Faith Is Still the Key

 The Servant's Victory

Book of Mark Chapter 16

The Lord Jesus Christ expressed victory for every believer with the fulfillment of His resurrection!

Jesus Christ had predicted His resurrection on several occasions, but His disciples never really understood Him.

Most of this world still does not understand the reality of the resurrected Christ today!

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

Mat 17:22  And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 

Mat 17:23  And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 

Mat 20:19  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Mar 9:31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 

Mar 10:33  Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 

Mar 10:34  And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Luk 9:22  Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 

Luk 18:32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 

Luk 18:33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

We also see that the Lord Jesus specified that He would rise again on the third day showing His omniscience and His obedience to the Word of God.

All the Gospels stress the "physical" resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

There were many witnesses to His resurrection.

Joh 20:1  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 

Joh 20:2  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 

Joh 20:3  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 

Joh 20:4  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 

Joh 20:18  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 

Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 

Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 

Then there were the two witnesses on the road to Emmaus.

Then the ten disciples in the upper room.

Then the eleven disciples a week later.

Then the disciples who decided to go fishing.

Then eleven disciples in Galilee, where Jesus had told them He would meet them there.

Then the disciples in Jerusalem.

Let us see what Mark wrote by the Holy Spirit.

The actual words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 

Luk 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 

Luk 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 

Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 

Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Let us analyze what John wrote:

Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 

We know one meaning is that when Jesus placed His napkin aside as this verse states means, that He will return.

There is another meaning.

As John wrote he described this napkin as being still rolled up.

This napkin was retaining the circular shape as though the head of Jesus were still in it but lying in a place by itself. It was detached from the rest of the wrappings, but the shape of this head piece and the wrappings tell us that the body of Jesus passed through those wrappings and left them undisturbed.

The Body of Christ had certainly risen even through His death wrappings.

The Body of Christ, the true Church, those alive and the bodies of those in the grave, may truly rise very soon, as we witness the signs going on in our world today!

The atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ reached its climax when He arose from His death!

The Rapture of the Church will be the climax of the period of the Grace of God and period of the Jews will begin.

The Apostle wrote:

Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 

Rom 1:2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

Let us pick back up on our lesson with verse nine.

*****Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 

Up until this moment no human eye had seen our risen Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered death.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered the grave.

The Lord Jesus Christ proved that life "by Him" had no ending!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Giver of life!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and "the life": no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God is not the God of the dead!

Later the Apostles taught the "Gospel" as the truth of the Word of God and it is, but they taught the resurrection of Christ as fact, because they were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ!

They became bold in the preaching to the Gospel because the "Good News" is a fact!

The key to the New Testament is the fact that the Apostles were eyewitnesses to the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah!

If you look into the scrolls of the Catholic Church, the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus you will see that these are two of the many verses that were left out so Bibles translated from those altered scrolls do not include these words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that sin is sin and we sometime try to decide which one sin is greater than another as we try to hold on to our pet sins but this is not the complete truth.

The sin of lying will be treated the same as the sin of murder though there may be different degrees of suffering for some sins.

If we look at Mary Magdalene, we see a sinner just like we are all sinners.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Mary felt that the Lord Jesus had forgiven her so much more than others because she felt her sins had been so great.

In fact, this Mary should be an example for us all in her devotion to the Lord after she was forgiven.

It is said that Jesus had cast out seven devils from her.

What do we see of this Mary, she was not afraid to be seen as a believer!

Mary stood by cross through the whole ordeal of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.

Mary was even present when the Lord Jesus was taken down from that terrible cross, another witness to His death.

Mary was the one who led in the preparations for the embalming of His body over the weekend.

Mary was the first to visit the tomb after the Sabbath.

Mary refused to leave the tomb after Peter and John verified that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb.

Mary was a precious saint of God who was truly devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ making her a great example for us all.

The Lord Jesus took the time to comfort His devoted follower before He met anyone else.

These things make Mary Magdalene a great witness to the death and resurrection of our Savior and a loving friend of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins, He had no sin.

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from that death to live evermore and to show each believer that death has no power over us and we will live evermore with our Savior and our Redeemer.

To be Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus is forever with us in the hour of our need, meeting every need and responding to our love for Him.

To truly be a Christian is to do our best to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in all His ways and be in the will of God for our own lives.

*****Mar 16:10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.  

In the fulness of believing faith, Mary hurried back to Jerusalem to inform the eleven disciples of what she had discovered at the tomb of Christ.

They were still mourning over the loss of not only their Lord but also their dear friend.

They just could not find the faith to believe what Mary was saying to them.

There is no doubt they were also mourning for every time they had let down the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was also mourning because they did not know what to do now, seeing their leader was gone.

Mary came with faith that the Lord Jesus had done what He said He would do!

We need to understand that the things that Jesus said He would do as written in the KJV, He did accomplish.

Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 

Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

All the prophecies that led to the coming of the true Messiah are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The disciples of the Lord Jesus had not believed Him when He said these things would happen, so they did not believe Mary Magdalene.

It is probably more that they could not understand rather than could not believe.

They insisted that this true believer then had to be a liar even though they highly valued her.

We should realize that as Christians today, we are not the only ones who have mourned for Christ Jesus!

We are not the only messengers who have been rejected, but we are sure beyond any doubt that the Lord Jesus arose from that tomb!

In our hearts we do not care what all the doubters believe!

We need to show the faith that this Mary had and have no doubts about our Savior!

If this happen and there was a need for a courtroom, there is more evidence that Jesus arose from His death than most any other historical event, yet the world doubts the truth of God.

Most of this world will remain lost because of this doubt.

Remember:Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Once these disciples knew the truth then they would die before they would renounce their faith in the truth of the Gospel.

This says a lot about the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They were slow to believe, but once they knew the truth, they could not be unconvinced and neither should we!

We have to stand on the truth of the Gospel simply because we know it is the truth!

If we want to mourn and weep let us mourn and weep for those who reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote:

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

Paul could write these things because he knew they were the truth!

The Lord Jesus knew all these things would happen so; He began to show Himself to them.

*****Mar 16:12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

Mar 16:13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.  

We should understand that one of the proofs of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate unbelief of His disciples.

They had to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection.

Once they realized this truth, they never doubted the Lord Jesus ever again.

All but John died because they could not be convinced otherwise.

They could have rejected the truth of the Messiah and lived!

There was a distinct change in the appearance of our Savior after His resurrection!

He was the same and yet not the same.

They knew the voice of the Lord Jesus this had not changed.

The Lord Jesus bore the marks of His crucifixion on His hands, His feet, and His chest.

He ate with His disciples, He had conversations with them, and He blessed them and yet He was not the same.

