The Ministry of John the Baptist ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

Just as promised in Isaiah and Malachi, God sent a messenger to announce the arrival of the Lord. 400 years had passed since the last prophet Malachi. Now God called forth John the Baptist to prepare the people to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord. He began his prophetic ministry in the desert, where he humbly lived much like Elijah the prophet in the Old Testament. (Mark 1:6, 2 Kings 1:8). He preached that all men should repent, confess their sins and be baptized as a symbol of their openly agreeing with God’s verdict that they were guilty before a Righteous, Holy God. Repentance means more than merely acknowledging one’s sins, it is turning from one’s sins to seek the righteousness of God.

Prior to this time, the ritual of baptism was practiced among the Jewish nation only for those Gentiles who wanted to join the Jewish faith. Now, John the Baptist was calling the Jews to confess their failure to follow God. He wanted to prepare their hearts for the arrival of the Messiah who would provide a means of salvation for sinful man. As John MacArthur points out: “That Jews would participate in such a rite was a startling admission that they, although members of God’s covenant people, needed to come to God through repentance and faith just as Gentiles did.”[1] The law had already proven that no man was able to keep it. All of the rituals failed to transform their hearts. Even in the Old Testament, it required a heart of true repentance and faith in God to be save.

The Message of John the Baptist

Repent, acknowledge before a Holy God that you are a sinner in need of God’s Grace. Baptism was an outward symbol of a humble, contrite heart acknowledging “I cannot save myself through the works of my own guilty hands.” I come to be fully immersed in God’s Grace through faith. The baptism of John the Baptist looked forward to the final redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross. “I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). Baptism cannot save a soul, it merely is the outward expression of a heart that came in true repentance. “John’s rite of baptism did not produce forgiveness of sin; it was only confessed outwardly and illustrated the true repentance that results in forgiveness.”[2]

He professed that he had no power to save. John confessed he was unworthy to perform the most menial task of stooping down and unlatching His sandals (Mark 1:7). His was a voice crying in the wilderness, come, just as you are and fall prostrate before the one who can save you. The message is the same today. Bow down before an Almighty God, confessing your sins and accepting His Gracious Gift of Salvation. For there is no other way to be cleansed. No other means of salvation than to repent, admit your guilt of sin and be cleansed by the blood of Christ. He willingly paid the penalty for your sin. Turn from your former ways to follow Him.

No Other Way of Salvation

Romans 3: 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If not, will you come to Him today?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.