E-01 John the baptizer 1 1 -8 An

E-01 John the baptizer (1: 1 -8) An encounter with one of the greatest of all prophets. n John’s credentials www. budakylecofc. org (Luke 1: 15 NKJV) "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, … (Luke 7: 28 NKJV) "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; … 1

E-01 John the baptizer n (Cont’d) John’s mission www. budakylecofc. org (Mark 1: 2 -3 NKJV) As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. ’” (Isa 40: 3 -4 NASB) … Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 2

E-01 John the baptizer n (Cont’d) John’s baptism n Was preached to wayward Jews. (Acts 13: 24 NKJV) “after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. www. budakylecofc. org n All were to be baptized. (Luke 7: 29 NKJV) And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. (Luke 7: 30 NKJV) But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. 3

E-01 John the baptizer n John’s baptism (Cont’d) n www. budakylecofc. org (Cont’d) Was a baptism associated with repentance. (Mat 3: 11 NKJV) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance … (Mark 1: 4 NKJV) John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Acts 19: 4 NKJV) Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ” n Was a return to God’s law (Law of Moses) and preparation for the Messiah. 4

E-01 John the baptizer n (Cont’d) John’s baptism (Cont’d) n Was not “new covenant” baptism. www. budakylecofc. org • Was preceded by a confession of sins, not Christ (Matt. 3: 6, Mk. 1: 5). • Was not in “the name” of Christ (Jesus was not identified until His baptism, John 1: 31 -33; John’s converts were re-baptized “in the name of the Lord Jesus, ” Acts 19: 5). • Was not a burial into the death of Christ (Rom. 6: 3 -4), which had not yet occurred. 5

E-01 John the baptizer n (Cont’d) John’s baptism (Cont’d) www. budakylecofc. org n Was no longer authoritative when “remission of sins” was preached beginning in Acts 2 (Luke 24: 47, Acts 19: 5). n Was the baptism with which Jesus was baptized (recall: all Jews were to be baptized). 6

E-01 John the baptizer n John’s testimony n www. budakylecofc. org (Cont’d) Of who Jesus was. (John 1: 29 NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1: 34 NKJV) “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. ” (Mark 1: 7 NKJV) … “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 7

E-01 John the baptizer n (Cont’d) John’s testimony (Cont’d) n Of the baptism Jesus would administer. (Mark 1: 8 NKJV) “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. ” [also, www. budakylecofc. org John 1: 33; see Luke 24: 49 and Acts 1: 5] (Luke 3: 16 -17 NKJV) “… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. … He will … gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. ” [also, Matt. 3: 11] Note: There is no baptism “of the Holy Spirit” i. e. , administered by the Holy Spirit. 8

E-01 John the baptizer n (Cont’d) From this encounter we see: n One of the greatest prophets of all time affirming that Jesus was: • The Son of God, and • The Savior. www. budakylecofc. org n The importance of repentance in turning/returning to God’s will and God’s way. 9