Matthew 3:1-12 KJV
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
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.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand is the famous lines of John the Baptist. Now we do not know much about John the Baptist life beyond his sermons and who his mother and father were. His begining life is told in Luke 1, however what we learn is his life was preplanned by God to be the forerunner of Jesus. Jesus came preaching and teaching this same message of the kingdom coming. The best position in the church is not the preacher it would be the position of helps, because of the simple fact, to help someone is not preaching at them, it can be teaching someone, but often it just showing compassion for another, and helping them in their life journey. Now a preacher or teacher may be a person of helps, but all we ever see John role is preaching repentance. This morning as I read how he told the Pharisees and Sadducees of their own sins, what gave him the right to speak to these Pharisees and Sadducees this way. The question might be better served is did he have any religious power in the Temple, then we have to remember His father Zacharias did go into the Holies of Holies. That where the angel spoke to him about his wife conceiving. He was one of many priest, and no doubt because it was past to family members this one role, John did do his duty in the temple when it came to his rotation.

I be honest when I think of the prophets and priest of Old Testament and Zacharias about their role not being to grand of a job in one respect. They dealt with correction of their leaders both politically and religiously. Old Testament you see this direct communication with God and the prophets, so correction was coming directly from God to them usually. Example Jonah and Elijah. Jonah correction coming in the form of storm, a fish, and a gourd. For Elijah correction came in the form of earthquake, a whirlwind and a still calm voice of God. When God sends a prophet to political leader it more of what, the correction of situations either leader found himself in, or those under him perhaps. Yet where is the line drawn, it drawn when men of God refuse to hear. Pharisees of the days of John the Baptist and Jesus were of them days, where the leaders of the temple knew of Christ coming but always looked to find fault in Christ and John. John was human through and through, only he had the Holy Spirit dwelling in his heart like all believers do today. The Spirit communing with John's spirit. Jesus spirit was God(the Holy Spirit). He commune with his Father directly, more for our benefit then his.

John the Baptist is talking to his brethren in a tone of a need of repentance. Need of faith and righteous that brings about repentance. If they did not preach and teach, and do the repenting in their own life, God was going to take the very stones and raise up children of Abraham(righteousness). John even calls the religious leaders vipers, not giving them any slack of calling them devils or men not following in faith of Abraham and the law of Moses.

Then he talks about baptism one with water and one with the Holy Spirit, that Christ would baptize the believer with the Holy Ghost and with fire, meaning a fire that did not go out. It is unquenchable after once lit. John Baptized by the word of God spoken before his birth and conception for he was preordained to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire in the womb of Elizabeth. And so he was able to preach even through the storms of normal living and deal with the issue of repentance and faith. Was John a perfect man? Not in the least, his sins would be purged by the Holy Spirit just like any believer. Jesus being perfect only had to be purged of sin against the world and it was by the cross. Why would I say Only had to purged the holiness of the world from him. Jesus is Holy and the cross represents all our sins that nailed him to it. We all nailed Christ with our own sin, when we break God's word or disobey Him. He was not in disobedience to God only man. His flesh human, his incorruptible body pure holiness, with no need of the road dirt of our world to survive or maintain his life in heaven or on earth, yet his earthly body need the substance of the earth, and the care of the things of this world for normal living. Before thenailing to the cross he was stripped of bodily garments of value. Those same garment not worn in his beating, for they would of been shredded. His outter garment sold for money. All earthly things stripped from him. Yet he would rise to newness of life, just like we will when our body is ready to decay. Our outter garment for burial only to shroud us in the grave, our earthly bodies no longer need for our spirit has a new home in glory(heaven). We either be with him or raptured up when Christ return. Our bodies created in pure holiness with no sin or dust on them. Our bodies of the earth covered by his blood until our day of redemption. Then we are given a new robe of righteousness.

There several things one must know our sins are as scarlet but we be white as snow, not white in skin but purified in the heart. Skin coloring has no decision on our purity. Our cleanliness comes from Christ purifying our hearts through his death and resurrection. Taking our sins to the cross and burying them with him and raising us up with him to the newness of life. Then we are to learn to walk in faith, holding to cleansing power in our life when we fail, and repent of anything in our life that is wrong. Pharisees and Sadducees did not teach righteousness by faith or the law. It had become a ritual act of legalism and not faith to perform their duties in the Temple.

Where is your faith this morning, not my place to judge you but warn you, repent and be baptized for your sins. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Confess your sins and he is faithful to forgive you. What more do you need to know besides to ask Jesus into your heart upon doing these things so that Jesus can baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire that can not be quenched by man or the devil. This baptism is so you can demonstrate the gifts(preaching, teaching, helps, and so forth) and fruit of the Spirit(love, faith, hope and so forth).

Dear Heavenly Father create in me a clean heart, purge me of my sins, I believe Jesus Christ died for me and rose again, giving me knew life upon belief. Ask Jesus to come into my heart and baptize me by your Spirit, to walk and grow in your word of truth. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Acts 3:19 KJV
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Romans 10:9-10 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Revelation 3:5 KJV
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.