Lesson 936

(Lesson 936)(04-05-14) Luke 3:1-4

"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Today's lesson relates the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist. As is said in the quote, John's mission was, "preaching the *(baptism of repentance) for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
As was stated in a previous lesson, John the Baptist was NOT sent to preach Christianity, nor was he to administer "Christian baptisms". John was very clearly sent to PREPARE the Jews for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

John was to accomplish his mission under and within the traditions of the Law of Moses. The Law dictated that any person wishing to approach God for a prayer of forgiveness, was to first repent the sin, then, under the supervision of a priest or rabbi ritually "baptize" (Immerse) him/herself in clean running water, lastly, they were to offer the appropriate sacrifice on the altar in the temple, or tabernacle.

Once these ritual steps were accomplished, and ONLY after they were accomplished, he/she was considered cleansed so as to approach God in prayer in order to ask for forgiveness, or to otherwise worship.
This is very important in that there area literally millions of "Christians" today, and throughout history who have/had no clue concerning the true and divine mission John the Baptist was sent to accomplish.

There will be much more discussion of the definition of "baptism" as these lessons progress.~
*The "baptism of repentence" was a ritual washing signifying that the one "baptized" had admitted the sin and was ceremonially washing, "ridding" him/herself of that sin in preparation to approach God in prayer for forgiveness.

That act was purely a Jewish tradition under the law and was NOT passed over to Christianity after the ascension of Jesus.

As is common bible knowledge, after Jesus died for the remission of sins and ascended to the right hand of God, the requirements of the Law of Moses were fulfilled, and the "baptism of repentence" was nullified.

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS." (Acts 10:43)