Produce fruit in keeping with repentance

 Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful 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, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

There is an interval of some 30 years between chapters 2,3 Matthew's Gospel. Now the compelling voice of the adult John, calling on God's people to make ready for the Messiah, draws crowds out into the desert-wilderness of Juden to listen. Peter's brother, Andrew, was one who responded and was baptized by John.

The washing' of baptism symbolized a radical cleaning up of a person's life- wiping the slate clean of all previous wrong - a return to God John's baptism, unlike the customary ritual washings was once only.

Why?

John was welcome at that time, but John Baptist came for Jesus coming. Introducing the coming Jesus Christ.

One baptizes with water, but another one, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. This is to all Christian, we have to do it and do not stop at knowing it.

The behavior of John is more attractive to people from Jerusalem and other places to come. People like to follow someone who did holy and different way from us. There are many people doing the same thing as John Baptist.

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第二章到第三章已經過了30年。施洗約翰與耶穌都長大了。

悔改就是降服於耶穌基督，迎接天國的王來到。施洗約翰的外型很像以利亞，吸引很多人。法律賽人是遵行律法者，撒都該人以祭司長為主，與當局在政治上妥協，親羅馬政府。只信摩西五經，不信靈魂，機會主義者。不悔改，空有律法及血統，不容他們施洗。傳審判的信息，三次提到火，兩次提到悔改，一次聖靈。

前者嚴守教規，後者在生活中處處妥協，這兩種人在宗教上都很崇高。很像教會中信主很久，地位崇高的人，老基督徒、傳道、同工，不要以為我們都蒙召了。我們在生活中更要結出悔改的果子。讓我們要石心變肉心。恐懼顫競，做成得救的功夫。

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How?

Baptize is a symbol, produce fruit in keeping with repentance is the true purpose of our life.