"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 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."
In the first part of today's quote, John demanded that those who came to hear, and take part in his baptism, should demonstrate that they had truly turned from their old ways sufficient to demonstrate real repentance. This demand also validates the contention that those who were present to hear John preach, were there to cleanse themselves both spiritually and physically for the presence of the Lord. When the people, in response to what John preached, asked, "what shall we do then?", John in essence, told them to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the chosen people of God. They were to simply to treat their brothers and sisters the same way they expected to be treated, or in essence, John told them to love their neighbors as they loved themselves.
In verse 16, John made a very, very important point. He said, "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". John was, of course, referring to the coming of Jesus Christ.
It is very important for us to note that John stressed the point that the "baptism" he offered and preached, was just a preparatory cleansing to ready the repenter physically and spiritually for the coming of the Lord in accordance with the Law of Moses. John also stressed a special point by saying Jesus the savior was coming and that He (Jesus) would be administering an entirely different baptism, Jesus would administer the soul redeeming baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire or in essence, the baptism of salvation by grace through faith in His virgin borne life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
We should be careful to separate the very different definitions of the actions implied by the usage of the word "baptism" in today's quote. Water "baptism" is merely a preparatory physical water bath that was required of all Jews as they entered into religious service. The "baptism of repentance" is a psychological cleansing that was also required of all Jews under the Law.
The "baptism" of the Holy Ghost, which is accomplished through faith in Jesus Christ, is that baptism that is mentioned in 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 into Christ have put on Christ."
If one is baptized into water, that one has only put on water and put off the soil of the earth. If one is baptized into Jesus Christ, that one has "put on Christ" and has eternally put off the sins of the world.~
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