John Doesn't Mince Words...
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Wow. John the Baptist didn't mince words. He had a message and it was pretty clear. His words may not have gone over as well in today's church society where, 'God Loves You', is our ice breaker in getting people to repeat after us and 'say' the 'Sinner's Prayer'.
John says, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:" Bringing forth fruit...actually attempting to do what's right, not just hear it? Hmmmm
Then he says, "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:" Another Hmmmm.
Is that like saying, "And don't say to yourself, I said the 'Sinner's Prayer', or 'I go to church', or "I'm part of the new testament believer group'" What is this fruit part anyway.
For me....I think I could still talk myself into glossing over most of his speech because he is preaching before Jesus paid for all of our sins on the cross and he hasn't had a lot to eat (just locust and honey...ewww...)
but then there is the rest of what he says, as well. Plus, I have to remember that he is Jesus' cousin, has had the Holy Spirit since birth and has dedicated his life to seeing people follow the Messiah. So this next part must be significant as well "he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
John goes on to say,"
Baptism by water, many understand, but what is this 'baptizing with the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and fire' part. Then there is that purging of the floor and gathering His wheat into the garner but burning up the chaff with
unquenchable fire part.
How many times have you gone into a regular church and heard these words said or explained to you? I haven't. And I read them. And I want to understand them.
I'm just saying. . . maybe this gospel, this truth, this message has a little more umph to it than we are being told in today's church. Maybe producing fruit in line with a repentant heart is significant. Maybe asking for Jesus to 'baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire' is something that should be a part of our daily/nightly prayer. If we, as His people, started doing this, maybe a great church wide thing would happen?
I'm just saying....
Created 4 months ago
