JOHN THE BAPTIST

1
JOHN THE BAPTIST

• What was his mission?

2
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• A. John was to decrease. His mission field was
  the land of Israela specific people for a
  specific length of time.

3
John 325-27

• Then there arose a dispute between some of John's
  disciples and the Jews about purification. And
  they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who
  was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have
  testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are
  coming to Him!"
• John answered and said, "A man can receive
  nothing unless it has been given to him from
  heaven.

4
John 328-30

• "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I
  am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before
  Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom
  but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and
  hears him, rejoices greatly because of the
  bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is
  fulfilled. He must increase, but I must
  decrease."

5
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• A. John was to decrease. His mission field was
  the land of Israela specific people for a
  specific length of time.
• B. The good news of salvation was not given until
  after the time of John.
• 1. It was spoken first by the Lord.

6
Hebrews 22-4

• For if the word spoken through angels proved
  steadfast, and every transgression and
  disobedience received a just reward, how shall we
  escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which
  at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
  was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God
  also bearing witness both with signs and wonders,
  with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy
  Spirit, according to His own will?

7
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• A. John was to decrease. His mission field was
  the land of Israela specific people for a
  specific length of time.
• B. The good news of salvation was not given until
  after the time of John.
• 1. It was spoken first by the Lord.
• 2. It was not spoken until after Johns baptism.

8
Acts 1034-35

• Then Peter opened his mouth and said "In truth I
  perceive that God shows no partiality. But in
  every nation whoever fears Him and works
  righteousness is accepted by Him.

9
Acts 1036-38

• "The word which God sent to the children of
  Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He
  is Lord of all-- that word you know, which was
  proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from
  Galilee after the baptism which John preached
  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
  Spirit and with power, who went about doing good
  and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
  for God was with Him.

10
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• A. John was to decrease. His mission field was
  the land of Israela specific people for a
  specific length of time.
• B. The good news of salvation was not given until
  after the time of John.
• 1. It was spoken first by the Lord.
• 2. It was not spoken until after Johns baptism.
• The gospel is Gods power to save.

11
Romans 114-16

• I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians,
  both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in
  me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who
  are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the
  gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
  salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
  first and also for the Greek.

12
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• A. John was to decrease. His mission field was
  the land of Israela specific people for a
  specific length of time.
• B. The good news of salvation was not given until
  after the time of John.
• 1. It was spoken first by the Lord.
• 2. It was not spoken until after Johns baptism.
• The gospel is Gods power to save.
• It was not complete until after Johns death.

13
1 Corinthians 151-2

• Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel
  which I preached to you, which also you received
  and in which you stand, by which also you are
  saved, if you hold fast that word which I
  preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

14
1 Corinthians 153-5

• For I delivered to you first of all that which I
  also received that Christ died for our sins
  according to the Scriptures, and that He was
  buried, and that He rose again the third day
  according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen
  by Cephas, then by the twelve.

15
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• C. The gospel is for all nations.

16
Matthew 2818-20

• And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All
  authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
  earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the
  nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
  and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
  them to observe all things that I have commanded
  you and lo, I am with you always, even to the
  end of the age." Amen.

17
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• C. The gospel is for all nations.
• 1. One living today cannot find salvation in a
  ministry that ended at the cross of Jesus.
• 2. If we are practicing something in religion
  that was not taught to all nations by the
  apostles, our worship is vain.

18
Matthew 159

• " 'And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as
  doctrines the commandments of men.' "

19
Colossians 317

• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
  the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
  the Father through Him.

20
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• C. The gospel was/is for all nations (Matt.
  2818,19).
• 1. One living today cannot find salvation in a
  ministry that ended at the cross of Jesus.
• 2. If we are practicing something in religion
  that was not taught to all nations by the
  apostles, our worship is vain.
• 3. The Lords Supper began at Pentecost.

21
Matthew 2626-29

• And as they were eating, Jesus took bread,
  blessed and broke it, and gave it to the
  disciples and said, "Take, eat this is My body."
  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave
  it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which
  is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I
  say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the
  vine from now on until that day when I drink it
  new with you in My Father's kingdom."

22
Acts 242 207

• And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
  doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
  bread, and in prayers. Now on the first day of
  the week, when the disciples came together to
  break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day,
  spoke to them and continued his message until
  midnight.

23
The Harbinger of Jesus Christ

• C. The gospel is for all nations.
• 1. One living today cannot find salvation in a
  ministry that ended at the cross of Jesus.
• 2. If we are practicing something in religion
  that was not taught to all nations by the
  apostles, our worship is vain.
• 3. The Lords Supper began at Pentecost.
• 4. God said He would give His people a new
  name. It was given after Pentecost.

24
Isaiah 621-2

• For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for
  Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her
  righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her
  salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles
  shall see your righteousness, And all kings your
  glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which
  the mouth of the Lord will name.

25
Acts 1125-26 NKJV

• Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
  And when he had found him, he brought him to
  Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they
  assembled with the church and taught a great many
  people. And the disciples were first called
  Christians in Antioch.

26
Acts 1125-26 Interlinear/Nestle Text

• And he went forth to Tarsus to seek Saul, and
  finding brought to Antioch. And it happened to
  them also year a whole to be assembled in the
  church and to teach a crowd considerable, and to
  call firstly in Antioch the disciples Christians.

27
Acts 1125-26 Interlinear/Westcott-Hort Text

• He went out but into Tarsus to seek up Saul, and
  having found he led into Antioch. It occurred but
  to them and year whole to be led together in the
  ecclesia and to teach crowd sufficient, to style
  divinely and firstly in Antioch the disciples
  Christians.

28
Where Men Go Astray Today

• His name was John not Baptist.
• The word, baptist, simply means one who
  immerses.
• Can you imagine The First One Who Immerses
  Church of Corinth or the First One Who
  Immerses Church of Caesarea?
• He was John the baptist to distinguish him from
  John the apostle just as Simon the tanner was
  distinct from Simon the sorcerer.

29
Where Men Go Astray Today

• Every Christian should be involved in the mission
  of making more Christians.
• But one should also keep in mind that Johns
  mission was not to make Christians or Baptists
  but to bring the Jews back into a right
  relationship with God in preparation for the
  spiritual kingdom of God that was at hand.