Page 57 - SoulWinning Crash Course

Matthew 3:5-6 "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all
the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins."

Mark 1:5 "And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they
of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan,
confessing their sins."

1. An exception to the rule (of confessing to God)
doesn't disprove the rule.

2. The people confessed their sins openly in public, not to one man in a

private booth.

3. The verses don't even prove that the people confessed to John, but only
that they confessed in his presence. For all we know, they were looking up
toward God as they confessed.

4. Jesus called John the Baptist a "prophet" (Luke 7:28), not a priest.

5. John the Baptist had a unique ministry which was to manifest Christ to
Israel, not to Gentiles. (John 1:31) And God probably had John the Baptist
tell people to confess their sins to show them the contrast between them and
the sinless Saviour when they noticed that He had nothing to confess when
He was baptized. Hence, the need for the confessing was temporary, since it
was centered around one event.

Acts 19:15 "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and
overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that
house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at
Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was

magnified.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their
deeds.