1. JOHN THE BAPTIST
What was his mission?

2. Luke 1:13-15
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

3. Luke 1:16-17
"And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

4. John the Baptist: What was his mission?
Many thousands wear the name, "Baptist," today.
But there is a great difference between them and the people who claim to be Christians only.
We should study to see if God’s people should be distinguished as Baptists or as Christians only.
If God intended for any of his people to be Baptists, in the modern sense, He intended for them all to be.

5. This is the Lord's prayer for unity.
John 17:20-21
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
This is the Lord's prayer for unity.
The Lord wants all believers to be one.

6. This is Paul's plea for unity.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
This is Paul's plea for unity.
Christians are not to be divided.

7. The whole family derives its name from Christ.
Ephesians 3:14-15
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
The whole family derives its name from Christ.

8. John the Baptist: What was his mission?
“All” and “whole” - Let us make a fair investigation to see what God’s will is in the matter.
No one should be afraid to make such investigation but should be glad of opportunity.
No better place to begin than with John the Baptist.
Let us make a fair and impartial investigation of his mission to the world.

9. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
1. Was announced by an angel

10. Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John."

11. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
1. Was announced by an angel.
2. Was miraculous.

12. Luke 1:18
And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

13. Luke 1:36
"Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren."

14. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
1. Was announced by an angel.
2. Was miraculous.
3. Was to good parents.

15. Luke 1:5-6
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

16. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
1. Was announced by an angel.
2. Was miraculous.
3. Was to good parents.
4. Was under Law of Moses - temple service -circumcision.

17. Luke 1:8-9
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

18. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
1. Was given by angel, therefore important.

19. Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John."

20. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
1. Was given by angel, therefore important.
2. Was regarded as important by both parents.

21. Luke 1:60, 63
His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." So they all marveled.

22. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
1. Was given by angel, therefore important.
2. Was regarded as important by both parents.
3. Was John, not Baptist.

23. John 1:6
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

24. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
1. Was given by angel, therefore important.
2. Was regarded as important by both parents.
3. Was John, not Baptist.
4. Never was “a Baptist” in the modern sense.

25. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
1. He lived a quiet life.

26. Luke 1:80
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

27. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
1. He lived a quiet life.
2. He was a great preacher. He had great audiences and great influence on them.

28. Matthew 11:11
"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist;"

29. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
1. He lived a quiet life.
2. He was a great preacher. He had great audiences and great influence on them.
3. He never performed a miracle.

30. John 10:41
Then many came to Him and said, "John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true."

31. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
4. Was humble. - Humble dress and food

32. Matthew 3:4
And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

33. Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto 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.

34. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
4. Was humble. - Humble dress and food
5. Was pure - opposed sin in all.

35. Matthew 3:7-8
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

36. Matthew 3:9-10
and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

37. Luke 3:18-20
And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.

38. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
D. Had enemies.
1. Herod, Herod's wife, Herod's daughter

39. Matthew 14:1-4
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

40. Matthew 14:5-8
And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."

41. Matthew 14:9-11
And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

42. The Life of John the Baptist
A. His birth
B. His name
C. His character.
D. Had enemies.
1. Herod, Herod's wife, Herod's daughter
2. Others who were not willing to repent

43. Matthew 21:24-26
"The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?"
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet."

45. The Mission of John the Baptist
A. It was a divine mission.
1. God sent him on it.

46. John 1:6
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

47. Luke 7:30
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

48. The Mission of John the Baptist
A. It was a divine mission.
1. God sent him on it.
2. The prophets predicted it.

49. Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

50. Malachi 3:1; 4:5
"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the Lord of hosts."
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord."

51. Matthew 11:13-14
"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come."

52. Matthew 17:10-13
And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

53. Luke 1:17
"He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

54. The Mission of John the Baptist
A. It was a divine mission.
B. He preached the kingdom of God.
1. He gave knowledge of salvation to “his people.”

55. Luke 1:76-79
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."

56. The Mission of John the Baptist
A. It was a divine mission.
B. He preached the kingdom of God.
1. He gave knowledge of salvation to “his people.”
2. He announced “kingdom at hand;” only Jews looked for it.

57. Matthew 3:1-2
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

58. The Mission of John the Baptist
A. It was a divine mission.
B. He preached the kingdom of God.
1. He gave knowledge of salvation to “his people.”
2. He announced “kingdom at hand;” only Jews looked for it.
3. He was not in the kingdom.

59. Matthew 11:11
"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

60. The Mission of John the Baptist
C. He was to turn Israel back to God.

61. Luke 1:17
"He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

62. The Mission of John the Baptist
C. He was to turn Israel back to God.
1. This involved a baptism of repentance “for” or “unto” the remission of sins.

