Matthew 3:1-12

The Message from God Through John the Baptist.

John's message: "believe, repent, and show it by your life," prepares people to receive Christ and to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Setting: the time had come to call the world to repentance.

Time: "in those days" fully spelled out in Luke 3:1-2

Place: the wilderness of Judea; Luke says "in all the region about the Jordan."

People: John is a popular preacher, v. 5 and v. 7.

Person: the one appointed to show that the time had come.

John is a unique man in the NT.

He looks and speaks like an OT prophet.

2Kings 1:8; Zech 13:4

John is the Elijah of Malachi 4:4-6.

God's message through John the Baptist.

Men's need of repentance.

Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Repentance:

Jonah 3:10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

Jeremiah 8:6 ; Acts 2:38.

Revelation 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Men's need to bear the fruit of righteousness.

Verse 8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance."

Luke 3:10-14

Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Men's need to have the word sealed by sacrament.

Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3 "John preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-6