As we study the Bible, I really believe we need to all, myself included, be careful of bringing our own presuppositions to God's Word. We want the Bible to interpret itself, and it can do that. Mark 1, and I'd like us to read together verses 1-4. Mark 1. And actually we'll read verses 4 and 5. I think that'll... Actually we'll read verses 3, 4, and 5. Okay, ready? Mark 1, verses 3, 4, and 5. the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." So, what is John preaching? We read it in the text. What is he preaching? The baptism of what? Repentance. That's right. Now, I want to show you. Go over to 1 Corinthians 1. So John is preaching the baptism of repentance. Now, do we believe in and do we preach repentance? We do. But do we preach the baptism of repentance? We don't. We don't. So, go to 1 Corinthians 1. There's many different repentances. And we repent daily, right? We do sin and we don't get resaved, do we? No. But we do need to confess our sins. And we do that as a daily practice to the Lord, not to a priest, by the way. But 1 Corinthians 1, look at verse number 17. Watch what the Bible says here in verse 17. Let's read that together. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. So when we, you know, last night we went out and did some public ministry and we're preaching the gospel. That's the death, the burial, and the what? The resurrection of who? The Lord Jesus Christ. We're not preaching John's baptism, water baptism, none of that. We're preaching the Gospel. Now, I'll briefly mention this because we've been briefly mentioning it in every lesson on baptism. And that is this, when someone believes the gospel, they are baptized by the Holy Spirit. And we'll do a deeper dive on that later. But I like to mention that on each of the lessons, and I believe that's a good spot to insert it. So, we have a contrast right now. We have John has a baptism of what? Repentance. That's what he's preaching. John's out there preaching a specific baptism of repentance. But we as New Testament Christians, New Testament believers, Paul says Christ didn't send me to baptize but to preach what? The Gospel. So we have that clear distinction made there. Alright, next spot we'll go is Acts 13. Acts 13. So Lily, John is preaching the baptism of what? Walder, you want to fill in the blank? Hannah, you want to fill in the blank? Baptism. What is it? Repentance. That's right. That's right. Alright, Acts 13. Look at verse 25. Acts 13. Let's read verse 23-25. All right, ready? Of this man's seed hath God, according to His promise, raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus. When John had first preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. So let's stop right there. Isn't this a beautiful cross-reference? John's preaching this baptism of repentance. Now, Chris, who is he preaching it to? All the people of Israel. That is correct. So, so far, we have this understanding that John is preaching the baptism of what? Repentance. And he's preaching it to who? The nation of Israel. Very good. And in verse number 25, it says, And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he, but behold, There cometh one after me whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. John is preaching this baptism of repentance to the nation of Israel for the purpose of letting them know Christ, your Messiah, has showed up. And He's on the scene. He's here on earth. And go to John 1 because it's a great glimpse as well. John chapter number 1. John chapter number 1. And now watch what the Bible says in verse... We'll read a good bit of verses and as we read these verses, Watch how John is pointing people to the Messiah. The Jews believe in the Messiah, but the Jews didn't believe that the Messiah was Jesus Christ. Have you heard of Messianic Jews? They believe that Christ was the Messiah, but that was the tough thing for the Jews. So, John's making this manifest, and when we read these verses, read these verses together, but I want you to see how John's pointing them to the Messiah. Look at verse 19. And we'll read all the way to verse 28. And this is the record of John. when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and denied not, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. and they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him and said unto him, Why baptizeth thou then, if thou be not the Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoes latched I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing." Now, one more verse. Look at this. Verse 29, it's powerful. Let's read it. The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. He is manifesting to Israel that Jesus the Savior, their Messiah, is on the scene. And when Jesus walks into the scene, He says, Behold, there He is. Now you know what you do when you go out and you are giving out gospel information? You're not pointing them to yourself. Look at me. You're not saying, look at my Christian parents. You're not saying, look at my preacher. You're not saying, look at my good works. You're saying the same thing that John said. Behold the Lamb of God. He is the one that can take away the sins of the