Post on 04-Jan-2016
Firm Foundations
Lesson 33:God sent John to teach and baptize
Memory verse: John 1:29
Introduction
How do you get someone’s attention? Mention something
personally important to them
God announced the coming Saviour through John the Baptist
John – God’s messenger
Matthew 3:1-2 -- “Repent!” Agree with God about
sin Prepare for the
promised Saviour James 2:10
John – the promised messenger for the Saviour Isaiah 40:3 Matthew 3:3
John was a poor man
He ate what he found in the wilderness Matthew 3:4
Does God promise that His children will be rich?
Many believed John’s message
Matthew 3:5-6 Showed
repentance & trust in God
Baptism does not save you
Scribes, Pharisees, & Sadducees
Scribes Copied God’s Word onto scrolls Proud of their knowledge
Pharisees Made and kept many “righteous”
laws Kept separate from “sinners” Proud of their righteousness
Sadducees Did not believe many Bible truths
(angels, resurrection) Tried to stay in good standing with
Roman government Wanted to remain position as
leaders of Jews
John’s words to the proud
Matthew 3:7 God hates the proud!
Matthew 3:8 Must repent and prove
repentance Matthew 3:9
Thought their parents/family made them right with God
Everyone is judged individually
In themselves - nothing to boast about
The Deliverer
John 1:24-27 John was God’s
prophet Just a man Saviour was much,
much greater than he
Not worthy to be His servant
John baptized Jesus
Jesus was now about 30 years old (Luke 3:23)
Matthew 3:13-16 Did Jesus need to be
baptized? He was born perfect He lived perfect
It was God’s command to all who accepted John as a prophet
Holy Spirit came to enable Him
What God said about Jesus
Matthew 3:17 God called Jesus His
Son He was a man …but He was also God
God was pleased with Jesus He did everything that
pleased God Jesus was without sin Jesus was perfect in
God’s sight
Jesus, the Lamb of God
John 1:29 The Lamb of God
John 1:30-37 John now knew
Jesus was the Deliverer!
Conclusion
What about us? Do we need
signs? We have
testimony of signs – the Bible!
Jesus Christ is the only Saviour