The body of our Messiah was no longer subject to the laws of space and time!

He came and went as He so chose!

One moment He was with them and another moment He would vanish out of their site.

This is what happened on the road to Emmaus. (Book of Luke 24:13-35)

Christ Jesus made Himself known to a select group of people.

We can understand these words of the Apostle Paul if we let this sink in.

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; "that every one may receive the things done in his body", according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

Paul was referring to the glorified body of our Lord Jesus.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that we would all appear with Jesus and be like Jesus when the Lord Jesus returns to claim this world.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, "then shall ye also appear with him in glory". 

Again Paul was talking about this glorified body that the Lord Jesus showed to the Apostles after His resurrection, the same body He went back to Heaven with.

**The Lord Jesus had come to this earth as Spirit and took on the form of a new baby to make a point that we all must be "born again" in His Spirit.

**The Lord Jesus grew to adulthood to reach the age when He would begin His ministry.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior so we can become a servant of the Lord and be in His will, which is our ministry.

**The Lord died to show us that death had no power over Him and He rose again to prove it was true.

Once we are faithful believers, we know that death has no power over us ever again.

**The Lord Jesus raised Himself in a glorified body to show us that at the moment of our death, there will be no death, but we will begin a new everlasting life and it will be in a glorified body just like that of the Lord.

The difference is, He will show His battle scars and we will be brand new!

Though He was glorified, He was still the man Christ Jesus with all His individual characteristics.

This is the body He returned to Heaven in so we can all be alike body wise in Heaven but we all will still be different.

We should never listen to anyone who tries to get rid of the form of Christ or substitute some vague image of Him as the truth.

The Apostles were not confused and they were eyewitnesses!

The "Body of Christ", the Church will one day soon resemble Jesus Christ's resurrection body when we return with Him.

Joh 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 

Joh 3:35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

The Lord Jesus continued to show Himself to His disciples. 

*****Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. is victory over death.

There are two major hindrances to being a true witness for Jesus Christ.

1) Unbelief.

2) The hardness of the heart.

The Lord Jesus Christ scolded these disciples for both of these things.

They had not believed the words He had taught them!

They had witnessed the power of God for about three years and there was no excuse for their unbelief.

They had seen His power over nature and disease.

They had witnessed His power over death when He raised up the daughter of Jairus and Lazarus and others.

They had witnessed the sinless life of Jesus, His purity, and His holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ was without sin therefore death had no power over Him!

They had been taught time after time that He was to die and be raised again.

They had rejected the testimony of His resurrection!

Their hardness of heart to not even believe other disciples was a very serious problem that they had to overcome!

We are all to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to spread the truth of our Holy God!

These things had to be dealt with!

The cause of unbelief and the hardness of the heart is the misinterpretation of Scripture and the misinterpretation of words of Jesus Christ which today we see them in red letters if we want to.

All the Scriptures are the Word of God!

2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

They refused to see Christ as the suffering Savior and could think only of Him as the conquering King and He will be this too when it is time!

They refused to see the Kingdom of God as a Spiritual Kingdom, thinking only of a physical kingdom, which takes place as the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, which is a temporary thing, at least for only one thousand years.

They simply did not understand the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Until these things were understood completely, they could not be given the "Great Commission".

*****Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

All the Word of God is to be treated as the commandments of God and the "Great Commission" is as straight-forward as can be said.

The Lord used very few words but this command cannot be misunderstood.

The Lord was teaching this thing to His disciples.

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ then you are also a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!

That word preach is used here and it means to declare the truth of God!

It means for us to declare the truth of God, especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The "Gospel", meaning the "Good News" of the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done for our salvation.

The Lord Jesus has done all the work and we are to believe and proclaim what He has done for us, including all the world.

Though most of the world will ignore the Gospel, the world still needs to hear what the Lord has to say, because He is the Lord of Life!

That word preach, does not mean that only those who are called to preach are to share this message, but every child of God is to share the "Gospel" message.

We are not to preach our own thoughts about the Gospel.

We are not to preach our own ideas about the "Gospel".

We are not to preach humanistic or man-centered beliefs about the 'Gospel".

We are not to preach what world religions think about the "Gospel",

We are not to preach what philosophers think about the "Gospel".

We are to preach the "Gospel", just as it is revealed to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God!

This is the Divine work that has been assigned to us.

No Christian is exempt from this duty.

None of us are excluded from the privilege and honor of taking part in this work given to us by our Savior!

The "Gospel" must be heard and it will do its own work!

The "Gospel" must be carried out into all the world.

The Great Commission was given to all the Church, to every believer!

Notice that the Lord Jesus does not give us a list of reasons why we cannot do this command.

In other words there are no excuses for anyone!

It is a permanent commission given to every believer, in every generation to do, until the Lord takes us home or He returns to take us all home on the day of the Rapture.

What is the truth to those after they have heard the Gospel?

*****Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

What the world has a tough time believing is the fact that we are all doomed from the day of our birth.

We may look down at an innocent baby and say how can this child be a sinner, but it does not take many days until we see the truth as that child begins to lie.

We see that baptism is mentioned in this passage and we know that baptism is not part of our salvation in the sense that it is necessary.

What we must understand is, that being baptized is being obedient to the Word of God!

In the sense of that obedience, it is then necessary as becomes part of our beliefs.

We believe in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He has done for our salvation, the "Gospel" and we believe in the truth of all the Word of God and in this context the Lord Jesus says we must be Baptized.

To be baptized is a sign of our belief!

Baptism is an act of obedience to God's demand just as belief is an act of obedience to God's demand.

We should also know that believing also includes, repentance, while obeying the "Gospel".

To be saved we must believe the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

If we then believe, then God demands that we be baptized!

It could be said that how can a person be saved if that person immediately rebels against being baptized?

If we are saved, then God expects obedience to all the Word of God!

This is where the so-called progressives are failing today!

If that obedience does not exist, then that salvation does not exist!

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Every saved soul who believes in the Lord will not have a problem in obeying all the Word of God!

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

Obedience is then tied to our salvation!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is by faith alone that we are saved but after that salvation then there are some works to do and baptism is that first works as is making a public confession of our sin.

We are all sinners saved by the "Grace" of God.

None of these things mean we can never fail; we will certainly fail in our service to the Lord!

We will fail, but we will not continue in sin.

We will get up out of our sin, ask God for forgiveness, and follow the Lord even more diligently.

Is it possible to be saved without following the Lord Jesus Christ which is the meaning of being a Christian?

Those who are lost are those who do not believe the Gospel!

Joh_3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We should ask ourselves just what does this belief "in Him" really mean?