world. You're a sinner. God is holy. He has to punish sin. Behold the Lamb of God. John's purpose was to make known Jesus Christ as the sent Messiah to the nation of Israel. When we go through the book of Matthew, you'll see the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now, if you have time, either this week or next week, you can go through the sermons on how the Bible makes distinctions between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. Some say there's no distinction, they're the same. But I believe there's some key distinctions that'll help us unlock some truth. Kingdom of God is within. It's a spiritual kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is only mentioned in the book of Matthew. And Jesus, at the same time He's on earth, He is speaking to two different audiences of people. So, when Jesus is speaking in Matthew, it's to a Jewish audience. When we see different accounts in the gospel when Jesus is speaking, He's speaking to non-Jewish people as well. See, both are happening at the same time when Jesus is on the earth. It's just that He's not always specifically addressing everybody. There's times when He's just speaking to Jews. So when He says the kingdom of heaven is at hand in Matthew 3, look, it is at hand. What did Israel lose? Their land. They lost the promises. Now God's going to restore that nation. But remember I mentioned back in Malachi, the last chapter in Malachi, and then God just is silent for 400 years. Nothing is said. Well, in Matthew 3, God now has something to say to that nation. Behold, the Lamb of God is here. Now, guess what? The kingdom of heaven is at hand. And they relinquished it. They relinquished it. Instead, they put Him on the cross. Now, God is going to restore that nation and restore that land, but He didn't do it yet. Now, so go to Matthew 3, and we'll slow down so we don't get too far ahead of our thoughts. Matthew 3. Watch what the Bible says. Let's read verse 1. In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea. Now, what is the wilderness? It's an uninhabited land, right? And John the Baptist If I was hanging out with John the Baptist, I would say this, John, brother, don't you know that we can't really build a big church out in the wilderness? Don't you know that's probably not a good place to start? Come on, John. Let's get out of the wilderness. Let's go to the big city. Isn't it interesting that it starts off with John in the wilderness? You know what he's doing? What God told him to do. And everybody wants to come up with a church growth model. This is the worst church growth model from the start. But John is obeying who? God. Young people. Listen, it's always better to obey God. Not ask questions of God. If you understand what the text says, obey what it says. Do you have a Bible that you read, Lily? Well, I have a Bible that Wilder reads to me, but Daddy reads mine. Daddy's reading it to you? Yeah. Good. And when you hear it, and Wilder, do you read it? Good. You can hear it. You can read it. But that's very different than what? Believing and obeying it. Do you know that Satan knows the Bible better than all of us in here? Oh, he hears it. Oh, he reads it. He will not, with a repenting and trusting belief, turn. He just won't. So, it's better to obey. Now, it doesn't make sense. I would try to talk John the Baptist out of the wilderness and try to get him into the big city of Jerusalem. And that would be wrong, because I would be trying to get John the Baptist to do what God told him not to do. Now, all of us here this morning need to be careful of that. I don't want to tell a brother, and none of you brothers and even sisters want to tell another believer to do something that God tells them not to do. We all need to be careful of that. So he's in the wilderness. Look at verse number 2. Let's read that together. And saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now we can't go down this rabbit trail, but the kingdom of heaven is the earthly, physical kingdom. Not the spiritual, inward kingdom. Notice again, repentance. John's baptism was about repentance. And let's read v. 3 together. For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His path straight. Well, that's not going to work. Except it did, because God told him to make it work. He is making the path straight. He is making it clear for people to see that the Messiah is now here. So you better repent. You better get right. Because you've all been living wicked. And I've got news for you. Remember back in the Old Testament, Malachi? And now you Jews, you haven't heard nothing from God? Well, guess what? He's back. So get right. And John the Baptist is absolutely letting them have it. And rightfully so. We want to take the best route. He says make the path straight. Now, I need all the young people to come on out here in the aisle here. Come on out here in the aisle. Come on out here. Okay. Now, start walking down the aisle. Or just Hannah, just Hannah. Start walking down the aisle. Slow down a little bit. I can't make this work or you're going too fast. Okay. Don't listen to your parents. Okay. Lily, start walking down the aisle. Don't