THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS
This begins with the preaching of John the baptist
His message was, 'Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand'. Unfortunately the message if repentance has been forgotten in today's preaching of the gospel. What people hear today is believe, but Jesus sent His disciples to preach repentance and faith, and genuine conversion only happens when one repents and believes, not otherwise.
Mat 4:17, 9:13, Mark 6:12, Lk 13:3, 24:47, Act 2:38, 3:19, 17:30, 20:21
The message of repentance is the one that prepares people for the coming of the Lord and straightening His paths
Many came to be baptized confessing their sins but when He saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming He called the generation of poisonous snakes, asking them who warned them to flee from the wrath to come.
Thus we see that it is the message of repentance that makes people run away from God's judgements.
The Pharisees and Sadducees were the leaders in the synagogue and to them John the baptist preached repentance.
In the same way the message of repentance is to be preached even to those in church including the leaders; without exception.
He said that there must be fruit that show that you have truly repented.
Luke 3:10-14 explained more on the fruit saying that:- they should share with others who don't have what they have, not to take advantage of their position and exploit others, not to accuse others falsely, being content. And in the story of Zacchaeus learn also that repentance involves restitution:- that is returning things that are not rightfully ours. Luke 19:2-8
He also said that they should not boast in their ancestry.
In the same way, do not boast in your church, or your pastor or your good family background; the ax is in the trees of those who bear no fruit of repentance.
John also said that He could only baptized with water but Only Christ could baptized with the Holy Spirit. Even today only Christ can baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
He felt unworthy of even carrying Jesus' candles yet Jesus referred to Him as the greatest of all that are born of women. Mat 11:11
Another person who Jesus said had the greatest faith in Mat 8:8-10 is the centurion servant. He said he was unworthy that Jesus would come to His house.
Thus we can see here that the closer we come to the Lord, the more unworthy we will feel even to do anything for Him
It's the one who obeys EVERYTHING that Jesus commands that say I am unworthy servant Lk 17:10. But those who disobey God in many ways are most overconfident.
He said also that it is Christ who will separate the wheat from the chaff.
When Jesus came to be baptized, John tried to refuse but Jesus insisted that all Righteousness maybe fulfilled and it was then the heavens were opened and He was filled with the Holy Spirit and a voice said that this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased .
In the same way, baptism is part of what Jesus told His disciples to do. Heavens open when we obey the call for that pleases God.
The voice also confirmed that the way Jesus lived in thirty years before baptism pleased God.
Before God commit to any a ministry, God will test you privately first, just like someone said; before you kill Goliath publicly, you have to kill the lion and the bear in private.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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