The Faithfulness of John the Baptist

In his ministry, John the Baptist told the people what to do.  He told them to bear fruits worthy of repentance and not to say to themselves that they had Abraham as their father because, "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 fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

The people asked John the Baptist what they should do and he told them that he who had two tunics to give to someone who had none and he who had food to do likewise. The tax collectors went to him be baptized and to ask him what they should do.  He advised them not collect more than what was appointed to them.

The soldiers asked him the same thing--"What shall we do?" He told them not to intimidate anyone or accuse falsely and to be content with their wages.

The people as they were in expectation reasoned among themselves about John, if he was the Christ or not.  John told them, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His bar; but the chaff He will bur with unquenchable fire."  With many other exhortations, he preached to the people.  John the Baptist rebuked King Herod concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, saying that it was unlawful for him to have married her while his brother was still alive and this led to his death. 

John was preparing the people for the Lord by preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  His words made them ask him, "What shall we do?"  They wanted to bear fruits worthy of repentance.  They wanted to change (Luke 3:7-19).

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