And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Crowds from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to John and were baptized by him in the Jordan while openly confessing their sins. The baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin, joined to repentance and open confession as its evidence and as part of conversion together with faith. It declared that even those who claimed to be God's chosen people were defiled by sin and needed purification of heart and life with fruits worthy of repentance to have part in the Messiah's kingdom. This confessing and baptizing was the preparatory work for Christ's first coming, calling people to humble themselves, repent, and believe the gospel because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. John's call to repent because the kingdom of heaven is at hand is the message for today, to be given by men moved by the Holy Spirit as the last message of mercy while the prophecies of the second coming are being fulfilled.
Baptism and Confession at Jordan
Those from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan went out to John and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Their coming was part of preparing a people for Christ's first coming, to recognize disobedience and humble themselves before God in repentance for past sins in order to receive the One about to reveal God's character. Truth was to cleanse their lives, and fellowship with Christ required willingness to be purged from sin.
The baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin, joined with repentance and open confession. Those who repented were baptized as evidence of their repentance, and this open confession with faith belongs to the steps of conversion. It declared that even those who claimed to be God's chosen people were defiled by sin and needed purification of heart and life to have a part in the Messiah's kingdom.
People of every rank came, including rulers and kings, submitting to baptism and confession as necessary to participate in the kingdom John announced. Repentance confessed openly, if genuine, will produce good works and fruits worthy of repentance. Without repentance of sins and thorough conversion, rich and poor, honorable and lowly alike could not enjoy God's favor nor have part in the kingdom of the Messiah whose coming he announced, even if they claimed to be righteous.
Some scribes and Pharisees came confessing and asking for baptism without genuine conviction of sin. They sought the favor of the coming Prince and hoped baptism would increase their influence with the people, while regarding themselves as pious and worthy. Yet their confessions revealed hidden sins.
They were drawn by a plain, open, trumpet-like warning with no whispering voice and no smooth message. In the spirit and power of Elijah, with singular dress and appearance like the ancient seers, he denounced sin, corruption, errors and crimes and fearlessly exposed particular sins, and his plain pointing out of wrong carried a power they could not resist though they were reluctant to hear their unholy lives denounced. His discernment read hearts and purposes, and his message was sharp rebuke, calling one class of professed converts a generation of vipers and demanding fruits worthy of repentance. That pointed message became more and more pointed even though it cost him his life, so that the people would not be deceived.
Preparing the Way for Christ
No human effort can stop the fulfillment of God's Word, fulfilled when the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord spoke through John preaching in the wilderness of Judea, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This belongs to the account of John's ministry and his announcement before his imprisonment, when in response Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan went out to him and were baptized in Jordan confessing their sins.
Their coming, baptism in the Jordan, and confession of sins was part of preparing a people for Christ's first coming, calling them to recognize disobedience and humble themselves before God. Those who repented were baptized as evidence of their repentance, and this baptizing work prepared the way for Christ's ministry. People responded to the call with repentance and confession and then received baptism, and people of every rank, including rulers, submitted to this as necessary for participation in the kingdom John announced. Many Jews acknowledged John as a prophet and were baptized by him unto repentance in connection with repentance, while John taught that Christ would complete the work he had begun, calling them to repent and believe the gospel because the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
Confession and baptism expressed repentance for past sins and prepared them to receive the One who was about to reveal God's character, as they responded to the message and prepared for the Messiah. The baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin declaring that even those claiming to be God's chosen people were defiled by sin and needed purification of heart and life to have a part in the Messiah's kingdom. People of every rank came confessing their sins and receiving baptism so they could participate in the kingdom he announced, following his teaching of repentance because the kingdom of heaven was near and willing to accept what he taught as necessary to inherit that kingdom. Truth was to cleanse their lives, and fellowship with Christ required willingness to be purged from sin, and the demand to confess seemed new and startling and marked the reformation then taking place.
Many Jews from the dispersion who had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts went out to the banks of the Jordan to hear John proclaim Christ as the Promised One. On returning home they carried what they had heard to all parts of the world, and by this providence prepared the way for the apostles' labors.
