Repentance In The Ministry Of John The Baptist.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent you: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to John, those from Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And the people were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance: 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. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes 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: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3 : 1-12.

This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written by Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way. A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. ” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Mark 1 : 1-5.