John the Baptist was a forerunner for Jesus and his ministry in the Bible. He is known for proclaiming the coming of Christ and His ministry on the earth. His ministry was powerful, and I want to show you something interesting about the way that he approached baptism.
Check out these verses:
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent ye: For the kingdom of heaven is at hand…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…” -Matthew 3:1,2,11
This verse is important, as well:
“Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him (John), in the Jordan River.” -Matthew 3:6
John the Baptist preached a message of repentance to the people, and the importance of giving up their sin when they gave their lives to Jesus Christ. He wasn’t even willing to baptize people unless they were willing to confess their sins and embrace a lifestyle of repentance!
So what does the word “repent” mean? Repent simply means to turn and go in the other direction. In other words, to give up the old “self”, habits, and way of doing things, and to chase after the heart of the Father.
Even Jesus described the fruit of a person that truly loves Him: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” -John 14:15
God is looking for a generation who will be set apart-who will not align their lifestyles with the way of the world, but who are earnestly seeking after good and the heart of the Father. The Bible tells us that you will know a true Christian by their fruit, not by simply their beliefs (Matthew 7:16). Think about it: Even the devil believes that God exists! What God is looking for is a generation of disciples who will walk in love, take up their cross, and follow after Him.
God knows we aren’t going to be perfect, but He does care enormously about our heart stance and our effort to live according to His will. Let’s be a generation that doesn’t just profess to believe in God and that He exists; Let’s be a generation that will live as disciples, chasing after Him with all of our hearts.