Not being baptized is not a reason that is mentioned for a reason for salvation.

What we need to understand is, that believing is making a commitment to the things that God says, the infallible Word of God.

A person is not saved if they do not believe, which is a rejection of what God says!

To believe is a Spiritual event!

To be baptized is a physical event!

The Lord Jesus then is saying in verse sixteen, that when a person is saved and filled with the Holy Spirit they will not fail to be baptized unless they are physically unable to do so.

The moment of salvation is not at the time of salvation, but is at the time of believing!

A true believer will then be baptized and be obedient to all the Word of God!

This thing is not that confusing and each believer must work through these things with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Php_2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

It is our Savior who started His work of salvation in us, but we are to carry it to the end with the help of the Holy Spirit and following the Word of God being obedient to it!

*****Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

To all those who are saved and have not grieved the Holy Spirit by ignoring the Word of God, then they will be able to work through the power of the Holy Spirit!

The pure fact of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ is the fact that it cannot be done under our own power, but only with the power of the Holy Spirit!

Our world has always been a dangerous place and it is even more so today.

Dangers come not only from the enemies of the Church but also natural calamities.

And we must not forget what the Word of God says.

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is these things that are the most dangerous and it is also these things that we hear every day that are Israel's enemy!

Now we must not get confused.

There will be some who become martyrs.

There will be some who will suffer major persecution, but God will not allow all His children to die, except in the fashion of the Rapture.

Things will not always be smooth for believers even here in America!

The point God is making is that as God's people carry out the "Great Commission", God will make some of His power known to this world.

Many of these things mentioned here were necessary when the Church had its beginning but the Lord did not mean they are all needed today.

Some are to plant seeds.

Some are to water and nourish those seeds.

Some will receive the seed and believe immediately.

Some will reject the seed and never receive the truth of God.

We know that even in the time of Paul the speaking of tongues, which have always been about known languages and not some gibberish trying to imitate this power that was given to the first Apostles and a few others in the beginning of the early Church.

1Co 14:21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 

1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, "but to them that believe not": but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 

We now that Paul also seemed to have power over serpents at one time.

Act 28:3  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 

Act 28:4  And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 

Act 28:5  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 

No evangelist has this power over serpents today.

Snake handlers are not preachers of the truth!

We can also be sure if we test God and drink any substance that could kill us then it probably will.

Today we have the complete text of the Bible and it is the Bible, the Word of God that has the power needed to reach the dark soul of each sinner!

Faith is still the key to salvation that still comes by the Grace of God!

Faith is a distinct relation between the lost soul and the believing soul! 

The triumph of the believing soul is that it can now live through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is safety in "faith" in Jesus Christ and it is eternal!

Psa 91:14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

Psa 91:15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 

Psa 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

There is safety in the Church if we remain in the Church.

Heb_10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Amen

God Became A Servant To His Creation

 The Servant's Arrival

Book of Mark Chapter 1

If we are familiar with the New Testament, we know this disciple Mark, is called John Mark in many places.

Mark was not one of the twelve disciples who became the Apostles.

John was his Hebrew name and Mark was his Roman name.

Mark was led to the Lord by the Apostle Peter and is said to have spent a lot of time with Peter and this is where he learned most of his doctrine and where he learned about the Lord because of Peter's close relationship with the Lord.

We can see the struggles of the Apostle Peter in the New Testament but we can also see that when Peter finally understood the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter became steadfast and dependable and a true Saint of God.

The Apostle reminds us our own struggles in the life of becoming a Christian.

We know that Mark also spent some time with the Apostle Paul and Barnabas and was kin to Barnabas.

The Book of Mark was written before the destruction of the Jewish Temple as we can tell because of what was written.

It may have been written around 50 AD.

Some say it was written to the Roman world which means it was written to the Gentile world.

The purpose of the Book of Mark is to show that Jesus is unquestionably the Son of God!

Mar 1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 

Mar 1:2  As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus is declared to be the Son of God at His baptism.

In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus is declared to be the Son of God at His transfiguration both times by the Heavenly voice of His father.

Our lessons in this quarter will teach us of the Lord Jesus Christ as God's Heavenly Servant come to this earth to save all those who believe the truth of the Messiah.

Mark wrote that even the demons said that Jesus was the Son of God.

Mark wrote that even at the end of the life of Jesus, even a Roman Centurion said that Our Lord Jesus was the Son of God.

Mark wrote that Jesus Himself said that He was the Son of God!

I do not know about you, but I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, a third part of the Holy Trinity!

Still one God, but in three persons.

These lessons from the Book of Mark are intended to help our learning more about our Savior who came as a Servant.

The Bible begins by teaching us that God created us in His image and this was true until sin entered into the world.

The Lord Jesus spent His life teaching us, that He will remove the curse of sin and we can once again be created in the image of God our Savior!

The Lord Jesus is our example in all things and Mark begins with the baptism of the Messiah!

There is no salvation that comes from baptism, but it seems that baptism is still essential if we are to walk in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Peter wrote:

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

The Apostle Paul:

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Again, we are not saved by baptism, but it is included in our walk with the Lord Jesus.

If we pay attention, we will see that our baptism should be a full immersion if we are to be like Christ.

Buried and then raised to a new life.

In the baptism of our Lord Jesus we get a picture of what happens when we decide to totally submit to the Lord.

Joh 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 

*****Mar 1:9  And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 

Nazareth was a small town where Joseph and Mary came to raise Jesus.

The word Nazareth means separated.

Joseph and Mary wanted a place where the Lord Jesus would be safe, as Herod had already tried to murder the Lord.

The Lord Jesus had grown up in peaceful seclusion, but in this time nearly thirty years, He had grown in favor with God and man.

Luk 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

The town of Nazareth was not mentioned in the Old Testament.

Our Lord Jesus left the city of Nazareth to be baptized and then He began His ministry of salvation.

The Lord Jesus was immediately recognized by His forerunner John the Baptist.

Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 

This is the first place that our Heavenly Father made the world to know that the Lord Jesus was His Son.

Luk 3:21  Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 

Luk 3:22  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

The Lord Jesus left all behind to begin the ministry He had come from Heaven to perform.

He left a cheerful home.

He left a close nit family.

He left behind a good profession; He was a carpenter.

He left his childhood friends.

Many a missionary will do these same things.

Many servants of God have to do these same things.

Many believers have to do these same things today.

He began His ministry to save this wicked world.

He had only thirty-six months to complete His mission.

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We should understand that the decision we make to follow the Lord Jesus, is an important decision probably the greatest decision we will make all our lifetime.