believe the Bible. Wilder? Good, start walking down the aisle. Jesus isn't real. Don't go to church. Jesus isn't true. Josiah, start walking the aisle. God isn't real. Believe in evolution. I'm a science teacher, trust me. Now what did I do each time? He got them off path so they wouldn't walk straight. Now I'm going to show you the path. John the Baptist, just like Jesus, just like we as Christians should do, the path has been made straight. What's the path? Obedience. Obedience. Obedience. It doesn't make sense. Obey God. Someone's telling me otherwise. Trust God. Does that make sense? All right, so now let me see you guys walk a straight line. Straight line. Straight. Come on. Straight down. Then you can grab your seat. Straight line. Don't believe the Bible. Come on, I want to get you off track. Evolution is fact. Yeah, you can't waver. Very good. You've got to stay on that straight. You wavered a little bit. Alright, good job guys. Alright, have a seat. You have to stay the straight path. The way is always obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. You know this song? You know this song? Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Action is the key, do it immediately. Joy you will receive. What's next? What's next? You missed a part. Well, go ahead and sing it. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing it exactly as the Lord commands. Doing it happily. Action is the key to it immediately. Joy will receive. Okay. Alright. Let's try it. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands. Doing it happily. Action is the key, do it immediately. Joy you will receive. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. O, B, how do you spell it? I before E. Look that song up. That's a great song. Obey. The straight path is the path of obedience. It always is. So don't forget that, young people. I don't want to obey my parents. You're off the path. You're off the path. Jesus obeyed His parents, and His parents weren't always right. So, let's go on to verse 4 in Matthew 3. Look at verse 4. This is going to be your favorite part, boys. Let's read it together. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins, and his meat was locusts and wild honey. That's what he ate. We going to try to order that at the diner? What do you want? I want some grilled locust, topped off with some wild honey. Amen. Look, John the Baptist is an oddball. He's separate from the people. God the Father has John the Baptist doing things that this modern church world would never even touch. They have to fit in with the culture. They have to. When you go to a church website nowadays, or you walk into a church house nowadays, what you're going to see is a stage, not a pulpit, you're going to see a stage that looks like a worldly rock and roll concert. Because they want to look like the world so that they can attract the world, and then they say they're going to slip in a little bit of Jesus, it's just that everybody in the building still acts the same way they did before they got saved. How in the world is that Christian? Jesus told John the Baptist, you're going to be an odd man. And you're going to have to stand as an odd man out. And you know what's going to happen? Young people, come on out here. This ain't going to happen to you now, but by the time you're 16 or 17 or 18, come on out in here. I'm going to tell you what's going to happen. I'm going to tell you what's going to happen. You're going to run into a group of kids or a group of young adults, and you know what they're going to be doing? They're going to be smoking cigarettes. And you know what they're going to want you to do? Hey, come with me and smoke some cigarettes. And they're going to put enough pressure on you, so the next thing you know, you're in the cigarette crowd. And then there's going to be some kids that want to do some drinking of the devil's brew, which is alcohol. And they're going to convince you that you're not cool because you don't drink. And they're going to put enough pressure on you where you're not going to even remember what the preacher said when you were 9 or 10 years old. And then you're going to have some people that are going to come alongside you and they're going to say, yeah, we love you. And they're going to get you involved in looking at dirty pictures, listening to dirty music. And then the next thing you know, you're going to give up all your purity because The devil don't want you living for God. But you're going to have to just stand as John the Baptist and enjoy your oddball diet, which is the Word of God, Amen. And you're going to have to enjoy your oddball clothing, which the world thinks it's odd. They're confused. They don't know how to dress. They don't know what a boy is supposed to wear or a girl is supposed to wear. They're going to confuse you. John the Baptist wasn't confused. He was okay being the odd man out. And young people, you'd better be okay with being the odd gal or the odd boy out. Okay, we're a peculiar people. Well, just be weird for the sake of being weird. John had a purpose and he was obeying God. Thank you, young people. Thank you, young people. You