 The ceremonial ritual was intended to be a "picture" or

"shadow" of spiritual realities (though many Jews

focused only on the ritual, and not the reality).

 (Non-Jews also understood the concept. Some of their

false religions included ceremonial washings.)

… various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying

until the time of the new order [= the New Covenant].

Hebrews 9:10 (NIV)

When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat

unless they have washed. And there are many other customs

they have received and keep, like the washing of cups,

pitchers, kettles, and dining couches.

Mark 7:4 (CSB)

 The word "baptize"

is a New Testament

Greek word; but

parallel concepts are

found in the Hebrew

Old Testament.

… the one being purified must wash

his clothes and bathe in water, …

Numbers 19:19b (CSB)

… the ritual washing before dinner.

Luke 11:38b (CSB)

So Naaman went down to the Jordan

River and dipped himself seven times, …

2 Kings 5:14a (NLT)

 By the time of Jesus, the Jews had also added their own

ceremonial washings and rituals, not required by God –

Matthew 15:2.

 "Baptism" in the Old Testament?

He is traditionally called John the "Baptist,"

meaning "the one who baptizes."

O WHEN

OHN THE

APTIZER CAME

PEOPLE KNEW WHAT HE MEANT

Jesus also baptized people in water – though it was actually

his disciples who did it (John 3:26; 4:1-2).

… baptizing at Aenon near

Salim, because water was

plentiful there …

Jn 3:23b (NET)

… he baptized them

in the Jordan River.

Matthew 3:6b (GW)



Baptism may have been a new word, but it was not a new concept.



John's baptism was the external symbol of the changes that were to

occur in the heart.



Since this involved water baptism – he needed to do it in places

where there was enough water.



The "common people."

The worst of "sinners" were willing!



Not the leaders.

The leaders were too self-righteous to see

any need for repentance.

… all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that

God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John.

But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s

plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.

Lk 7:29b-30 (NLT)

… the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of

God ahead of you [religious leaders]. For John came to you to show

you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the

tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this,

you did not repent and believe him.

Matthew 21:31b-32 (NIV)

HO DID

OHN BAPTIZE

? T

HOSE WHO ACCEPTED HIS MESSAGE

2/25/2022



①

HE NEED TO REPENT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

•

This internal change of repentance would be represented

externally by a willingness to confess (admit their sins)

and to be baptized (symbolizing the heart change.)

•

They also needed to live in a way that proved that their

repentance was genuine. (We could also call this the "fruit

of salvation.")

As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Matthew 3:6 (GW)

John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. He told

people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3 (GW)

THINGS ABOUT

OHN

S MESSAGE

Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, …

Matthew 3:8 (NET)

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

Luke 3:10 (NIV)

"Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who

has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."

Luke 3:11b (NIV)

•

John gave the people examples of the "fruit" that would prove

their repentance.

Some typical examples given by John:

"Don’t collect any more than you are required to …"

Luke 3:13a (NIV)

"Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people

falsely—be content with your pay."

Luke 3:14b (NIV)

EXAMPLE GIVEN TO TAX COLLECTORS:

EXAMPLE GIVEN TO SOLDIERS:



②

HE NEED TO LOOK TO

ESUS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

•

This is because Jesus is the one who makes forgiveness possible.

But the one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not

worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy

Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:11b (GW)

•

Though sinless, Jesus would identify with sinners, by being

baptized by John. (After this the Spirit of God would come upon

Jesus, and Jesus would begin his ministry.)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by

John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized

by you, and do you come to me?"

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to

fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

Matthew 3:13-15 (NIV)

•

Here is John's testimony about Jesus:

John saw Jesus coming toward him the next day and said, "Look!

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He

is the one I spoke about when I said, 'A man who comes after me

was before me because he existed before I did.' I didn't know

who he was. However, I came to baptize with water to show him

to the people of Israel."

John 1:29-31 (GW)

John said, "I saw the Spirit come down as a dove from heaven

and stay on him. I didn't know who he was. But God, who sent

me to baptize with water, had told me, 'When you see the Spirit

come down and stay on someone, you'll know that person is the

one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen this and have

declared that this is the Son of God."

John 1:32-34 (GW)

John was not the Messiah/Christ. His job was to

point to the one who is the Messiah/Christ  Jesus!

 His message is still true today: We still need the internal

change of repentance, as well as the external expressions of

this change: confession, baptism, and the "fruit" of

repentance (which we could also call the "fruit" of salvation).

 After Jesus' resurrection, the message of repentance and

baptism was still the same:

Peter replied, “Repentand be baptized, each of you, …

Acts 2:38a (CSB)

 Jesus and the apostles all spoke well of John. Yet they all

said that his baptism was not enough. This is the very

thing that John said!

 (Jesus' baptism with the Holy Spirit was needed!)

THINGS ABOUT

OHN

S BAPTISM



①

T WAS

(

AND STILL IS

)

IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY



②

VEN SO

, J

OHN

S BAPTISM WAS INCOMPLETE

HAT

OTHERS

SAID ABOUT

OHN

I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.

Luke 7:28a (ESV)

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, …

Matthew 21:32a (NIV)

 Jesus spoke well of John.

 Jesus proclaimed the same message of repentance.

In those days John the Baptist came … proclaiming,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 3:1-2 (NET)

From that time Jesus began to preach this message:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 4:17 (NET)

[John] has testified to the truth.

… John was a lamp that burned

and gave light, …

John 5:33b, 35a (NIV)

JESUS' testimony

2/25/2022

 Both parts of John's message were acknowledged.

"Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a

baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel.

But while John was completing his mission, he said

repeatedly, 'What do you think I am? I am not he.

But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to

untie the sandals on his feet!' "

Acts 13:24–25 (NET)

[Apollos] had been instructed in the Lord's way and spoke

enthusiastically. He accurately taught about Jesus but knew only

about the baptism John performed.

... Priscilla and Aquila … explained God's way to him more accurately.

Acts 18:25, 26b (GW)

The book of ACTS' testimony

 It is not enough, even if part of an accurate message.

PART 1

PART 2

[Paul] found some disciples [at Ephesus] and asked them,

"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"

"No," they told him, "we haven't even heard that there is a

Holy Spirit."

"Into what then were you baptized?" he asked them.

"Into John’s baptism," they replied.

Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance,

telling the people that they should believe in the one who

would come after him, that is, in Jesus."

When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of

the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:1b-5 (CSB)

The Holy Spirit confirmed all this by sending miraculous signs – v. 6.

Perhaps to warn the unbelieving Jews? (See 1 Corinthians 1:22; 14:22.)

 Those who listened to John would look to Jesus for the

Holy Spirit.

(This was also associated with water baptism).

our own mission

for this week.

John's baptism was

necessary, but it

needed Jesus.

 We will look more

at this next time.

John's mission

and his baptism

are enough

to give us

1. How have you responded to John's message?

 Are you like the common people and the sinners?

 Or are you like the religious leaders?

2. If you claim to have repented…

How has it been visibly

expressed, so that others know it? What is the "fruit" that

proves you have repented (Matthew 3:8)?

Credits

SCRIPTURE

Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible

Publishers.

PICTURES (original sources; modifications may have been made)

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