63. Mark 1:4
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

64. The Mission of John the Baptist
C. He was to turn Israel back to God.
1. It involved a baptism of repentance “for” or “unto” the remission of sins.
2. He taught the Jews to repent.

65. Luke 1:16
"And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God."

66. The Mission of John the Baptist
C. He was to turn Israel back to God.
1. It involved a baptism of repentance “for” or “unto” the remission of sins.
2. He taught the Jews to repent.
3. He taught faith in a Christ to come.

67. Acts 19:1-2
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."

68. Acts 19:3-4 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?"
So they said, "Into John's baptism."
Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

69. The Mission of John the Baptist
C. He was to turn Israel back to God.
1. It involved a baptism of repentance “for” or “unto” the remission of sins.
2. He taught the Jews to repent.
3. He taught faith in a Christ to come.
4. His baptism did not add one to the church.

70. Matthew 16:15-18
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

71. The Mission of John the Baptist
C. He was to turn Israel back to God.
1. It involved a baptism of repentance “for” or “unto” the remission of sins.
2. He taught the Jews to repent.
3. He taught faith in a Christ to come.
4. His baptism did not add one to the church.
5. Not one drop of John’s blood went toward the purchase price of Christ’s church.

72. Acts 20:28
"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."

74. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
A. John was to decrease. His mission field was the land of Israel—a specific people for a specific length of time.

75. John 3:25-27
Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"
John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

76. John 3:28-30
"You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."

77. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
A. John was to decrease. His mission field was the land of Israel—a specific people for a specific length of time.
B. The good news of salvation was not given until after the time of John.
1. It was spoken first by the Lord.

78. Hebrews 2:2-4
For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

79. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
A. John was to decrease. His mission field was the land of Israel—a specific people for a specific length of time.
B. The good news of salvation was not given until after the time of John.
1. It was spoken first by the Lord.
2. It was not spoken until after John’s baptism.

80. Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

81. Acts 10:36-38
"The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

82. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
A. John was to decrease. His mission field was the land of Israel—a specific people for a specific length of time.
B. The good news of salvation was not given until after the time of John.
1. It was spoken first by the Lord.
2. It was not spoken until after John’s baptism.
The gospel is God’s power to save.

83. Romans 1:14-16
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

84. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
A. John was to decrease. His mission field was the land of Israel—a specific people for a specific length of time.
B. The good news of salvation was not given until after the time of John.
1. It was spoken first by the Lord.
2. It was not spoken until after John’s baptism.
The gospel is God’s power to save.
It was not complete until after John’s death.

85. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

86. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

87. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
C. The gospel is for all nations.

88. Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

89. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
C. The gospel is for all nations.
1. One living today cannot find salvation in a ministry that ended at the cross of Jesus.
2. If we are practicing something in religion that was not taught to “all nations” by the apostles, our worship is vain.

90. Matthew 15:9
" 'And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

91. Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

92. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
C. The gospel was/is for all nations (Matt. 28:18,19).
1. One living today cannot find salvation in a ministry that ended at the cross of Jesus.
2. If we are practicing something in religion that was not taught to “all nations” by the apostles, our worship is vain.
3. The Lord’s Supper began at Pentecost.

93. Matthew 26:26-29
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

94. Acts 2:42; 20:7
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

95. The Harbinger of Jesus Christ
C. The gospel is for all nations.
1. One living today cannot find salvation in a ministry that ended at the cross of Jesus.
2. If we are practicing something in religion that was not taught to “all nations” by the apostles, our worship is vain.
3. The Lord’s Supper began at Pentecost.
4. God said He would give His people a “new name.” It was given after Pentecost.

96. Isaiah 62:1-2
For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will name.

97. Acts 11:25-26 [NKJV]
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

98. Acts 11:25-26 [Nestle Text]
And he went forth to Tarsus to seek Saul, and finding brought to Antioch. And it happened to them also year a whole to be assembled in the church and to teach a crowd considerable, and to call firstly in Antioch the disciples Christians.

99. Acts 11:25-26 [Westcott-Hort Text]
He went out but into Tarsus to seek up Saul, and having found he led into Antioch. It occurred but to them and year whole to be led together in the ecclesia and to teach crowd sufficient, to style divinely and firstly in Antioch the disciples Christians.

100. Where Men Go Astray Today
His “name was John” not “Baptist.”
The word, “baptist,” simply means “one who immerses.”
Can you imagine “The First One Who Immerses Church of Corinth” or “the First One Who Immerses Church of Caesarea”?
He was John the baptist to distinguish him from John the apostle just as Simon the tanner was distinct from Simon the sorcerer.

101. Where Men Go Astray Today
Everyone should have a mission and should keep it in mind.
But one should also keep in mind that John’s mission was not to make Baptists but to bring the Jews back into a right relationship with God in preparation for the coming spiritual kingdom of God.