Page 61 - what a christianbelieveslastfinaltest3a_Neat

Baptisms

1. The Baptism of John the Baptist.

As the Lord Jesus began His ministry on earth, the son of a
relative of his mother also began ministering.

This was John the Baptist. His ministry was not a separate
ministry but was planned by God to be the forerunner to
prepare for Jesus' ministry. Luke 3 v4 '...Prepare the way of
the Lord and make straight paths for Him.'

John the Baptist was the last and greatest prophet to come
out of Israel. He went out of the city to an area by the River
Jordan to preach his message.

He preaced a Baptism of Repentance for the Forgiveness
of Sins. This message brought to an end THE ERA OF THE
LAW AND THE PROPHETS and prepared the way for Jesus
to bring in THE ERA OF GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN
HIMSELF.

JOHN THE BAPTIST had two main demands of the people
who came to him. First - Repentance; second - public
confession of sins.

Those who were willing to meet these conditions were
Baptised in the River Jordan as a public testimony that they
were repenting of their past sins and committing to lead
better lives in the future. John insisted that there was proof of
changed lives. Luke 3v8 'Produce fruit in keeping with
repentance...' Just saying they were changed was not
enough.

JOHN THE BAPTIST'S baptism was distinct, in nature and
signifcance, from the one that Jesus would institute later.

After John the Baptist had died and Jesus had ascended into

61