Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Rom 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Rom 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
What do i see?
- Pauls desire is the salvation of Israel
- That Israel has a zeal for GOD but not according to knowledge. They are worshiping not according to what JESUS taught.
- They have a misguided view of how to Worship GOD. (They had an idea of who they thought they were worshiping, but its not what the FATHER wanted, it is not HOW HE wanted to be worshiped, So all that they where doing was considered vain because GOD had done away with the Old testament and brought in the new).
- The very same way that people want to earn righteousness through Good works are no different from what the Israelites did and some still do. Keeping the law would not earn them salvation, but only faith In Christ and ALL THAT HE TAUGHT in the bible is what will earn them salvation. For no amount of Good works can earn us forgiveness of sin, but only what The Blood of Jesus cleanses us of ALL sin. It is the standard that the FATHER put and we obey in the Love of Him.
The woman in the well did not know who she was worshiping
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Jesus was setting something clear, that THE FATHER was not to be worshiped in a mountain or Jerusalem alone
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Again JESUS reveals more of the ignorance of the woman by the well. That she was in deception
And JESUS added to that and said, that all that worship the Father will worship HIM in TRUTH and in SPIRIT and not according to religion, or laws made by man. or doctrines made by man, or traditions of man, but according to truth.
Mar_7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar_7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mar_7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
- The Israelites Wanted to obtain righteousness through the Law, the law of moses, they wanted justification through it because thats what they received from the Father.. And this was a misguide, they did not believe that Christ fulfilled the and gave away to the new way of attaining righteousness. And that way is through faith In JESUS CHRIST.
- The word of GOD is near even at my mouth and in my heart. This word that is preached, throughout the whole world
- Salvation is gained through believing of my heart and confessing with my mouth JESUS CHRISTs' Lordship
why the heart and mouth? and not the mind? or with all my strength?
Justification is gained through speaking
Mat_12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Also the word Confess comes from the hebrew word homologeō which has definitions of covenant, and acknowledge.
Or telling us, that our confession shows our acknowledgement of the LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST. And since our words justify us, or shows GOD and us that we are willing participants to all His word offers. We are made participants of The covenant that comes with it.
Gen_17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.(Israel is the natural vine, and we grafted into it through faith in Christ JESUS, we are heirs of Abraham through faith in CHRIST JESUS)
And the heart is the one that does the believing.
Psa_95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
heart
From the hebrew word labe: also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:
So when our intellect, feelings, will and centre are fully taking into account the work that CHRIST did and fully trusting that it happened, ie. It is not a lie or some fairy tale that Christ really died and rose again for our sins. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. When we Hope that forgiveness of sin is given in Christ, and are convicted of the reality of it ie our will, intellent, feelings are centred around that very hope.
And that we are given A new life in Christ JESUS, the old is passed the new has come
So what the Lord wants us to do is to believe with our hearts, and confess with our mouths in order to attain salvation.
Now JESUS CHRIST is the truth, the way and the life. when we confess HIM, we confess what HE stood for. And we confess that we are willing to abide by Him.
Verse 12 and 13 tells that CHRIST is for all, the gentile, and the greek that whoever wants to be saved, will be saved. The same salvation spoken of in verse 9 and 10. It does not distinguish the two, but it shows us that Jew and Greek both are the LORDS and BOTH can be saved if they meet the conditions OF Believing and Confessing with their hearts and minds respectively.
- How that we need to preach the Gospel, for people will have something to believe when we preach to them. Men need direction, and the Word of GOD is the WAY(showing direction).
so when Jesus said i AM THE WAY, HE meant, COME THIS WAY, FOLLOW ME just as He told the disciples to follow Him, He tells mankind to do the same.!!. For JESUS came as direction(a way of life) that pleases the FATHER, as HE said(AS HE SEES THE FATHER DO, HE DOES), whatever the FATHER does, when we worship HIM we are to do what Christ would have done.
- And yet not all have obeyed the Gospel, some flat out rejected it. and they have their judgement on that.
What about Baptism? Do we gain salvation through baptism
First there are two types of Baptisms
Water and Fire(The Holy Ghost)
WATER BAPTISM
Mat_3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
What John the Baptist came to do was to make the way of the LORD straight!
How did HE do that?
