"And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison."
In the first part of today's lesson, John commands his followers to be charitable with their wealth and to be compassionate in their daily dealings. John's message was one of humility and caring, much the same as what Jesus taught.
It would be a wonderful world today if everyone who claims to be a child of God, as those Jews claimed, simply lived their lives as Jesus and John instructed.
In the latter portion of this lesson, when asked if he was the Messiah, "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire".
This quote from John the Baptist is very, very, important! It clearly demonstrates that water baptism is merely a ritual cleansing and a Mosiac precursor to the coming of Jesus Christ, and is NOT a remitter of sins such as is the soul saving baptism (not water) offered by Jesus Christ that is referenced so many times in the New Testament such as 1 Peter 3:21, "The like figure whereunto even baptism" (Immersion, by faith, into Christ's sacrifice) "doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ".
Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized" (Immersed) "into Christ have put on Christ."
John also assured those of us who, by faith, subject ourselves to the baptism that Jesus offers will receive the power and security of the Holy Ghost.
NOTE There can be NO salvation without the immersion of oneself, through/by faith, into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism" (Immersion) "into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)
NOTE The Colossians quote says buried with Him "IN" baptism NOT, BY baptism. That is a very important distinction because the word "baptism" used in this quote implies a 'bonding with' or 'in unity with'. In modern English that quote would read, 'Buried as one with Him, wherein you are likewise risen with Him through faith in the operation of God, who has also raised Jesus from the dead.'
This too will be much further discussed as these lessons progress. It's importance cannot be overstressed in that almost ALL of "Christianity" apply the wrong definition of the term "baptize" as it is applied in the New Testament.~
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