may stay on the straight path. Back to your seat. The other thing is, John's message wasn't appealing to everybody. And the message of Christianity isn't going to appeal to everyone. It's for everyone. But you know as well as I do, it rubs a lot of people the wrong way. It rubbed me the wrong way when I first heard it. Well, why do we have to go out there again? Well, because of me. Why do we have to go out there again? Because of you. You heard it a few times and you shrugged it off, didn't you? But somebody came and told you the same message over and over. You know, like these people that listen to the Top 40 songs. You know why they're Top 40? Because somebody listens to them over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. We were at the one outreach, and I said to my wife, I said, it's the great hymns of the faith. They're still playing that song? They're still playing that same stupid song? It don't stop. You hear this song over and over. You've got to hear the gospel message over and over and over. Are you praying for people that you want to get saved and you know they've heard the gospel more times than you have? John the Baptist stayed on course. He's not appealing to the people. The other thing is this. If he's in the wilderness, that means People that want truth are going to travel a far distance to get to it. You see, God had it set up for John the Baptist for a specific purpose. You want truth? It's out there. Come and get it. And people that are serious will find serious, like-minded people. That's John the Baptist. Now, here's another exciting part. Let's read verses 5 and 6 together. Matthew 3, verse 5 and 6. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. And then there's a period. That means that was the extent of it. John put them in the Jordan water, immersed them, and they confessed their sins. I'm going to contrast that with our baptism in water for a second. It might be nice when we baptize Jaman, and we had Jaman and we baptized him in water. It might be cool. for the people sitting in the pews to hear Jamin. And by the way, just go ahead and confess to us all of the sins that you've done. Right! But you know what John's baptism was? It was of repentance of their sins. In other words, they are naming it and claiming it. They are saying, here's my sins. I'm glad I didn't live in those days, aren't you? They are confessing their sins in front of everybody. Now, aren't you glad when you got water baptized, your sins have already been covered with the blood? Jesus has already forgotten about them as far as the east is from the west. Aren't you glad that you didn't have to name every single sin that you did in order to be saved? Aren't you glad that you didn't have to name all the sins that you didn't know were sins yet until you got saved and then you realized, oh wait, that's sin. Aren't you glad of that? Aren't you glad that all you had to know was that you were a sinner? You turned from what you've been trusting in to merit worth before Christ. You turned from the fact that you were a sinner. You knew that, and you turned toward God, and with a repenting, trusting faith, you believed the Gospel. Now when you walk into a church house, you don't have to give us a long laundry list. Oh, by the way, let me see your license, your registration, and by the way, all your list of sins, sir. Right. Covered by the blood. In fact, my mom's boyfriend John, he even told me that when he was Catholic, they were all up in his business. They wanted to know everything about you. That's what he told me anyway. That's right. Yeah, he's right on that. They can blackmail you pretty easy. Now, let's contrast this to the book of Acts. Go to Acts 2. Acts chapter 2. Acts 2. Let's read verse 41 together. Acts 2, let's read 41. Then they that gladly received His word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Look at verse 47. Let's read that. Praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. So, in the book of Acts, for us as Christians, We are added to an assembly of believers. We trust Christ and we're saved. Saved people are then immersed by water baptism. And then those that have been immersed by water baptism are baptized believers that yoke up and join in with a local assembly. And so that's the New Testament pattern. No, go. It didn't say that John added to the church daily. It didn't say that the disciples added to the church daily. It said God added. That's right. That's an excellent point because if you or I or any of us baptize a believer, we don't add them to the church. Because there's so many people out there today, so-called preachers out there today, they talk about how many they brought in. They didn't bring nobody. Good, that's good. That's right, Brother Roger. Right. Right. Yeah, you're absolutely right. But what's happening in Acts 2, that's not John's baptism. John's baptism is a preparation and an anticipation for the coming Messiah. Now go to Acts 19. Acts 19. Because during this time, let's read verses 2 through 5. Acts 19, we'll start at verse 2 and we'll read through 5. He said unto them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of what? Remember, we already went through that. This is a man that has received John's baptism and water and it's clearly described as cross-referenced again as the baptism of what? Repentance. saying unto the people that they should believe on Him which should come after Him, that is, on Christ. