An attack upon John the baptist

[stilllearning]

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GRAB YOUR BIBLES John 3:22-27
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Today’s message is about....Satan’s attacks....& how the Lord prepares us for them:
If we are listening to Him!
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LETS READ THE TEXT John 3:22-27
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V.22A “After these things”
-THE WAY....WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES-
(As a record......of actual accounts
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Everything in the Bible actually happened:
Unless it is clearly indicated....as a parable!
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V.22B “came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea;”
-SOMETHING.....THAT IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US-
(A trip to the country
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After all of our Lord’s work....in Jerusalem:
And just after His encounter with Nicodemus:
The Lord takes a trip....to the county!
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Getting away from the hustle and bustle:
Into the quiet.....of the countryside!
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V.22C “and there he tarried with them, and baptized.”
-WAITING AROUND.....FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS-
(Because Jesus never....made a move
Without His Father’s Okey:
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We aught to follow....the Lord’s example here!
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-JUST A REMINDER.....ABOUT THE ERROR OF BAPTISMAL REGENERATION-
Something that we need to be reminded of:
Because most of the people who go to hell:
Will have been baptized:
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We can tell them... “If baptism is so important,
Why didn’t Jesus ever baptize anybody!”
Qt. John 4:2
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V.23A “And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim,”
-FALLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS.....THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU-
(John was following God’s instructions
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When He had....sent out him to minister:
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Getting God’s people...to repent of their rebellion:
And then submit...to a “baptism of repentance”:
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In preparation for the Lord’s appearance!
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V.23B “because there was much water there:”
-A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE.....OF THE MODE OF BAPTISM-
(Yes...it is very important
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Therefore John and Jesus needed much water:
In order to do it:
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Without immersion..you have not been baptized:
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And without....following the Lord, in believers Baptism:
You are living in sin!
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V.23C “and they came, and were baptized.”
-AN IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION FOR BAPTISM...THAT IS BEING FORGOTTEN-
(It must be “your idea”
Once you have been informed of it’s importance:
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If somebody....has truly been born again:
We shouldn’t have to be pushing them:
To submit to believers baptism:
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They should be anxious....to be obedient!
Qt. Acts 8:36
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V.24 “For John was not yet cast into prison.”
-A CONFUSING SIDE.....OF JOHN’S LIFE-
(He was to be cast into prison
And then.....put to death:
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Even though...he was in the center of God’s will!
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-GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIFE.....SHOULD NOT BE “A CASE AGAINST US”-
God’s plan for us.....my be to be....
Rich or Poor or Educated or Uneducated, etc.
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And none of this...disqualifies us:
From being used by the LORD!
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We need to be careful....in judging others:
Based upon the circumstances of their life!
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-THE WORLD’S IDEAS ABOUT SUCCESS.....ARE TOTALLY UPSIDE DOWN-
According to the world..........
If you don’t have a lot of money & influence:
Than you are a complete failure!
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While in reality....money & influence:
Have NOTHING to do with being used by the Lord!
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V.25A “Then there arose a question”
-SATAN’S ATTEMPT.....TO PLACE DOUBT IN JOHN’S MIND-
(About being in the center of God’s will
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Note: If Satan can’t stop you from obeying the Lord:
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Than he will try to cause you to doubt:
That you are.....being used by Him!
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V.25B “between [some] of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.”
-SATAN’S FAVORITE WAY.....OF CAUSING TROUBLE-
(Sowing discord among the brethren
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In this case...........
➀Between those Jews...who had repented:
➁And the Jews who...had refused to repent!
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V.26A “And they came unto John, and said unto him,”
-THE TRUE TARGET......OF SATAN’S ATTACK-
(John the baptist
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The man that was being used by the LORD:
To bring God’s people....back to Him!
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Satan’s hatred...for his ministry of repentance:
Because it was turning people away from sin:
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And he wanted it to stop!
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V.26B “Rabbi,”
-THE IMPLEMENTATION......OF SATAN’S ATTACK-
(By first.....trying to “butter John up”
Note: This is the only time John was ever called...“Rabbi”!
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These unrepentant Jews...calling him “Rabbi”:
While they were refusing....to listen to him:
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Should have let John know...that something was up!
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V.26C “he that was with thee beyond Jordan,”
-A SUBTLE DISRESPECT....FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST-
(Because they know....His name was “Jesus”
Yet they refused....to even say His name:
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-A PART OF OUR LIFE......THAT SATAN IS ALWAYS WORKING AGAINST-
Our relationship with Jesus!
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V.26D “to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth,”
-SATAN’S FIRST JAB.....AT JOHN’S HEART-
(Jesus....who you baptized
Has gone into business for himself:
And has forgotten all about you!
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Telling him... “God has turn His back on you!”
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V.26E “and all [men] come to him.”
-SATAN’S SECOND JAB:...”THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH”-
(More people...are going to His baptism
Than are coming to yours!
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“His Church is bigger than yours:”
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Note: The Lord’s response to Satan’s attack:
See John 4:1-3
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V.27A “John answered and said,”
-THE LORD HAD PREPARED JOHN....FOR THIS ATTACK-
(So Satan’s plan....failed miserably
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When we learn to listen to the Lord:
He will give us a heads-up:
Before trouble comes!
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Qt. Proverbs 22:3 “A prudent man...”
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V.27B “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”
-GOD’S WORD....FOR EVERY PASTOR TODAY-
(The size of your Church...is up to the Lord
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He is the one that adds to it:
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So we.....shouldn’t be worried about it..at all!
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[mandym]

