Have you ever wondered how John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord?
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
John the Baptist water baptized for the remission of sins, but Jesus shall baptize us with the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins. Was that how John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord? So then how does one receive the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins?
By believing in Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
These Gentile believers had received the remission of sins by believing in Jesus Christ and they had received the baptism with the Holy Ghost as a result.
Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith...26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Water baptism is an ordinance for new believers to follow after Christ by. It is not necessary for salvation but necessary for being His disciple.
1 Corinthians 1: 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ……. 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
That is how Jesus saves us by our believing in Him for the remission of sins for why He baptizes us with the Holy Ghost at our salvation at the calling of the gospel.
That is how John's water baptism of repentance for the remission of sins prepared the way for the Lord so that when people repent from unbelief by believing in Him for the remission of sins, is why they are born again of the Spirit at their salvation.
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
John the Baptist water baptized for the remission of sins, but Jesus shall baptize us with the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins. Was that how John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord? So then how does one receive the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins?
By believing in Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
These Gentile believers had received the remission of sins by believing in Jesus Christ and they had received the baptism with the Holy Ghost as a result.
Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith...26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Water baptism is an ordinance for new believers to follow after Christ by. It is not necessary for salvation but necessary for being His disciple.
1 Corinthians 1: 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ……. 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
That is how Jesus saves us by our believing in Him for the remission of sins for why He baptizes us with the Holy Ghost at our salvation at the calling of the gospel.
That is how John's water baptism of repentance for the remission of sins prepared the way for the Lord so that when people repent from unbelief by believing in Him for the remission of sins, is why they are born again of the Spirit at their salvation.