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
He preached Repentance, ie CHANGE OF MINDS, that people should TURN from their sin
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
and HE did not end there, HE continued to say
Mat 3:11 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:
That JOHN came preaching the Baptism of repentance, That when you go through the water, it shows that you have decided to change your mindset from the things you where doing to the things that GOD wants you to do. In with the OLD and OUT with the new. Dead to sin, and Alive in CHRIST
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
And thats why They where baptized fully, by immersion. So what water baptism shows here is to being dead to sin, making a way IN OUR HEARTS for CHRIST to reign.
Those who went to John confessed their sins, but John did have the power to forgive them, nor the authority nor anything to forgive them. The person that was able to forgive them was JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth. Now Jesus had not died on the cross and ressurected so the sacrifice for sin had not been made, but in order for GOD to forgive there had to be acknowledgement that they are sinners, followed by confession. And thats what JOHN came to do, to make aware to them that they had wronged the LORD and are in need of Forgiveness.
Word of GOD says, harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, a heart that does not see its sinful nature is a prideful heart, a hardened heart. And thats why John mentioned to the Pharisees
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Hardened hearts do not please the Lord, but HE hates a prideful heart.
Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
And Here is something interesting
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
1) John was considering NOT to baptize Christ, but BE baptized by HIM.
2) JESUS told HIM specifically that SUFFER IT TO BE SO NOW, or in other words say bear with me for now
A good question would be, Did JESUS have sin? No. What He did when HE got baptized was to fufil all righteousness, or in other words, being the son of man, water baptism was something HE had to go through. He was the saviour, the water could not save HIM.
Why be water baptized?
1) Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
When JESUS GOT BAPTIZED The Holy Spirit fell on HIM and the FATHER acknowledged HIM to be HIS beloved son, of WHOM is well pleased.
If you are saved and not baptized, for the LOVE OF GOD go be baptized and by immersion. If you Love the LORD you will love what HE stood for.
Also it is a means of being filled with the Spirit of GOD.
Also shows how dedicated we are to the LORD JESUS CHRIST
2) Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
We are saved from the wrath to come, if GOD considers those who have set themselves apart for HIM through faith and baptism then those who have not done so should do so.
Believing followed by baptism brings salvation, but again he says not believing brings damnation. The verse is saying if you believe in what JESUS stood for when HE got baptized by water. Then you will be saved, because FAITH IN What CHRIST did saves, why? HE is the truth, way And LIFE.!!.
If you do not believe in JESUS CHRIST then you will not be baptized.
To add to that, I got baptized with FIRE even before the baptism by immersion(making fully wet).
Biblically we see the family of Cornelius, they got baptized with the Holy Ghost while Listening to the message that PETER was preaching, the word of GOD does not mention anything about them being Baptized into water before the Fire Baptism. But GOD had already cleansed(set them apart) for Himself considered them His before the water baptism.
But after the Holy Spriit Baptism, God did not forbid water baptism even after saying that they are cleansed. So the men of GOD did what they did best
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
This is more evidence that Water Baptism shows a setting apart, that we are SET APART for GOD. Like a sign, or a mark for a new believer in the LORD. and the right kind of baptism, as the word dictates making fully wet.
3) Christ taught us to Observe all things that HE commanded us. And He commanded us to be baptized as per mark 16:16 and john 3:3
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM(FIRE BAPTISM).
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD, AND GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. I believe thats one reason why it is called baptism by FIRE. And we also see in Acts 2, The word of GOD referring to tongues of FIRE. When we repent(symbolically water baptism) confessing our sins, and receive the HOLY GHOST(Fire), we are considered Born Again. Dead from the Old fleshly, Dead life, and INTO THE NEW life in Christ. Filled with HIS SPIRIT and aspiring to live as HIS word directs.
So to conclude, Salvation is gained through faith in What Christ did on the cross, and confessing it/making a covenant with HIM through a believing heart and an audible mouth. And the moment one does this, they receive the Holy Ghost and are considered Born Again believers.They are SAVED from the clutches of the enemy through sin, and BORN into a new life of Holyness, righteousness and Pleasing to the FATHER. And the word of GOD says to complete this, there must be water baptism.
AND TODAY is the day of SALVATION to anyone who has not made a covenant with the LORD.