Identifying with Jesus involves forsaking sin and being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This is possible because Christ gave His life, bears the iniquities of sinners, justifies the trembling sinner who leans on Him, clothes believers with His righteousness so they stand justified before the Father, and gives eternal life and escape from corruption through partaking of the divine nature. The same call requires living the life to be lived in this world to prepare for future life and serving God with full purpose of a renewed heart sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
Pattern for Ministry Today
Matthew 3:6 shows crowds from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan going out to John and being baptized in Jordan confessing their sins, and the call to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand that drew them is the message for today because the prophecies of the second coming are being fulfilled. Just such a work by men moved by the Holy Spirit must meet crowds of people with that call to repent and prepare the way of the Lord, to give those who have never heard the truth the last message of mercy inviting perishing souls to come to the Saviour while mercy's voice is still heard. That warning was spoken openly with no whispering voice and no smooth message but with plain, straight truth-telling about the situation, and just such a straight message is to be borne in the ranks now while the judgments of God are in the world.
Every person faces a life-and-death work of decision whether to accept the infinite sacrifice Christ made and turn for salvation to Him who is the Author and Finisher of faith and have everlasting life, or to reject Him and refuse to come to Him for life and remain as chaff to be consumed with unquenchable fire. The verse is a call to turn from backsliding by confessing sins. The same baptizing work carries the call the people need now to take the Word and plainly state present truth, to live the life they must live in this world to prepare for future life that measures with the life of God, and to serve God with full purpose of a renewed heart sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
A message similar to John's warning of confession and baptism that called people to face the true issues for their time is to be heard now, giving warnings and carrying the work forward for those who need the truth. It must guard against men who seek to divert minds from heeding the true issues for this time, and it is for those who have not exchanged the evidences of truth for fallacies and scientific presentations of satanic origin.
This work of repentance and baptism in response to John's call is a model for reaching people in Southern California. Just such a work can be done today in Southern California, where large numbers of tourists visit Los Angeles and San Diego, by bringing them to hear a message of repentance and respond as sanitarium work is established in these important places. Their response from Jerusalem, Judea, and the region around the Jordan illustrates the work of repentance and preparation for the Lord's coming, and the same work of calling people to repent and respond is to be done there.
Ministry after this pattern should lead people to Jesus Christ rather than attach them to the preacher, in contrast to fanciful preaching aimed at drawing a crowd. Outward responses such as signing a covenant are not evidence of conversion when people remain unconverted. John's pointed message became more and more pointed even though it cost him his life, and such a warning message serves as the model that would not let people be deceived.
Crowds from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to John and were baptized by him in the Jordan while openly confessing their sins. The baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin, joined to repentance and open confession as its evidence and as part of conversion together with faith. It declared that even those who claimed to be God's chosen people were defiled by sin and needed purification of heart and life with fruits worthy of repentance to have part in the Messiah's kingdom. This confessing and baptizing was the preparatory work for Christ's first coming, calling people to humble themselves, repent, and believe the gospel because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. John's call to repent because the kingdom of heaven is at hand is the message for today, to be given by men moved by the Holy Spirit as the last message of mercy while the prophecies of the second coming are being fulfilled.
Baptism and Confession at Jordan
Those from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan went out to John and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Their coming was part of preparing a people for Christ's first coming, to recognize disobedience and humble themselves before God in repentance for past sins in order to receive the One about to reveal God's character. Truth was to cleanse their lives, and fellowship with Christ required willingness to be purged from sin.
The baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin, joined with repentance and open confession. Those who repented were baptized as evidence of their repentance, and this open confession with faith belongs to the steps of conversion. It declared that even those who claimed to be God's chosen people were defiled by sin and needed purification of heart and life to have a part in the Messiah's kingdom.
People of every rank came, including rulers and kings, submitting to baptism and confession as necessary to participate in the kingdom John announced. Repentance confessed openly, if genuine, will produce good works and fruits worthy of repentance. Without repentance of sins and thorough conversion, rich and poor, honorable and lowly alike could not enjoy God's favor nor have part in the kingdom of the Messiah whose coming he announced, even if they claimed to be righteous.
Some scribes and Pharisees came confessing and asking for baptism without genuine conviction of sin. They sought the favor of the coming Prince and hoped baptism would increase their influence with the people, while regarding themselves as pious and worthy. Yet their confessions revealed hidden sins.
They were drawn by a plain, open, trumpet-like warning with no whispering voice and no smooth message. In the spirit and power of Elijah, with singular dress and appearance like the ancient seers, he denounced sin, corruption, errors and crimes and fearlessly exposed particular sins, and his plain pointing out of wrong carried a power they could not resist though they were reluctant to hear their unholy lives denounced. His discernment read hearts and purposes, and his message was sharp rebuke, calling one class of professed converts a generation of vipers and demanding fruits worthy of repentance. That pointed message became more and more pointed even though it cost him his life, so that the people would not be deceived.