Some of the worst exegesis I have ever seen. John's baptism was not the church's baptism.

 

[stilllearning]

Hello mandym

Thank you for your response:
But you might try reading the OP, before commenting on it.

As to John’s baptism, this is what I said........

“Getting God’s people...to repent of their rebellion:
And then submit...to a “baptism of repentance”:”

I never said that John’s baptism was equal to the Church’s baptism.
Although I did(later on), say some things about baptism in this message(the Church’s baptism).
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I think I may know what is bothering you.

Although Scripture clearly teaches, that born again believers should be baptized; There are some who downplay this, in an attempt to be more inclusive.

If this is the case with you; Please say so and stop beating around the bush.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I think I may know what is bothering you.

Although Scripture clearly teaches, that born again believers should be baptized; There are some who downplay this, in an attempt to be more inclusive.

If this is the case with you; Please say so and stop beating around the bush.

Huh? How could you possibly glean that from mandym's post?

Baptism is so important and so clear that it does not require an misapplication of John's baptism to support it.

 

[stilllearning]

Hi C4K

I came to the “possible” conclusion that I did, because mandym's criticism was so vague(just as your’s was), that I thought that he was hiding something.

As for “a misapplication of John's baptism”; Please point out to me where I did that.
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Certainly, we are not restricted from mentioning the importance of Christian baptism, in a message that is about John the baptist.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Hi C4K

I came to the “possible” conclusion that I did, because mandym's criticism was so vague(just as your’s was), that I thought that he was hiding something.

As for “a misapplication of John's baptism”; Please point out to me where I did that.
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Certainly, we are not restricted from mentioning the importance of Christian baptism, in a message that is about John the baptist.

Despite your disclaimer to the contrary you are using John's baptism to draw principles and standards for the church's baptism. They are two totally different baptisms and you can't draw conclusions from one for the other.

If anything, the lesson is that the church's baptism is even more important that John's for in it we picture the full work of Christ, something that John's baptism could not do.

Despite that, your subtle implication that mandym downplays baptism it totally uncalled for.

 

[stilllearning]

Despite your disclaimer to the contrary you are using John's baptism to draw principles and standards for the church's baptism. They are two totally different baptisms and you can't draw conclusions from one for the other.

If anything, the lesson is that the church's baptism is even more important that John's for in it we picture the full work of Christ, something that John's baptism could not do.

Despite that, your subtle implication that mandym downplays baptism it totally uncalled for.

I am more than happy to discuss “baptism” with you(because I might learn something).

You said........

“Despite your disclaimer to the contrary you are using John's baptism to draw principles and standards for the church's baptism. They are two totally different baptisms and you can't draw conclusions from one for the other.”

Now that is a direct statement: Thank you for your clarity.