2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Rom 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Rom 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
What do i see?
- Pauls desire is the salvation of Israel
- That Israel has a zeal for GOD but not according to knowledge. They are worshiping not according to what JESUS taught.
- They have a misguided view of how to Worship GOD. (They had an idea of who they thought they were worshiping, but its not what the FATHER wanted, it is not HOW HE wanted to be worshiped, So all that they where doing was considered vain because GOD had done away with the Old testament and brought in the new).
- The very same way that people want to earn righteousness through Good works are no different from what the Israelites did and some still do. Keeping the law would not earn them salvation, but only faith In Christ and ALL THAT HE TAUGHT in the bible is what will earn them salvation. For no amount of Good works can earn us forgiveness of sin, but only what The Blood of Jesus cleanses us of ALL sin. It is the standard that the FATHER put and we obey in the Love of Him.
The woman in the well did not know who she was worshiping
Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Jesus was setting something clear, that THE FATHER was not to be worshiped in a mountain or Jerusalem alone
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Again JESUS reveals more of the ignorance of the woman by the well. That she was in deception
And JESUS added to that and said, that all that worship the Father will worship HIM in TRUTH and in SPIRIT and not according to religion, or laws made by man. or doctrines made by man, or traditions of man, but according to truth.
Mar_7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar_7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mar_7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
- The Israelites Wanted to obtain righteousness through the Law, the law of moses, they wanted justification through it because thats what they received from the Father.. And this was a misguide, they did not believe that Christ fulfilled the and gave away to the new way of attaining righteousness. And that way is through faith In JESUS CHRIST.
- The word of GOD is near even at my mouth and in my heart. This word that is preached, throughout the whole world
- Salvation is gained through believing of my heart and confessing with my mouth JESUS CHRISTs' Lordship
why the heart and mouth? and not the mind? or with all my strength?
Justification is gained through speaking
Mat_12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Also the word Confess comes from the hebrew word homologeō which has definitions of covenant, and acknowledge.
Or telling us, that our confession shows our acknowledgement of the LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST. And since our words justify us, or shows GOD and us that we are willing participants to all His word offers. We are made participants of The covenant that comes with it.
Gen_17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.(Israel is the natural vine, and we grafted into it through faith in Christ JESUS, we are heirs of Abraham through faith in CHRIST JESUS)
And the heart is the one that does the believing.
Psa_95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
heart
From the hebrew word labe: also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:
So when our intellect, feelings, will and centre are fully taking into account the work that CHRIST did and fully trusting that it happened, ie. It is not a lie or some fairy tale that Christ really died and rose again for our sins. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. When we Hope that forgiveness of sin is given in Christ, and are convicted of the reality of it ie our will, intellent, feelings are centred around that very hope.
And that we are given A new life in Christ JESUS, the old is passed the new has come
So what the Lord wants us to do is to believe with our hearts, and confess with our mouths in order to attain salvation.
Now JESUS CHRIST is the truth, the way and the life. when we confess HIM, we confess what HE stood for. And we confess that we are willing to abide by Him.
Verse 12 and 13 tells that CHRIST is for all, the gentile, and the greek that whoever wants to be saved, will be saved. The same salvation spoken of in verse 9 and 10. It does not distinguish the two, but it shows us that Jew and Greek both are the LORDS and BOTH can be saved if they meet the conditions OF Believing and Confessing with their hearts and minds respectively.
- How that we need to preach the Gospel, for people will have something to believe when we preach to them. Men need direction, and the Word of GOD is the WAY(showing direction).
so when Jesus said i AM THE WAY, HE meant, COME THIS WAY, FOLLOW ME just as He told the disciples to follow Him, He tells mankind to do the same.!!. For JESUS came as direction(a way of life) that pleases the FATHER, as HE said(AS HE SEES THE FATHER DO, HE DOES), whatever the FATHER does, when we worship HIM we are to do what Christ would have done.
- And yet not all have obeyed the Gospel, some flat out rejected it. and they have their judgement on that.
What about Baptism? Do we gain salvation through baptism
First there are two types of Baptisms
Water and Fire(The Holy Ghost)
WATER BAPTISM
Mat_3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
What John the Baptist came to do was to make the way of the LORD straight!
How did HE do that?
