Lesson 3657

(Lesson 3657)(01-09-22) Acts 13:24-25

    “When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.”

    In today’s quote, Paul affirmed that John the Baptist was not Christ, but rather he was a messenger sent from God to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah. 

    Paul further affirmed, by nuance, that the water portion of “the baptism of John” was NOT a lesson in Christianity. Water immersion was a part of a Jewish body cleansing ritual required by Jewish law to PREPARE the Jews for the coming of the Lord.

    As both John the Baptist and Paul make clear, the baptism that provides spiritual rebirth and eternal salvation of the soul, is that baptism (immersion) into the loving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.~