Gospel Wednesday: Matthew Chapter 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:2-3

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”






These verses, 2 and 3, from Matthew 3 stand out to me. God requires us to repent from our sins, to turn away from them, not just confess them before we are forgiven. Repentance is a must in the plan of salvation and, also in the life of a New Testament Christian. No one is perfect. 

For those reading my blog, I am not perfect. I have sins I need to repent of daily. I confess, repent and live the Christian life to the best of my ability. The only difference is I'm saved by the blood of Jesus, by God's grace. My family and I obeyed the Gospel in June of 2014. 

If you have not obeyed the Gospel, then do so today. 



1 HEAR
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

17 So faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:14;17 ESV


2 BELIEVE
24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in 
your sins.
John 8:24 ESV

3 REPENT



The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
Acts 17:30 ESV


4 CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 ESV


5 BE BAPTIZED


38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 ESV
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. Acts 22:16 ESV


6 REMAIN FAITHFUL

10 Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 ESV

11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 

3:11 ESV




Read the Bible for yourself. You'll see that these, indeed, are the steps to salvation. 



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