It involves surrendering our all and sacrificing ourselves completely to the Lord, but a decision not to follow the Lord will lead to a tragic life that is wasted on sin.

Mark describes to us what happened on the day of His baptism.

*****Mar 1:10  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 

Mar 1:11  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We can only imagine what it means to say that the heavens opened up.

The Lord Jesus was being commissioned and set apart by Heaven itself.

The Spirit of God came down from Heaven in the actions of a dove not looking like a dove.

Watch how a dove lands as it ends its flight to see this.

It is different from all other birds.

This event identified the Lord Jesus as the promised Messiah.

This event declared that the Holy Spirit of our Heavenly Father brought His power down from Heaven to do the work God had promised written in the Scriptures.

Notice the Holy Spirit descended upon our Lord not inside of Him.

**We should know that when we are called to the work of God and we accept that calling, we are also empowered by our Heavenly Father to do the work given to us by God Himself.

The only difference being that the Holy Spirit will move into us and abide in us forever, if we show faith in the work that the Lord Jesus has done to save us.

Before the Lord Jesus we had an evil spirit. After accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, that evil spirit is replaced with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will not share His existence with an evil spirit inside us!

First, we must decide to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done for our salvation. This is where our faith becomes so important. We must be willing to surrender all we have, even our own life.

Mar_8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

**Second, as we begin that work, He has given to us, we must identify with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 10:16  He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 

Most of us lack the commitment to serve the Lord! 

We just do not identify ourselves with the Lord and the world never sees us as a follower of Christ Jesus.

That word "opened" means that God ripped the heavens apart to give His Son this message.

The baptism of Jesus involved God's approval and also God's encouragement!

Remember the Lord Jesus was one hundred percent God, but He was also one hundred percent human.

The Lord Jesus Christ had to pay an enormous price to serve His Heavenly Father!

As a human He needed the perfect assurance of God just as we do.

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Isa 42:5  Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 

Isa 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Again this is where our faith comes in.

God will see to it that we know His will for us, but we can also have the assurance that we are in His will for us!

God will speak to our hearts and give us signs of His approval.

Once the Holy Spirit was upon the Lord Jesus, He drove Him straight into the wilderness.

He had to be tested. We should understand that without a test we will never have a testimony!

*****Mar 1:12  And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 

Mar 1:13  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 

Without a doubt, we are going to face temptation all the days of our lives!

We must have a good understanding of just what temptation is!

We should study this time of temptation of our Lord Jesus to learn all we can.

Why had the Lord Jesus been sent to earth?

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

1Jn 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

Because the Lord Jesus had come to destroy the works of the Devil then, the first thing that Jesus did was to enter into the conflict with the Devil.

This means we are wrong if we do not inform Satan that we are the "born again" children of God!

We cannot be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We do not have to challenge Satan, but we do have to stand our ground against him!

Satan is our true enemy, but we should have no fear of him!

We see that the Lord Jesus allows Satan to tempt Him for forty days and nights.

The Devil could not have victory over the Lord Jesus and therefore he left, but he had plans to continue to tempt the Lord Jesus all the days He remained upon this earth.

Luk 4:13  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 

We should understand that the temptations we go through are steppingstones and not stumbling stones.

They are simply opportunities for the Holy Spirit to make us stronger and earn rewards.

When we are stronger, we are more able to do the things that God requires of us.

When we face temptation, we need to sit down with God and seek His power to overcome that temptation.

Remember, the battle with Satan is the Lord's battle, we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the middle of it!

Satan will do everything he can to arouse our flesh to sin, and we must use the strength of the Holy Spirit block him.

John the Baptist had completed his job as forerunner and it was time for him get out of the way, so the Lord Jesus could begin His own ministry which was far more important.

John had told his own disciples it was time he got out of the way of the Lord Jesus the Messiah.

Joh 3:28  Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 

Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

It may not seem fare for John to be put in prison, but we must cling to our faith that God always does the right thing.

It was not God who caused the arrest of John the Baptist, but He did allow it to take place.

*****Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

In the process of time, at least a complete year had passed between verse 13 and verse 14.

John the Apostle gives us most of the information that Mark leaves out during this period of time.

The Lord Jesus had selected His disciples during this time.

The Lord Jesus had moved His headquarters to Capernaum during this time period.

The Lord Jesus had gone to Jerusalem to observe the Passover Feast.

The Lord had met Nicodemus.

The ministry of the Lord Jesus was moving along at a fast pace for the kingdom of God was truly at hand!

Our own ministries to our friends and family need to move on at a faster pace today, because the kingdom of God is surely at hand today and the return of the Lord.

God saves us for two purposes:

1) To obey Him and He gives us the Bible to know what to obey.

2) To lead others to obey Him and this means people of all nations and all cultures.

God's goal is for all mankind to become His family.

This means those who freely choose to join the family of God!

God calls us children to put us in the right frame of mind so we can learn to obey just as we instill this in our own children.

The Gospel declares that time is fulfilled.

All the things of the Old Testament had brought the people to the time of the Church.

Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Jesus the Messiah came to bring salvation to all mankind.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

The law had been in place and had done its educational work.

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Gal_3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal_3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

It was now time for "faith" to take the center stage of our salvation.

Repentance came to the forefront.

Just to repent is not enough!

Payment must be made for the laws that were broken.

This is why we must believe and place our faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus lived a sinless life as our example of what it takes to please God.

We have to become sin free to please God.

This is where the Gospel and Grace comes in.

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

The world was an open door for the spread of the Gospel.

Elijah had come in the person of John the Baptist.

John had moved out of the way so the Gospel could be preached around the world, beginning with the Lord Jesus to the Jews and then the Gentiles and the Apostles to the uttermost parts of the world, which remains our job today.

The Church is now in its last days and the return of Jesus Christ is very near.

And the Lord Jesus shows us how we are to minister.

*****Mar 1:21  And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 

We see that the Lord Jesus began His ministry with worship, immediately.

That word “straightway” means immediately.

The Jews worshipped on the Sabbath (Saturday) and Jesus chose the synagogue at Capernaum.

To the Jew, the synagogue was the most important institution and it was the center of their worship.

Most of them only went to the Temple three times a year, but to the synagogue they went every Saturday.

The synagogue was also the place of learning and education.

It is like Sunday School of today, where the Scriptures are to be studied by all ages.

The Lord Jesus seized on this opportunity to teach in this synagogue.

See, Jesus was the only One who knew how much time He had left and we know He had only about three years before that cross.

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 

We are in those dark days now awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus.

In fact, our nation is becoming darker and we might not have much longer to freely teach the Bible.

What do we do?

We lose time and just allow it to pass by.

We ignore time and just let it pass.

