John the Immerser

Who was John the immerser?  Probably most believers would know him as John the Baptist.  John was also Jesus’ cousin and was known as the forerunner of Jesus.  It was written of him in Isaiah as the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way for Adonijah and make His paths straight.  John was also the one that immersed Jesus.

John would have been very peculiar to us to look at if we checked him out today, plus John had strange eating habits.  John’s clothing was from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt around his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey, no-doubt, not what we are used to in our day but probably very healthy.

Question: What did John do?  John immersed people in water for repentance, he also warned people of the coming wrath that was coming on the earth and that there was no other way to escape it, but to repent and confess their sins and be immersed for the remittance, or forgiveness, of sins.  Taking a look at the overview of the Word of God, I believe that this holds true for today, that you still need true repentance and confession of sins today; you could also say godly sorrow to be forgiven and set right with God.  I don’t believe that you have to be baptized in water in our day to be saved, but if you could I believe that you should, signifying the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord.  

This is why I don’t think baptism is a criteria to be saved.  The thief on the cross next to Jesus, after he repented, said they were getting what they deserved to the thief on the other side of Jesus on his cross, and said this man has done nothing wrong, speaking of Jesus, but, he never had the privilege of coming down from the cross to be baptized, but the words of Jesus must have rang in his ear when Jesus said, today you will be with me in paradise!!  Did you ever wonder why the other thief didn’t repent?  

It seems sometimes people are sorry that they got caught in the act instead of being sorry for the act in the first place of doing something that they shouldn’t have, but their pride keeps them from real true repentance.  Instead of true godly sorrow they have worldly sorrow that leads to death.  Godly sorrow leads to true repentance unto salvation leaving no regret, praise the Lord.  Think of Judas who betrayed Jesus, the Word of God said he repented then threw the thirty pieces of silver down and then he went out and hanged himself which sounds like worldly sorrow.  Now think about Peter who denied the Lord three times and went out and wept bitterly which sounds like godly sorrow.

  

Check out 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 Paul writing to the Corinthians, about this subject. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”  Godly sorrow produces a good character in a person’s life.

Question: did you ever experience the things that were mentioned here when you repented of your sins?  Have you ever wept or been troubled over your sins?  Have you ever confessed them with remorse in your heart because you knew that you had hurt the Lord?  Have you ever examined yourself to see if you really are in the faith?  I want this to be very clear, I am not pointing the finger at anyone, I just think these questions are very important.  

Come to think about it, I don’t remember ever hearing much about these things in the communities (church).  I never did understand how the church went to church, when it is just a building and the saints are the church in the first place.  Paul and John were not the only ones that taught about repentance, Jesus taught about it also when He started His ministry and that wasn’t the only time, He mentioned repentance, please read another example.  Read Revelation chapter 2 and 3 and you will see what Jesus said to the communities at that time about repentance.

I think this is a subject that isn’t talked about near as much as it should be and if it is mentioned it is kind of like this, you need to repent, without any explanation about what the word repentance means; I guess they assume everyone should know.  I think I have said enough for now on this subject and I hope that this Tidbit has blessed you and encouraged you and was something you needed to hear.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!