Since Jesus referenced John with himself in the context, consider the Baptist as a forceful man. Using Luke 3:1-20 as one of other powerful texts, notice how spiritually-violent his message began: you brood of vipers—little snakes. We’re not surprised he labeled the leaders “little snakes”. But Luke pictured the common people in the same scathing terms.
Note that he preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,” meaning repentance of sin followed by baptism for forgiveness. The apostle Peter preached the same message: “Repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of your sins” Acts 2:38. Are we now to believe that, while John preached baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and Holy Spirit-inspired Simon Peter preached baptism for forgiveness of sins, Jesus didn’t consider baptism essential to forgiveness? The ONE both John and Simon represented? To faith-only people interpretation of Scripture depends on one’s theology; one’s interpretation of scripture doesn’t determine theology. That’s the legacy of A.T. Robertson. Focus also on “repent”. In a culture where everyone considered himself righteous, John demanded each adult must “repent”—as the unrighteous. Simon Peter made the same demand on Pentecost, seeing the entire Temple-attending, animal-sacrificing, priesthood-led generation “corrupt”, including every adult in it. Relate John’s vocally-violent message to the contemporary church. Because church leaders have opted for the least invasive path into people’s lives—including music, fellowship and entertainment—they consider repentance as obsolete as REVIVALS! Indeed, both are nothing but religious atavism to these leaders. End Part II
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