We neglect time with a non-caring attitude.

We abuse time, and do the opposite of what we should be doing.

This sounds harsh, but we have very little time to reach our children and grandchildren and even friends that we know who are lost.

I’m just as guilty as anyone else.

The Lord Jesus seized upon the little time He had left and this is the story behind the Gospels.

The Lord Jesus did not waste time!

None of the average people had a copy of the Scriptures, but there was one in the Synagogue.

In fact, services and discussions were conducted daily in most synagogues.

Even when the Jews were scattered around the world, no matter how small a group of them were, they would build them a synagogue.

In some cities there were more than one synagogue.

It is said that there were more than one hundred synagogues in Jerusalem even in the time of Jesus.

A service in a synagogue would have prayers, Scripture reading, and then discussion.

Distinguished persons, local or strangers, were invited to take part in the service and we see that our Lord Jesus joined in and began to read from the Scriptures.

The Apostle Paul used this same strategy.

*****Mar 1:22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

These Jews were aroused by the teaching of Jesus Christ because He preached the truth, with authority.

The Scribes taught using tradition of the elders, the oral law with enough Scripture as the source of their authority.

Their teaching was second handed, because they only repeated what the Rabbis taught.

The scribes use the words "it has been said".

Jesus taught with personal authority because He is the Author!

The Lord Jesus used the phrase, "I say unto you".

What is the best time to teach people? When they gather on their day of worship. 

The sabbath for the Jews.

What is the best method of teaching on the day of worship? Preaching.

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

1Th 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 

1Co 1:17  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. 

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 

1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The Lord Jesus was certain and He was positive.

The Lord Jesus stressed our need for the truth in this world full of Satan's lies.

The Lord Jesus preached on matters of the heart and life. The world only teaches thoughts and rationalism.

The Lord Jesus preached life and life eternal, while all others preached religion, philosophy.

The Lord Jesus practiced and lived what He preached, while others twist and interprets the laws of God to their own liking and live by their own thoughts.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

The Lord preached to make everyone part of His family and all others preached division of family and groups as it is today.

Amen

The Lamb of God

 Jesus Was Presented as a King

Book of Matthew Chapter 3

We should understand that the Gospels are not intended to give us a day by day, account of the life of Jesus.

The intent of the Gospels are to teach us how the Church was to begin.

The intent of the Gospels are to teach us God's plan of salvation.

The intent of the Gospels are to teach the Jews the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

We will find a thirty year gap between chapter 2 and chapter 3 of Matthew's Gospel.

This chapter begins with the forerunner, John the Baptist.

A fulfillment of prophecy.

Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 

Isa 40:5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

Chapter 3 Verse 1

*****Mat 3:1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 

Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

"In those days" means the days the Lord Jesus Christ walked upon this earth.

This wilderness was a true wilderness. It was a wild, barren and desolate place and it was in this same area where we will find that the Lord was tempted of Satan.

In general, when the Bible speaks of a wilderness in the New Testament it means a less cultivated place opposed to pastureland that is plowed regularly.

John lived in the true wilderness.

John was the forerunner for Jesus Christ, and he had begun his own ministry.

Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  

God had sent many prophets and many true priests and many messengers to the Jews and yet they had rebelled against them all, killing many of them.

We know that John the Baptist would also be murdered for taking a stand against a wicked government but not before his ministry was complete and the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ had begun.

What was his message?

Repent, for the kingdom of God was at hand.

To repent is not just to feel sorrow and regret but it is a complete change in lifestyle, a complete change in your heart, and a complete change in your way of thinking!

Daniel best describes the kingdom of God:

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 

Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 

The Lord's kingdom is not of this earth.

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

Joh 18:37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 

Though the Lord will rule this earth as King for 1000 years, His true Kingdom will be in the New Jerusalem where all the saints of God will join Him to be with Him forever and forever.

*****Mat 3:3  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 paths straight. 

We already have seen this prophecy but let us see it again.

Isa 40:3  The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

Isa 40:4  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 

Isa 40:5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

What is "make His paths straight"?

The image of making His paths straight is as building a highway leveling the mountains, filling in the valleys making a sure path to God's future kingdom, even though that road would be a narrow one.

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

The Lord Jesus Christ provides that only pathway to God's rebuilt Heaven. Not many ways but one way and that way by the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is the job of every Christian to prepare the way of the Lord to the lost!

The ways of John remind us of that Old Testament prophet Elijah.

*****Mat 3:4  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

You cannot be a prophet of God without spending a lot of time alone with God!

John chose the wilderness of Judah.

2Ki 1:7  And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? 

2Ki 1:8  And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. 

The raiment of Elijah was made of camel's hair or the skin of a hairy animal.

That raiment sounds like it would be rough but in fact camel's hair was a good material for clothing, keeping out the heat, the cold, and the rain.

A prophet of God would never wear clothing that could deceive a person.

The Christian is told to wear modest clothing:

1Ti_2:9  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Jesus asked the religious leaders this question:

Mat 11:7  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 

Mat 11:8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

Mat 11:9  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 

Mat 11:10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

Jesus loves and respects all those who prepare the way before Him:

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

John the Baptist brought baptism by immersion to a reality.

*****Mat 3:5  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 

Mat 3:6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 

The preaching of John was real.

The preaching of John was about the truth.

The preaching of John was about repentance.

John had the same message to the poor, the rich, to the religious elders, and to the government!

There was no baptism without first confessing your sins and confessing repentance.

What is our first confession? We must confess we are a sinner.

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

Our next confession is the need of a Savior, and there is only One Savior.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 

Next comes baptism:

Baptism was not new because baptism was practiced in all ancient religions.

For John, baptism was an outward sign or repentance and a changed life. To be baptized was also to promise the Lord we would have that faith in His cleansing of our sins.

The full immersion baptism must represent the death the burial and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The full immersion baptism must be done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost!

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Baptism cannot save, it is only an admission that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved from a Devil's Hell!

If you cannot believe all these things, then you are only taking a bath and a hundred baptisms will never get you closer to the Lord and a sprinkling can only get you wet!

John preached hard against religious deceivers:

Mat 3:7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 

Mat 3:9  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. 

Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

If we refuse to repent, then we cannot receive the Holy Spirit.

If we do not show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, then we are not saved.

What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 

Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

These Pharisee and Sadducee were not going to repent, and they did not bear the fruit of the Spirit.

We should understand the meaning of being called a "viper".

A viper is full of deadly poison and venom. The doctrine of false religion is full of malice against the truth and is deadly in that it will separate you from the love and the presence of God!

We live in a world today where the truth is rejected, and the poison is received.