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." So you had people that received John's baptism. But now that Christ has already died, buried, risen again, shed His blood, all of that, well now the New Testament church has started And you have people that are now being essentially re-baptized in water by immersion because now John's baptism doesn't cut it for believers on the Lord Jesus Christ. And so this man gets baptized again. So we see in Acts 19 a clear distinction between John's baptism in water by immersion. And then a believer's baptism, those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. And so they're being baptized and immersed in water as well. John's baptism couldn't have been a believer's baptism. Why? Right. He's right there. Behold. Look at Him. He's right there. Nobody was asked to believe on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ until the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. That's right. That's right. All right. Acts, do Acts 18. Start to wrap up, but I want to get all this in so you see it. Acts 18. Watch this one. V. 24-25. Acts 18, let's read it. 25. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the... The baptism of who? You get me some water. Alright, let's read. Okay, so he knew some things, but he didn't know all that he needed to know. So what has to happen to him now? Right. They pull him aside, they teach him. And then after he believes, what do you think happens? He gets baptized by water. So a clear distinction between John's baptism and baptism for Alright, let's wrap up Matthew 3. Let's go back here. I'd like you to read verse 7. We were left off at verse 6. Let's read Matthew 3, verse number 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, come to baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? The snakes show up. And by the way, you can count on the snakes showing up in your life. You can start counting them showing up in your family life. You can count them showing up in church life. I'm telling you, the snakes always show up. John's trying to do something good, and here comes the generation of vipers. You know why? Because they finally ran into a preacher that they can't control. That's why. And a lot of these seminaries are putting out preachers that are wearing the golden handcuffs. You preach what we tell you to preach, or you're out. So if you want to be in with the bigwigs, you've got to believe what the bigwigs say, because there's enough bigwigs where they're going to hold a deacon meeting, or they're going to write a convention, or they're going to get a bunch of guys together that are going to have a lot more money and a lot more power than some poor old preacher boy. So you want to know why we're in the mess we're in in America nowadays? Because little preacher boys are wearing the golden handcuffs. That's why. They're controlled by the vipers. And there's a generation of them. And generation in the Bible means a race of people. Not only in the last ten years. That generation of vipers is a race of people who are for the devil. Are you regenerated? You're in the generation of Jesus Christ. And we plan to live that way as well. So John's got some words for him. Here's what he says. He says, verse 8 and 9, bring forth therefore fruits to meet for repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. John says, you know what? Don't tell me you're a Jew. Don't tell me you have Abraham as your father. Don't tell me you have the commandments. You know what you need? Behold, the Lamb of God. That's what you need. Everybody's a sinner, and everybody needs to look to the Savior. And then one more verse, v. 15. John's baptism. "...Jesus answered and said unto him..." Well, let me back it up, v. 13. "...Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him." So Jesus received Whose baptism, Wilder? Yeah, that's right. He received John's baptism. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, for thus is becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. So why did Jesus receive John's baptism? Yes. An example for others. Correct. To fulfill all righteousness. To show that it is the right thing to do. It was never to wash away sins. Because Jesus is baptized by John and Jesus has no sin to be forgiven of. Remember in Isaiah 53 it says that He is numbered with who? That's right. Jesus is being numbered with the transgressors. It's a picture. to fulfill all righteousness. He's numbered with the transgressors. He's never sinned. He doesn't need to repent of his sin to have any remission. No, he's going to die for that nation. And so he identifies with the sinners. So that is John's baptism. Jesus received it. as an example to fulfill all righteousness, to show that this is the right thing to do. He set the example. He's our ultimate example to follow to make sure we stay on the right path. you