Lesson 2627

(Lesson 2627)(03-03-19) John 18-23
    “ No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
 
    Today’s quote relates that John the Baptist readily admitted that he was not the Christ, but rather was sent by God to; “Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
    This text makes it clear that nothing John did had any bearing on the salvation of one’s eternal soul. The entirety of John’s teachings, including his performance of water baptisms, were to; “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3 in part)
    John was sent by God to inform the Jews that the Messiah was soon to come and that they should repent and cleanse themselves toward that coming. John was to teach that Jesus would bring the means of eternal salvation, his actions were merely prepatory to what Jesus alone would bring the means by which one could achieve eternal salvation and everlasting life. “I indeed baptize you with water UNTO repentance but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I’m not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11)
    John’s water baptism was “unto” repentance, it was NOT unto remittance of sin as some would have us believe.~