| JOHN THE FORERUNNER OF CHRIST: Being Traditional Does Not Equal Going To Heaven |
Scriptures: John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. Matthew 3:10 And now also the
axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire.
axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Also concerning John the Baptizer: Isaiah 40:1-3; Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 3:1-16; Mark 6:14-29;
John 1:19-36
John 1:19-36
The prophet John was prophesied in the old testament by Isaiah and Malachi. More than 700
years before, Isaiah foretold that John would be a "voice ... that crieth in the wilderness," and
also to "prepare ye the way of the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3). That is why he is referred to as the
"forerunner" of Christ (John 3:28), who would seek to straighten out crooked people just before
Jesus arrives on the scene.
years before, Isaiah foretold that John would be a "voice ... that crieth in the wilderness," and
also to "prepare ye the way of the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3). That is why he is referred to as the
"forerunner" of Christ (John 3:28), who would seek to straighten out crooked people just before
Jesus arrives on the scene.
Then Malachi calls John the coming of "Elijah the prophet," before Jesus arrives (Malachi 4:5-6).
As does Isaiah, Malachi speaks of John as seeking to correct cursed people as he runs ahead of
Jesus. (Elijah was the bold and great Israelite prophet, and Jesus would later affirm that John
fulfilled the spirit of Elijah, and the prophecy concerning "Elijah" Matthew 11:7-15.) Like Elijah,
he had to be tough. When John came preaching, it had been over 400 years (since Malachi @
430 B.C.) since the people had heard a prophet. And they acted like it.
As does Isaiah, Malachi speaks of John as seeking to correct cursed people as he runs ahead of
Jesus. (Elijah was the bold and great Israelite prophet, and Jesus would later affirm that John
fulfilled the spirit of Elijah, and the prophecy concerning "Elijah" Matthew 11:7-15.) Like Elijah,
he had to be tough. When John came preaching, it had been over 400 years (since Malachi @
430 B.C.) since the people had heard a prophet. And they acted like it.
John was an interesting and valuable person which is why Jesus so highly praised him (Matthew
11:7-15). But besides telling our children that he "ate locusts and wild honey," there are some
really deep things we need to know concerning him. For starters, he was called John "the
Baptist" because that was one of his functions, not his name. To baptize was something that he
did, not what he was. John was above all, a great prophet, who did preaching, and who did
baptizing, in order to prepare the way for Jesus Christ (Isaiah 40:1-3; Matthew 3:16-16).
11:7-15). But besides telling our children that he "ate locusts and wild honey," there are some
really deep things we need to know concerning him. For starters, he was called John "the
Baptist" because that was one of his functions, not his name. To baptize was something that he
did, not what he was. John was above all, a great prophet, who did preaching, and who did
baptizing, in order to prepare the way for Jesus Christ (Isaiah 40:1-3; Matthew 3:16-16).
But that is not all he did. John stood down a tidal wave of misunderstanding, alienation, rebellion,
and above all, tradition. Through it all, he did not flinch. Two statements help capture the
essence of John the Immerser. First, John 3:30:
and above all, tradition. Through it all, he did not flinch. Two statements help capture the
essence of John the Immerser. First, John 3:30:
John was a successful prophet because he exalted Christ. And he was able to exalt Christ
because he had gotten "self" out of the way. He "prepared the way" for Christ, because his own
carnal man was not in the way whatsoever. This John is the epitome of the goal of this website;
a Self Overcomer Extraordinaire. The second statement has to do with the traditionalism (see
lesson #11) which had to be opposed by John the Immerser, Matthew 3:10: And now also the
axe is laid unto the root of the trees: into the fire.
because he had gotten "self" out of the way. He "prepared the way" for Christ, because his own
carnal man was not in the way whatsoever. This John is the epitome of the goal of this website;
a Self Overcomer Extraordinaire. The second statement has to do with the traditionalism (see
lesson #11) which had to be opposed by John the Immerser, Matthew 3:10: And now also the
axe is laid unto the root of the trees: into the fire.