Notice John was a true preacher and not afraid of organize religion.

Both John and the Lord Jesus Christ would not be welcome in the Church of today!

It is not baptism with water that saves!

It is being washed in the blood of Jesus and then baptized with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will not live in a false house.

*****Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

You see until you accept that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one and the only way to remain in the presence of God, then you cannot be a home for the Holy Spirit.

1Co_3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Co_6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

You cannot be a Living Temple of God until you are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

1Co_6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Heb_9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

Do not be fooled by organized religion!

Jesus will thoroughly cleanse this earth from all sin, and none will be allowed in Heaven!

We are not as worthy as John and though he was the forerunner, a great prophet, who even made Herod tremble, said he was unworthy to be even a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must be washed with the water of the Holy Spirit which means surrounded, immersed, inside and outside by and with the Holy Spirit.

It means a new birth!

Joh_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh_3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The fan of Christ Jesus is the "Gospel"!

His floor is the "Church" which is covered in a mixture of wheat and chaff.

Jesus will gather the wheat, those who are washed in the Spirit, to take to Heaven, and He will purge all who reject Him for a lifetime of torment!

Even Jesus was baptized to show us all that repentance is real even though He had no sin to repent of.

*****Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 

Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 

Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 

Jesus teaches us that we must set our life apart unto our Heavenly Father in a renewed spirit of dedication.

Jesus always did the will of our Heavenly Father and we must do our best to do the same!

Joh_5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

The One and Only Living Example we have is the Lord Jesus Christ who teaches us by example.

Being 100% man but truly 100% God, Jesus made sure his human side did never exalt Himself above other humans.

He was and is higher than the highest but showed himself as a humble human being who lived in the will of His Heavenly Father.

Jesus needed to be baptized but he needed to be baptized by John specifically.

Jesus had traveled by foot from Nazareth of Galilee to where John was on the River Jordan which was a long walk.

It is on this day of His baptism that the Lord Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry!

It was John who had been preparing the way for Him.

The Lord Jesus identified Himself with the ministry of John the Baptist.

What was John's message? "Repent and be baptized for the Kingdom of God was at hand".

The Lord Jesus Christ is the door, not the doorway, but the door to the Kingdom of Heaven!

He is the founder of Christianity.

He is the Head of the Church, which is the Body of Christ.

He is the purchaser of all Righteousness, which He did on the Cross.

He is the Ideal Man our true Example!

John already had stated that the Messiah was much greater than he and said to the Lord "I need to be baptized of thee".

John was not one to humble himself before anyone. He boldly preached the truth of God, but we must all humble ourselves before our righteous God!

All manner of people had come to John to be baptized but John knew he was nothing compared to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Neither are any of us!

There is no disgrace in humbling yourself before the Master!

**Jesus came to fulfill every law written by Moses and He did, He was the perfect man, to become the perfect High Priest.

Exo 29:4  And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. 

Exo 29:5  And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: 

Exo 29:6  And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. 

Exo 29:7  Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him. 

** Jesus came to pay "every man's" penalty for breaking those same laws, there 613 laws given by Moses.

** Jesus demonstrated to the fullest extent His humiliation in becoming a man.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

**Jesus identified Himself with all those He came to save!

**Jesus became the pattern for every human being!

**Jesus began His ministry, as the High Priest always entered his ministry in such a ceremony.

When Jesus came up out of the water, our Heavenly Father recognized His Only Begotten Son.

*****Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 

Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

The Heavens opened. We will get to see this one day soon.

The Holy Spirit descended like a dove.

Remember this was a sign given to John the Baptist to verify the Messiah.

Joh 1:32  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 

Joh 1:33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 

The voice of a Holy God spoke about His Son.

"Noticed God said, "my beloved Son".

One day when we get to Heaven our Heavenly Father will say welcome home son or welcome home daughter.

Amen

The Baptism of Jesus Christ

The Certainty Of Christ's Baptism

Book of Luke 3:1-38


It should be very clear to us all that the coming of Jesus the Christ to this world was the pivotal point in human history!

Some may not accept this truth but the Scriptures declare that the entire world will one day in the future declare Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

The Lord Jesus Christ changed the world so much that the calendar changed and the years are measured by His first coming.

When Christ Jesus first came He came as the Savior of the world!

When Christ returns, He will come as the true Judge of this world!

For Christ to have the impact that He did, God provided a forerunner.

Christ needed someone to could go before Him and arouse the people to prepare His coming.

That person was John the Baptist!

Christ Jesus needs someone to go before Him and arouse the people to prepare for His second coming.

That is the Church!

John the Baptist is an example for the Church of proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's begin:

*****Luk 3:1  Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

We know that there will always be those who try every possible way to dispute the Word of God.

The fact remains that John the Baptist introduced our Savior to the world!

The ministry of Christ Jesus began when He was introduced by John!

Tiberius Caesar, also known as Nero, was in the 15nth year of his reign when God called John out of the wilderness.

Tiberius reigned from 14 AD till 37 AD so this event would have would have taken place around 29 AD.

Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea which meant that he was the civil ruler and also the military commander.

Pilate held this office from 26 AD till 36 AD.

Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great was tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Tetrarch simply means a ruler over a fourth part of what his father ruled.

He ruled this area from 4 BC to 39 AD.

Philip, another son of Herod the Great, was tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitus. Philip was reputed as a good man, fair and just.

Caesarea Philippi was built and named after him.

Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. Lysanias was the son of Lysanias which has caused some confusion by historians but Luke is accurate in what he writes.

*****Luk 3:2  Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests.

The High Priest of Israel had become a political tool used by Rome and was certainly corrupt in this day.

According to the Law of Moses, there was never to be more than one High Priest at any one time and they held that position until their death.

The High Priesthood was to be hereditary and held within the family of Aaron, the first High Priest.

BUT, Rome used the position of High Priest to secure power over Jewish life!

This is what false religion does as it tries to dominate in the lives of people.

This is what religion influenced by governments do as governments try to control the people.

This is the very reason that the 1st and the 14nth amendments to the Constitution were written by our forefathers and not in reverse as it is interpreted today, to keep government out of the Church and not the Church out of the government.

Rome gave this position to men who were willing to lead the people to follow the Roman rule.

Between 37 BC and 26 AD a period of 63 years there were 28 different High Priests that were installed and removed by Rome.

The High Priest's office became corrupted and politically motivated.

Annas served as High Priest between 7 AD and 14 AD but Rome was still behind his power.

Caiaphas was officially the High Priests in Rome's eyes but Annas was the High Priest that the Jewish leaders looked to.

In the false trial of Jesus, He was first taken to Annas and then to Caiaphas.

