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STUDY SUNDAY: BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE

Study Sunday / August 23, 2020 / By

MATTHEW 3:1-12 [NIV] 

In this Study Sunday we will be studying the topic on ‘Baptism of Repentance’. And we will be unpacking: 

  1. What is repentance? 
  2. Why did John the Baptist baptise the people for repentance? 
  3. Why is repentance important? 
  4. What is the difference between John the Baptist’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism? 

The method that I will be using to help you through studying the word with me today, is through a method that you may know which is called the ‘SOAP’ method. If this is your first time seeing this method, go onto the ‘Resources’ tab a you will find a resource titled ‘The SOAP Method’. Use this resource to guide you through this study, future studies, and your own bible studies. 

Okay, let’s get started. 

S. SCRIPTURE 

John the Baptist Prepares the Way – Matthew 3:1-12

“In those days John the Baptist  came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea  2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven  has come near.”  3 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.’”  

4 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. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized  by him in the Jordan River. 

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 

11 “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. 12 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.”” 

O. OBSERVATION 

Context 

  • “Prepare the way for the Lord”: 
  • John’s purpose for baptising people for repentance was to send the message that was clearing the way for the arrival of the Messiah by preparing the hearts of his followers. 
  • The message was the Gospel of Salvation. And repentance is a part of salvation. Because when Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave us the Holy Spirit, who helps us produces fruit; Christ-like behaviours which demonstrate that we are being transformed to become like Jesus.  
  • And that we are demonstrating new behaviours that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin. 
  • He had to prepare their hearts for Jesus’ arrival because Jews believed that they would automatically be granted entrance into the (Messianic) kingdom of heaven without repentance.  
  • So, this new teaching that repentance was required was very difficult to accept. 

Definitions 

  • “Wilderness”: 
  • It is usually an unpleasant and tough time which a believer has to endure discomfort and trials. 
  • It is often linked to a “mountaintop experience” where trials meet triumph.  
  • The season of the struggle eventually follows a heel of a period of success.  
  • “Pharisees”: 
  • They were identified with the common people and had control over them. 
  • They were legalistic/religious leaders in Judaism who were experts in Mosaic Law and its rituals and traditions. 
  • They believed in the resurrection of the dead, immorality of the soul and in the existence of angels and spirits. 
  • “Sadducees”: 
  • They were aristocratic members of a priestly group (religious party) who controlled the temple.  
  • They denied the possibility of a resurrection and the existence of any spiritual blessings apart from God. 
  • Although, they were in the minority, they were leaders of the Sanhedrin, controlling the Jewish High Court. 
  • “Repentance”: 
  • Turn away from sin but turn to God. 
  • Change your sinful thoughts, mindset, habits and behaviours to match God’s. 
  • Regret past sins. 
  • Live your life in a way that proves repentance; seeking God’s purpose for your life. 
  • Transformation from old habits into new habits. 
  • Demonstrating new behaviour that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin. 

Figurative Language 

  • Metaphor – “You brood of vipers”: 
  • A family/group of snakes 
  • Vipers are venomous and are associated with being spiteful and deceitful. 
  • Vipers/snakes/serpents are associated as the devil (Genesis 3). 
  • Jesus also called the Pharisees “brood of vipers” and “snakes” (Matthew 23:33). 
  • John referred the Pharisees and the Sadducees as “brood of vipers” because he was implying that they had satanic attributes such as being deceitful as they were hypocrites (Matthew 23:15); dangerous because they were blind leaders to the blind (Matthew 15:14); and wicked because their hearts were full of murder (John 8:37) as they plotted to kill Jesus (John 11:45-57). 
  • Symbolism – “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”: 
  • The “ax” symbolises God’s judgement. 
  • The “root” symbolises our foundation. 
  • The “trees” symbolises us. 
  • “Fruit” symbolises characteristics, behaviour, attributes of the Holy Spirit. 
  • The “fire” symbolises hell. 
  • John is portraying a picture here that if our foundation in life is not rooted in Christ, and therefore we are not producing Christ-like characteristics; come Judgement Day, we will go to hell.  
  • God’s children when they sin, they choose to repent, but the devil’s children when they sin, they choose to stay in sin (1 John 3:7-10). 

Rhetorical Question 

“Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”: 

  • A rhetorical question is asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer. 
  • John asked this rhetorical question to the Pharisees and Sadducees to get his point across that they would not be able to escape God’s judgement. 
  • They think that they can get away with saying that “We have Abraham as our father” (verse 9), and that will get them to inherit the kingdom of heaven.  
  • But in actual fact in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven, you need to show Christ-like attitudes and behaviours that is consistent with making conscious decisions to turn away from sin.  
  • That’s why salvation is not a pit-stop but a process. 

What is the difference between Baptism of Repentance and Baptism of the Holy Spirit? 

“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.” (v.11-12) 

Baptism of Repentance 

  • John was preparing the way for salvation in Jesus Christ. Acts 19:4 can confirm this. Changing one’s mind and going in a new direction which is towards Jesus Christ. 

Baptism of the Holy Spirit  

  • Is demonstrated on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Before, Jesus ascended into heaven, He told the disciples that before they preach the Gospel, they should wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit in the upper room (Acts 1:5). On that day, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and the church began.  

Therefore,  

  1. Baptism of the Holy Spirit unites the church as one body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) which leads to represent our body as the temple of the Lord where the Holy Spirit dwells – Jesus being the Chief cornerstone connecting the church (us) together (Ephesians 2:18-22). 
  2. Being part of Jesus’ body means we are associated with Christ in death, burial and resurrection – newness of life (a repented life) through Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 2:12), which is the symbolism of baptism overall. 

Feel free to add more observation (e.g. cross references). Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you new things and more of His truths. 

A. APPLICATION 

From here I want you to reflect on what you have observed from this scripture and therefore what can you take away from it, to apply what you’ve learnt to your life. 

For example, it could be turning away from becoming angry and hot-tempered and instead turning towards showing patience and having a gentle spirit. By taking the time out to think before you speak. 

It could be anything, nothing is too small or too big to change from. But, always remember to apply these changes you can’t do it on your own, you need the help and power of the Holy Spirit. 

Also, have an accountability partner, someone or people you can trust. Tell them an area you are trying to work on. So that they can help you and call you out on those things when you do them. 

Don’t beat yourself down when you do sin, know that this is all a process. We are all about progression not perfection. 

P. PRAYER 

Take this time to connect with God and hear Him as to what He has to say to you when it comes to repentance in your life. Are there certain things you have to repent from? If so, ask God for forgiveness now and make the conscious decision today and every day forward to turn away from that sin and turn to a Christ-like behaviour. Use the fruits of the Holy Spirit as example of Christ-like behaviours (Galatians 5:22-23).  

Or if there are sins you are not aware of that are sins and that you need to repent from, ask God to show them to you. And for the Holy Spirit to help transform you to become more and more like Jesus every single day. 

If there is anything else, you need to add into your prayer before you close this bible study, feel free to do so. 

I hope you got some insight into what repentance is, the purpose behind it and why it is important. Whether you are a new believer coming into Christ, or whether you have been in this Christ walk for some time, we can all learn something. Let’s not stay complacent as believers. 

Stay Blessed, 

Divine L.