Preparing the Way for Christ
No human effort can stop the fulfillment of God's Word, fulfilled when the voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord spoke through John preaching in the wilderness of Judea, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This belongs to the account of John's ministry and his announcement before his imprisonment, when in response Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan went out to him and were baptized in Jordan confessing their sins.
Their coming, baptism in the Jordan, and confession of sins was part of preparing a people for Christ's first coming, calling them to recognize disobedience and humble themselves before God. Those who repented were baptized as evidence of their repentance, and this baptizing work prepared the way for Christ's ministry. People responded to the call with repentance and confession and then received baptism, and people of every rank, including rulers, submitted to this as necessary for participation in the kingdom John announced. Many Jews acknowledged John as a prophet and were baptized by him unto repentance in connection with repentance, while John taught that Christ would complete the work he had begun, calling them to repent and believe the gospel because the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
Confession and baptism expressed repentance for past sins and prepared them to receive the One who was about to reveal God's character, as they responded to the message and prepared for the Messiah. The baptism was a sign of cleansing from sin declaring that even those claiming to be God's chosen people were defiled by sin and needed purification of heart and life to have a part in the Messiah's kingdom. People of every rank came confessing their sins and receiving baptism so they could participate in the kingdom he announced, following his teaching of repentance because the kingdom of heaven was near and willing to accept what he taught as necessary to inherit that kingdom. Truth was to cleanse their lives, and fellowship with Christ required willingness to be purged from sin, and the demand to confess seemed new and startling and marked the reformation then taking place.
Many Jews from the dispersion who had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts went out to the banks of the Jordan to hear John proclaim Christ as the Promised One. On returning home they carried what they had heard to all parts of the world, and by this providence prepared the way for the apostles' labors.
Identifying with Jesus involves forsaking sin and being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This is possible because Christ gave His life, bears the iniquities of sinners, justifies the trembling sinner who leans on Him, clothes believers with His righteousness so they stand justified before the Father, and gives eternal life and escape from corruption through partaking of the divine nature. The same call requires living the life to be lived in this world to prepare for future life and serving God with full purpose of a renewed heart sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
Pattern for Ministry Today
Matthew 3:6 shows crowds from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan going out to John and being baptized in Jordan confessing their sins, and the call to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand that drew them is the message for today because the prophecies of the second coming are being fulfilled. Just such a work by men moved by the Holy Spirit must meet crowds of people with that call to repent and prepare the way of the Lord, to give those who have never heard the truth the last message of mercy inviting perishing souls to come to the Saviour while mercy's voice is still heard. That warning was spoken openly with no whispering voice and no smooth message but with plain, straight truth-telling about the situation, and just such a straight message is to be borne in the ranks now while the judgments of God are in the world.
Every person faces a life-and-death work of decision whether to accept the infinite sacrifice Christ made and turn for salvation to Him who is the Author and Finisher of faith and have everlasting life, or to reject Him and refuse to come to Him for life and remain as chaff to be consumed with unquenchable fire. The verse is a call to turn from backsliding by confessing sins. The same baptizing work carries the call the people need now to take the Word and plainly state present truth, to live the life they must live in this world to prepare for future life that measures with the life of God, and to serve God with full purpose of a renewed heart sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
A message similar to John's warning of confession and baptism that called people to face the true issues for their time is to be heard now, giving warnings and carrying the work forward for those who need the truth. It must guard against men who seek to divert minds from heeding the true issues for this time, and it is for those who have not exchanged the evidences of truth for fallacies and scientific presentations of satanic origin.
This work of repentance and baptism in response to John's call is a model for reaching people in Southern California. Just such a work can be done today in Southern California, where large numbers of tourists visit Los Angeles and San Diego, by bringing them to hear a message of repentance and respond as sanitarium work is established in these important places. Their response from Jerusalem, Judea, and the region around the Jordan illustrates the work of repentance and preparation for the Lord's coming, and the same work of calling people to repent and respond is to be done there.
Ministry after this pattern should lead people to Jesus Christ rather than attach them to the preacher, in contrast to fanciful preaching aimed at drawing a crowd. Outward responses such as signing a covenant are not evidence of conversion when people remain unconverted. John's pointed message became more and more pointed even though it cost him his life, and such a warning message serves as the model that would not let people be deceived.