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
He preached Repentance, ie CHANGE OF MINDS, that people should TURN from their sin
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
and HE did not end there, HE continued to say
Mat 3:11 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:
That JOHN came preaching the Baptism of repentance, That when you go through the water, it shows that you have decided to change your mindset from the things you where doing to the things that GOD wants you to do. In with the OLD and OUT with the new. Dead to sin, and Alive in CHRIST
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
And thats why They where baptized fully, by immersion. So what water baptism shows here is to being dead to sin, making a way IN OUR HEARTS for CHRIST to reign.
Those who went to John confessed their sins, but John did have the power to forgive them, nor the authority nor anything to forgive them. The person that was able to forgive them was JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth. Now Jesus had not died on the cross and ressurected so the sacrifice for sin had not been made, but in order for GOD to forgive there had to be acknowledgement that they are sinners, followed by confession. And thats what JOHN came to do, to make aware to them that they had wronged the LORD and are in need of Forgiveness.
Word of GOD says, harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, a heart that does not see its sinful nature is a prideful heart, a hardened heart. And thats why John mentioned to the Pharisees
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Hardened hearts do not please the Lord, but HE hates a prideful heart.
Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
And Here is something interesting
Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
1) John was considering NOT to baptize Christ, but BE baptized by HIM.
2) JESUS told HIM specifically that SUFFER IT TO BE SO NOW, or in other words say bear with me for now
A good question would be, Did JESUS have sin? No. What He did when HE got baptized was to fufil all righteousness, or in other words, being the son of man, water baptism was something HE had to go through. He was the saviour, the water could not save HIM.
Why be water baptized?
1) Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
When JESUS GOT BAPTIZED The Holy Spirit fell on HIM and the FATHER acknowledged HIM to be HIS beloved son, of WHOM is well pleased.
If you are saved and not baptized, for the LOVE OF GOD go be baptized and by immersion. If you Love the LORD you will love what HE stood for.
Also it is a means of being filled with the Spirit of GOD.
Also shows how dedicated we are to the LORD JESUS CHRIST
2) Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
We are saved from the wrath to come, if GOD considers those who have set themselves apart for HIM through faith and baptism then those who have not done so should do so.
Believing followed by baptism brings salvation, but again he says not believing brings damnation. The verse is saying if you believe in what JESUS stood for when HE got baptized by water. Then you will be saved, because FAITH IN What CHRIST did saves, why? HE is the truth, way And LIFE.!!.
If you do not believe in JESUS CHRIST then you will not be baptized.
To add to that, I got baptized with FIRE even before the baptism by immersion(making fully wet).
Biblically we see the family of Cornelius, they got baptized with the Holy Ghost while Listening to the message that PETER was preaching, the word of GOD does not mention anything about them being Baptized into water before the Fire Baptism. But GOD had already cleansed(set them apart) for Himself considered them His before the water baptism.
But after the Holy Spriit Baptism, God did not forbid water baptism even after saying that they are cleansed. So the men of GOD did what they did best
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
This is more evidence that Water Baptism shows a setting apart, that we are SET APART for GOD. Like a sign, or a mark for a new believer in the LORD. and the right kind of baptism, as the word dictates making fully wet.
3) Christ taught us to Observe all things that HE commanded us. And He commanded us to be baptized as per mark 16:16 and john 3:3
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM(FIRE BAPTISM).
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD, AND GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE. I believe thats one reason why it is called baptism by FIRE. And we also see in Acts 2, The word of GOD referring to tongues of FIRE. When we repent(symbolically water baptism) confessing our sins, and receive the HOLY GHOST(Fire), we are considered Born Again. Dead from the Old fleshly, Dead life, and INTO THE NEW life in Christ. Filled with HIS SPIRIT and aspiring to live as HIS word directs.
So to conclude, Salvation is gained through faith in What Christ did on the cross, and confessing it/making a covenant with HIM through a believing heart and an audible mouth. And the moment one does this, they receive the Holy Ghost and are considered Born Again believers.They are SAVED from the clutches of the enemy through sin, and BORN into a new life of Holyness, righteousness and Pleasing to the FATHER. And the word of GOD says to complete this, there must be water baptism.
AND TODAY is the day of SALVATION to anyone who has not made a covenant with the LORD.
2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