In California, there are giant Sequoias, Redwood Trees, taller than a football field is long (300 ft.
plus). They have trunk diameters upwards of 30 feet. But consider their age: 1000, 1500, 2000
years, and based on ring counts, some are thought to be even older than 2300 years! (Encarta
Encyclopedia) Well, you could not fell the General Sherman tree (83 feet in diameter) with a
hand saw or chainsaw. No, 2500 metric tons will not topple without really heavy equipment.
plus). They have trunk diameters upwards of 30 feet. But consider their age: 1000, 1500, 2000
years, and based on ring counts, some are thought to be even older than 2300 years! (Encarta
Encyclopedia) Well, you could not fell the General Sherman tree (83 feet in diameter) with a
hand saw or chainsaw. No, 2500 metric tons will not topple without really heavy equipment.
Any Religion Does Not Mean Heaven. So those trees help to picture what John faced.
Centuries of tradition had to be overcome. So John had to uproot, lay the "axe on the root." And
today on earth, many people do not ask for the truth because of 500, 1000, 1500 year old
traditions. A little simple math would show you that true Christianity is older than that. However,
there are religious traditions in the world today that go back about 2500 to 4000 years (Buddhism,
Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism). So it is not only about age, but about right, and John told
people they must change. Rather than skin and grin, John withstood the religious but rebellious
Pharisees and Sadducees: He rebuked them as a "generation of vipers"; Commanding them to,
"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:7-8, NKJV; repent means change).
To king Herod's adulterous marriage, John upheld God's law on marriage, and told Herod it was
unlawful to God (Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 19:1-9). That cost John his life, but helped toward
saving our souls. Also, the example of John's life showed that humility and courage are not
conflicts, by compliments.
Centuries of tradition had to be overcome. So John had to uproot, lay the "axe on the root." And
today on earth, many people do not ask for the truth because of 500, 1000, 1500 year old
traditions. A little simple math would show you that true Christianity is older than that. However,
there are religious traditions in the world today that go back about 2500 to 4000 years (Buddhism,
Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism). So it is not only about age, but about right, and John told
people they must change. Rather than skin and grin, John withstood the religious but rebellious
Pharisees and Sadducees: He rebuked them as a "generation of vipers"; Commanding them to,
"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:7-8, NKJV; repent means change).
To king Herod's adulterous marriage, John upheld God's law on marriage, and told Herod it was
unlawful to God (Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 19:1-9). That cost John his life, but helped toward
saving our souls. Also, the example of John's life showed that humility and courage are not
conflicts, by compliments.
After centuries of traditions it was time, John told the people, to get ready to leave the old way,
and prepare for the new testament way of Christ. There is a quote attributed to H.D. Thoreau:
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at its root." Well,
John was one in a million thousands.
and prepare for the new testament way of Christ. There is a quote attributed to H.D. Thoreau:
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at its root." Well,
John was one in a million thousands.
Today the gospel of Christ is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). Proper
marriage, governments, and religion were ordained by God. But culture and custom and
traditions become used as barriers that block out the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Nevertheless,
from John the forerunner of Christ we can take courage. The church of Christ for which John
prepared, will prevail, because Christ said so (Matthew 16:18). It is not a carnal kingdom but
spiritual (John 18:36: Colossians 1:13,18). It is not a humanly devised organization, but a divinely
planned family (Ephesians 3:14-21). Heaven is the goal.
marriage, governments, and religion were ordained by God. But culture and custom and
traditions become used as barriers that block out the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Nevertheless,
from John the forerunner of Christ we can take courage. The church of Christ for which John
prepared, will prevail, because Christ said so (Matthew 16:18). It is not a carnal kingdom but
spiritual (John 18:36: Colossians 1:13,18). It is not a humanly devised organization, but a divinely
planned family (Ephesians 3:14-21). Heaven is the goal.
OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #5
"He must increase, but I must decrease."