Buy an essay: A Baptism of Repentance

John’s baptism had several objectives:
1. To preach on the approximation of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 3:1-2, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The kingdom of heaven was at hand in the person of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist in the Bible was called the forerunner of the Lord. Thus, the mission of John the Baptist, first, was the proclamation of the approximation of the Lord and His kingdom.
2. To call people to repentance. The mission of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Lord, was also to prepare people’s hearts for the coming of the Lord and His kingdom.
The prophecy of Isaiah told of John the Baptist and his mission: Luke 3:4-6 “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” The same is said in the book of Isaiah 40:3-5.
This passage means that salvation of God can behold the one who acknowledged himself a sinner, confessed his sins to God and rejected his former sinful life. That is why John’s baptism of water is inextricably linked with the repentance: Mark 1:4-5 “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins”;

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Matthew 3:6 “And they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins”; Luke 3:3 “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”; Luke 3:8 “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.”
3. To reveal Christ Jesus to Israel. John the Baptist knew and realized that he was the forerunner of the Messiah. Here’s what John said about Jesus: Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
The third objective of John’s baptism was to reveal Christ to Israel. This is what John the Baptist said: John 1:31, 33-34 “I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel… I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The baptism of repentance carried out by John the Baptist reveals the meaning of God as the destruction of evil and sin and salvation of man from them; it is the requirement of God to people: to give up their sins and repent of them and thus be ready to meet the Savior promised by God. The baptism of repentance carried the healing influence of God on sin infected human souls.
Baptism is the next step after repentance and confession of sins. Water baptism, prayer, Bible reading, good deeds, and dialogue with brothers and sisters in Christ, testimony to unbelievers about Jesus, etc., are all the result of our obedience to God and faith in Jesus Christ.

Works Cited

Cullmann, Oscar. Baptism In The New Testament. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1950. Print.
Dickson, Claudia A. Entering The Household Of God. NY: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2002. Print.
Ironside, H.A, and D. Litt. Baptism-What Saith the Scriptures. Loizeaux, Brothers, Inc., 1930. Print.
Long, Paul. Have You Truly Been Born Again Of Water And Spirit? Seoul: A Division of the New Life Mission, 2002. Print.
Why We Baptize In The Name of Jesus. Word Aflames Press, 2000. Print.
Willimon, H. William. Preaching to the Baptized. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992. Print.