Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
November 9, 1986
Threat and Promise
Matthew 3:1-12
Baptism is one of our faith's most dramatic events. It is inspiring to hear their heart-rending testimonies, but what you remember is the burial of the water.
Baptism has always been dramatic. Any way you look at it, it's hard to be more dramatic than John the Baptist. Surrounded by desert wilderness of Judea, his only clothing was a shirt of camel's hair and a leather belt. His diet raises interest - locusts and honey - and above all, his character. John the Baptist preached hellfire and brimstone. He was uncompromising in his denunciation of sin and demand for holy living. It wasn't just words either. He went to prison and death because he rebuked the king for an immoral relationship.
Despite his toughness and eccentric behavior, John was hugely popular. People came from all over. Some came to see the show; others were genuinely attracted to his message. They knew he was the first prophet in four hundred years. From the Baptist's lips they were hearing the words of God.
The key symbol of John's ministry was the practice of baptism. According to verse 11 he baptized in water and verse 6 tells us he baptized in the Jordan River. Even in the Old Testament, washing with water has religious symbolism. If someone was healed of leprosy they took a bath to show they were no longer spiritually unclean.
What is more important is the demand he placed before the people. As verse 6 says, they had to confess their sins. This doesn't mean just listing them out. Any biography written by a movie star is going to be loaded with confessions. If they don't tell whom they've fooled around with, no one will buy their book.
This isn't what John had in mind. To him, confession is the same thing as repentance. You admit to the failure of your former way of life and you turn away from it. A person cannot ease into salvation. Somewhere along the line it must be deliberately chosen.
There is one other factor about John's baptism. It focused on the kingdom of God. In verse 2 he says, the kingdom is at hand. It is almost upon us. John never thought of salvation as just peace with God in your heart. The coming of the kingdom meant God was going to enter human history and pass judgment on the world. Today we would call it the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. So for him, baptism symbolized escape from catastrophe.
Another book in the New Testament compares it to Noah's flood. Most people ignored the warnings. They were too busy making money and having a good time. Only a few chose to follow God and he brought them safely through the disaster that killed everyone else.
Our generation faces catastrophe. What John saw prophetically, we may experience in reality. If Jesus Christ were to come, would you be ready for him? Baptism is supposed to be a statement that you are. So for John the Baptist water baptism was not just a pleasant diversion. It carried a threat - especially for those who took it lightly, like the Pharisees. Verse 7 says the Pharisees and their friends came "to" John's baptism. Not to join in but to watch. Even if they saw baptism as a way to get in good with God they were mistaken.
What is the real evidence of repentance? Not baptism but fruit, according to verse 8. If there is no evidence of godliness in your life don't think that baptism, an emotional experience at youth camp or church membership are going to save you. If you are not showing the fruit of salvation these things will only be fuel for the fire.
The Pharisees were not pleased with this. They did what people always do when they don't measure up; they tied themselves to someone who did - Abraham. Even today the only accepted definition of a Jew is that he or she is a descendant of Jewish parents, going back to Abraham. Maybe your trust is in your religious heritage. Half of all Americans know they are Protestant or Catholic because their parents are, but they have no commitment. Heritage does not get you into heaven. Only faith and repentance can.
The result of the Pharisees lack of fruit is damnation. Back in verse 2 John said the kingdom of God was near. In verse 10 it is condemnation that's also near. When the decisive moment comes, those who are baptized and claim to believe but have nothing to show for it will be cast into hell. This is the threat of baptism.
Baptism also holds a promise. For those who are sincere, it represents acceptance by God. Up to this point I have assumed John's baptism was just like Christian baptism. There's one key difference: John was a preparation for something greater, but the fulfillment is in Jesus. The substance of the fulfillment is that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. No one in the Old Testament could say they were baptized in the Spirit, but every Christian can - or they are not saved at all. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, God actually comes in the form of the Spirit to dwell in us.
John actually says the Messiah will baptize in Spirit and fire. There are two main interpretations.
1) Spirit = salvation Fire = damnation
2) Spirit and fire both = salvation
The Old Testament points to the cleansing and purifying effect of fire and the Holy Spirit was represented by flames of fire on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. However, the next verse in our passage highlights the two-fold effect of Christ's judgment, wheat and chaff, so I think "fire" here represents damnation.
Either way, the coming of Jesus will reveal who really belongs to him, and who does not. What will be revealed about you?
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Typed on June 28, 2005, by Sharon Lesko of Ledgewood Baptist Church, New Jersey
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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