Joh 18:13  And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

It was during this political nightmare of corruption that John the Baptist was called out of the wilderness.

Today in America we see our own list of appointments, regulations and authorities and how political appointments will most always breed corruption.

Just look and see what's happened to our Supreme Court!

As Jesus ministered to such a world so it is for the Church!

As John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, so it is for the Church!

As Jesus first came at such a time at first, Jesus will return at the fullness of these things!

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

And John begins his work and the purpose he was called of God to do.

*****Luk 3:3  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

John preached the repentance and forgiveness of sins!

This simply means that if a man wished to be forgiven of his sins, he must repent which means "he has turned away from his sin and after that then he could be baptized.

The evidence of turning away from his sin would show in a changed life!

Baptism then, was a sign to those that knew him and to the world that he was changing his life, because he wanted God to forgive his sin.

1) We must have a desire to be forgiven!

This can only happen if we have acknowledged that we are a sinner!

2) We must make a decision to repent, to turn from our sinful ways and to change our lives!

Act 17:29  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

3) Only after these things comes baptism!

Baptism is only a sign to the world that here after you are going to live for God and live a changed life.

What is the truth?

A) Forgiveness of sin is conditional.

We must first repent to be forgiven and if we truly repent we can be baptized!

B) Baptism is to be the witness or the sign that a man has repented and changed his life.

We should also note that baptism was not at this time a practiced among the Jews even though they did believe in spiritual cleansing with water.

Isa 1:16  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

And note it was John the Baptist who proclaimed that he was the fulfillment of the words of Isaiah.

*****Luk 3:4  As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Luk 3:5  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
Luk 3:6  And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

For the Jews, it was a dark and dreary time because they lived under the domination of Rome and saw no end to it.

John preached better times are coming but only if we repent!

John warned the people as he quoted from the Book of Isaiah!

1) John said prepare for that valley to be filled, which represents all those who repent and are humbled before the Lord. They would be exalted.

2) John said prepare, for those mountains and hills will be brought low, which means all those full of their own pride and boastful ways, would loose everything and be made low.

They would be made as low as the dust of the ground, if they would not repent!

3) John said prepare, for the crooked would be made straight, which means, the crooked thief, the crooked politician, the crooked business man, the crooked husband and even those crooked wives, all the crooked sinners throughout the world, who are bent out of shape could be straightened if they would repent.

4) John said prepare, for the rough ways will be made smooth, which means the ways of hopelessness, the ways of loneliness, the ways of emptiness, the ways of guilt and shame, and sin and false religion and false worship, will be made smooth and easy to reach.

Christ Jesus simply made salvation a simple thing!

5) John said prepare, for the salvation of God shall be seen of all flesh!

Not only to the Jews, but to all people who connect with the Messiah.

When the way is prepared then the Savior will appear!

John's preaching woke up all who heard him, to prepare to look at the Messiah.

Daniel had foretold of this day and it would be fulfilled.

Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

And then John preached to those who came on their own.

*****Luk 3:7  Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

John preached that salvation could only come by the Messiah but John also preached condemnation.

As we witness to those who do not know the Lord we should always tell the truth about salvation before we ever tell about condemnation!

Most people realize they are lost. It is our job to tell them how to be saved!

John always preached the truth about men, no matter who they were!

1) Those of false religion are vipers!

Their message is poisonous!

They had allowed themselves to be poisoned and they intended to poison all others.

2) And John then preached the wrath to come.

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

*****Luk 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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.

The truth is we must first repent and then bear fruit. In other words our repentance must be noticeable to others.

There should be evidence of a changed life!

John preached against pride!

Many of those that came to John believed they were acceptable to God, just because they were Jews, the descendants of Abraham and of godly forefathers.

Many believed they were acceptable to God because, they had been circumcised and dedicated to God as the Laws of Moses had said. They felt the righteousness of their parents had saved them.

Many of them believed how they lived did not really matter when it came to being accepted to God as they were already the chosen of God.

Even today most all people believe that they are just special enough to be accepted of God!

They reason these things in their minds:

They have godly parents.

They have been baptized.

Their good out weighs their bad.

They are religious.

They are members of a church.

They are regular worshipers.

But God says this is simply not the truth!

It is not enough just to have a head knowledge of God.

It takes a personal relationship with God to be saved!

John preached salvation through the Messiah.

The Messiah said:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

John also preached judgment!

*****Luk 3:9  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

What is the truth of the Bible? God will one day sweep away everything in this world that is corrupt!

Jesus came to save!

This is the only part that He has given us to do!

Obviously we cannot be saviors but we can lead as many as we can to the Lord Jesus and He will save them!

As Christians we are to portray God's "goodness" and God's "mercy"!

Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

This is what God requires of those that are called by His name!

So the truth remains that:

1)  God is the Divine Woodsman.

2) The axe has already been laid at the roots of the trees.

3) The trees are not yet cut down but all men have been warned.

4) There are many trees, some lofty (the proud), some stately (the politicians), some diseased, some bearing good fruit, some bearing bad fruit, some bearing no fruit.

5) All trees that do not bear good fruit will be chopped down and cast into the fire!

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

And what is the question we all should ask after we have heard the truth of the "Gospel"?

What shall we do then?

*****Luk 3:10  And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
Luk 3:11  He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Any good preacher will allow some time for the people to repent and confess their sins after the sermon!

Any good preacher will lead those who are under conviction to the Lord!

The preaching of John the Baptist stirred the people and he led them to Jesus!

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

We are always to care enough for God's people to share what we have with those in need!

And many times our giving should be sacrificial.

Give not only of the things God has blessed us with but give also of ourselves!

In the eyes of God this is fruit of repentance!

This is evidence of a changed life!

*****Luk 3:12  Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
Luk 3:13  And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

Tax collectors were despised because they were Jews who were to collect the taxes for Rome and many would collect much more than was required and cheat the people.

A tax collector who wanted God to forgive their sins, had to change the way they did business.

Notice they were not told to get a new job, they were told that they had to become a person of justice.

They had to show their love for others enough to treat them fairly and respectfully and justly!

*****Luk 3:14  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

The soldiers were to be respectful and loving, to all people.

They were to do no violence to any man. That means they were never to act like a terrorist!

Roman soldiers would sometimes allow illegal things to go on if they were paid a bribe and this must cease.

They were to be satisfied with their wages.

A soldier will sometimes allow politics to influence him in bad ways, they were to always be truthful and honest no matter where they served.

I believe the American soldiers are the best in the world, not only because they are the best trained, but because they still love people wherever they go and most of them are true ambassadors for our nation.

Even a soldier could show a changed life by respecting and loving people, being truthful and honest and responsible!

