Many people came to John to be baptized and he called them brood of vipers and asked who had warned them to flee from the wrath to come.
He said that they must show in their daily lives that they have repented and turned from their sins. They were not to boast in their genealogy for the axe is already laid at the root to cut down every tree that does not bring fruit.
We learn here that repentance must precede baptism and that being baptized is not a licence or ticket to go to heaven. If you are baptized but there no change in the way you live to prove that you have repented, your baptism is worthless. You will be cut down and thrown in the fire unless you repent.
Do not boast of your associations or your church or your pastor or your family if they have a good reputation; that will not save you. God is no respector of persons. If in your life there is no evidence of repentance; you will be cut down and thrown in the fire.
The people asked him what to do and He said they should be generous and share what they have with others. They should not be tight fisted. They should stop taking advantage of others because of their positions, they should be honest, they should not not use force and exploit others, nor accuse others falsely, and they should be contented.
Have you repented? Is there change in your life that prove that you have truly repented? Don't depend on your baptism. If there is no change in your life, your baptism count for nothing. Baptism is meaningful only to the person who has repented, who prove it by the way they live.
People were anxious wondering whether John was the Messiah and He answered that he only baptized with water, but one greater than him, who he was not even worthy to untie His shoe laces, He would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
He has a winnowing folk to separate wheat from chaff. The wheat will will be gathered in the barn and the chaff will be thrown in the unquenchable fire.
John was closest to God of all people and he felt most unworthy to even untie the shoelaces from Jesus. We see that the closer we get to God, the more unworthy we feel to do even the smallest thing for Him. The more you think you are qualified to serve God, the further you are from Him.
Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The purpose is to cleanse the chaff and empower us to do all the will of God for our lives.
The chaff are those whose lives are empty but give an impression to others that they are okay, they will be thrown in the unquenchable fire. Jesus cannot be deceived. Does your life match the impression that you make to others or is it empty just like a balloon filled with air, showing it's something when empty?
Seek God to make your life in the inside match the impression that you give to others if your spirituality.
John was arrested for publicly criticizing Herod for marrying His brothers wife and other wrong things He had done.
Jesus went to be baptized and He was praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit ascended as a dove. A voice from Heaven said that this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
The voice of God's approval marked out Jesus as He begun His public ministry. God is always watching us in our private lives. How we talk, our inner attitudes and thoughts, our motives, our actions.... and if we are consistently seeking to please Him in our private lives, He will also approve if us and bear witness in our ministry.
NB: IN SERVING GOD, GODS APPROVAL IF US IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE DO FOR HIM. DOES THE LORD BEAR WITNESS TO OUR LABOUR. If not, we are doing a work which is wood, hay and straw and will be burnt in the last day. Make it your ambition to seek Gods approval of your life in private so that He can bear witness if you in public.
There are four women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Mathew, Rahab who was a well known prostitute, Bathsheba who committed adultery with David, Ruth who was a Moabite who came by Lot committing incest with his own daughter. Phares was born by Judah committing adultery with his daughter in law. Thus we see that sexual immorality in the genealogy of Jesus but He still pleased God and fulfilled His purpose on earth. Even today we come from different backgrounds but we still can please God even if our background have an evil history.
Ezek 18:20
The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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