As for “drawing principles and standards”, from one baptism to another;
Although I said several things about baptism in this message, I only drew principles from one to the other in two areas. (“immersion” & “obedience”)

The physical act of “water baptism” in the Bible, is universal. John’s baptism was done the same way that Christian baptism is done.
So I don’t see the problem with this connection.

As for obedience: When John preached repentance to God’s people, those individuals who were willing to repent and come back to the LORD, were obedient to God’s instructions to John, and consented to be baptized.
In the same way, that Christians who get saved, “aught” to be obedient to God’s instructions, and follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.
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I have personally dealt with professing Christians, who for one reason or another, refuse to be baptized.

I let them know, that they are in sin, because of this refusal to be obedient.
(Although I have heard some preachers who would automatically condemn them as being unsaved
I am not so quick to throw people into the lake of fire.

Can a person be saved and be in disobedience? Of course.
Will that disobedience being God’s chastening hand and make them miserable? Of course it will.

Could it possibly be, that a professing Christian who has refused to be baptized, might read this message and realize the error of their ways and repent. Maybe.

Or....they might just get mad at me, for bringing the subject up.
(It wouldn’t be the first time this happened!)

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Well I was blessed by your exposition. Satan will always attack a faithful minister in any way he can.
Thank you! :thumbsup:

Steve

 

[mandym]

Huh? How could you possibly glean that from mandym's post?

Baptism is so important and so clear that it does not require an misapplication of John's baptism to support it.

Hey brother! Did you know you and I are Satan? Just ask Martin.:laugh:

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Could it possibly be, that a professing Christian who has refused to be baptized, might read this message and realize the error of their ways and repent. Maybe.

Or....they might just get mad at me, for bringing the subject up.
(It wouldn’t be the first time this happened!)

Or could it be that they are as right with God as you are and just disagree with your interpretation and application of the passage?

 

[stilllearning]

Or could it be that they are as right with God as you are and just disagree with your interpretation and application of the passage?

You are right; People can disagree with me and still be right with God.
But.....their interpretation and application of this passage has nothing to do with it.

If a Christian, refuses to be immersed in water and join a Church, than they are in sin!
That is all there is to it!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

You are right; People can disagree with me and still be right with God.
But.....their interpretation and application of this passage has nothing to do with it.

If a Christian, refuses to be immersed in water and join a Church, than they are in sin!
That is all there is to it!

Is someone arguing that point with you? Just don't see it in John's baptism.

 

[DHK]

You are right; People can disagree with me and still be right with God.
But.....their interpretation and application of this passage has nothing to do with it.

If a Christian, refuses to be immersed in water and join a Church, than they are in sin!
That is all there is to it!

Just curious:
Is that true in all situations?
When I was saved I wasn't baptized until two years later. Would you consider me to be living in sin, or would the circumstances make a difference?

1. I was saved our of a Catholic background. Not everything happens all at once. There needs to be growth. It took me a while to see the necessity of making a complete break with the Catholic Church.

2. This decision was not helped by the group I was associated with. I was saved via an interdenominational organization working on university campuses. They don't put any emphasis on the local church or on baptism.

3. It wasn't until two years later that the Lord led me to a local church that did preach the Bible where I was baptized.

So, was I living in sin those two years?
The Church of Christ tell me that I wasn't even saved, but they believe in baptismal regeneration.

 

[stilllearning]

Hello DHK

Thank you for your response; And also for your candor and honesty.
Your are right, circumstances do make a difference?

Even though we are all sinners(and will always be while here on earth), we are only “living in sin”, when we know that we are being disobedient and refuse to repent......
Psalms 66:18
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:”

Your testimony reminds me of my own.

I was saved while listening to a little known radio preacher(Oliver B. Greene), when he gave an invitation to me over the radio, to ask Jesus to save me.
I was alone in my pickup while at lunch, and bowed my head and prayed and was born again.

Even though the Lord immediately started dealing with my sin and my life started changing, I didn’t get baptized until several months later.

Later on, after my wife got saved, we contacted a Baptist Church and the pastor came to our home and told us that now that are saved, we needed to be baptized;
The next Sunday we were baptized.
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Therefore to answer your question.....

Would you consider me to be living in sin?

From your testimony, I would say you weren’t!