The important fruit John was looking for was a changed life!

Righteousness is doing things the right way and doing things the right way are the fruits of righteousness!

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

These people had never heard such wisdom come from one man!

*****Luk 3:15  And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Luk 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

John the Baptist was such a powerful preacher that many even thought that he might be the Messiah.

But John preach of the coming Messiah.

John preached that the Messiah would be much more than he ever could.

John preached that he was not even worthy to unlatch the shoes of the Messiah and wash his feet.

We should remember when a visitor came to the home of someone it was the job of a slave to remove their shoes and wash their feet of the dust of the world.

John said he was much lower that that slave when compared to the Messiah!

You see when Jesus Christ is our example we will simply never measure up to His stature and His righteousness!

1) John knew he was not worth the rank of a slave.

2) The Messiah would be much mightier in His work as Savior and as Judge.

The word Baptism, has never meant to be sprinkled!

Baptism means to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to place into water.

John's baptism would only be with water!

John's baptism was preparation and a symbol of the spiritual baptism that the Messiah would bring.

1) Water "symbolized" the cleansing from all sin. To John this meant this people was being prepared for the true cleansing that the Messiah would bring.

2) Baptism also "symbolized" separation and dedication. To John this meant the setting apart of your life for God's use. A renewed spirit of dedication!

John was preparing this people to meet the Lord, the Messiah who would then bring salvation to them!

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance!

***The Messiah would baptize in the person of the Holy Spirit!

Every person that is carnal and materialistic that is truly baptized into the Spirit by the Messiah will become "spiritually minded"

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

This was the fulfillment of the Prophet Ezekiel but this was rejected by most Jews:

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

***The Messiah would baptize "In" fire!

Fire will illuminate, warm, melt, burn, and can destroy.

The difference in a baptism "in water" and a baptism "in fire" is that water can only cleanse the outside while fire purifies within, that is the heart!

Jesus told Nicodemus you must be "born again".

The Messiah separates each person from his former life and purifies him within the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Remember we must die to our old self before we can be "born again".

In John's mind, the Messiah would also destroy the enemies of Israel and we know them as the enemies of the Church.

*****Luk 3:17  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

An unquenchable fire, is a fire that cannot be put out!

Today Jesus Christ is separating the wheat from the chaff, the believer from the unbeliever.

The threshing floor symbolizes the Church.

That fan is symbolized by the Word of God.

Many who approach the floor of Christ Jesus are swept away by His Words.

They cannot accept salvation and are blown away by the "Grace of God".

They are blown away by the New Birth.

They are blown away by the doctrines of salvation.

Salvation is the separation from sin. If that separation has not taken place then that person may be swept away.

Then there is the fan of affliction, we must all remember the Book of Job!

Those that hold true will be gathered into the garner and become God's treasure, reserved in His storehouse!

We live in a world today that is certainly choking in it's on chaff!

We live in a world today that the chaff is so rotten that the wheat is in double danger.

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

So John preached the truth.

*****Luk 3:18  And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

Luke only provides a sample of the preaching of John the Baptist.

John preached the coming of the Messiah, but his message was not limited to just those things.

John preached repentance of sin and knowing that God is a "whosoever" God, John even warned the rulers.

It seems not many of us will stand up to our rulers or our leaders and tell them of their sin!

Preaching is communicating the "good news" of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

Jesus died for all the sins of mankind but we must acknowledge that He has done so.

Because, No one is out of the reach of God's wrath!

John was a straight forward and powerful preacher, who did not change his message no matter who was in the audience!

*****Luk 3:19  But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philips wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
Luk 3:20  Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

John rebuked Herod for his evil and carnal life style.

Herod lived in the sin of adultery.

Philip was the brother of Herod, even though they both had different mothers.

Herod divorced his own wife and married Herodias the wife of his brother Philip.

Mar 6:17  For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philips wife: for he had married her.
Mar 6:18  For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

The title of our lesson is "The certainty of Christ Baptism" so Luke spends very little time on John and returns to the baptism of Christ, the Messiah.

*****Luk 3:21  Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

Baptism, simply put, is an act of obedience to God!

Jesus was being obedient to God when He was baptized!

Jesus, our example, was baptized along with the other people!

Jesus was doing exactly what God wanted Him to do, "to be identified with the people"!

The one thing that set these other people apart from the people of the world is that they heard the Word of
God and they responded!

In order for salvation to occur, each of us must respond to the "Gospel" of God and then seek God to forgive
our sins.

This is the will of God for everyone!

The truth is that no man, woman, or child is greater than any other in the sight of God!

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This truth has never changed and it will not ever change!

None of us are above God's will!

None of us are above God's commandments!

Notice even while Jesus was being baptized, He was also praying.

Jesus was always in fellowship and communion with God!

Baptism is an outward sign of God, working on the inside of all those that believe!

Baptism is the most significant sign of discipleship!

Just as Jesus was obedient in prayer, we are also to be obedient in prayer.

We must remember that Christ Jesus is our example in all things of God!

1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

God is very please when we are obedient in all things.

When Jesus was baptized the Heavens open up!

*****Luk 3:22  And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

It is at His baptism that Jesus began His ministry.

The Heavens opened to give Jesus the Man, a sight into the glory world!

This was God's stamp of approval of His Son.

The Heavens opened up to make known to all those who were present, that Jesus was truly the Lamb of God, the God-Man.

The dove has always been a sacred bird to the Jews.

The dove is the symbol of peace and gentleness throughout our world.

The Holy Spirit descended "in a bodily shape (as a dove) would descend".

There was a physical representation of a dove.

The dove was a sacred bird to the Jews!

The dove only represented the Holy Spirit.

The dove was a symbol of peace and gentleness, and of purity and innocence.

In other words something in the quality and characteristics of the dove served as a vehicle to portray the Holy Spirit.

It was Dove-like rather than Hawk-like!

The dove portrayed the Holy Spirit coming upon Christ Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry.

Remember Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit while He was still in the womb of His mother Mary.

The dove was visible picture of God Himself descending upon Jesus!

Joh 1:32  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

The Holy Spirit entered the life of Jesus once and for all and the voice of God was heard and notice again that the voice of God was in a language that was clearly understood and not some gibberish!

Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The truth is that when we repent and are baptized, God is well pleased!

Only then does God open up Heaven to receive our prayers!

Only then does God reveal His Spirit to us in a very special sense!

Only then does God know that we have received and understood His Words!

We can be certain that Jesus Christ was baptized!

There is no greater reason for us to be baptized than to know that our Savior was baptized as our example!

God has a plan for all those that have accepted the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Questions?

Let's Pray!