John's Baptism

Luke 7:26-30 KJV

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Given our Lord's own assessment of John the Baptist far too little is made of Him in Christianity today. Protestants and Protestant minded Baptists debate over where he fits in New Testament Christianity. In Jesus' mind there was no debate. Yes, John was a prophet. But He was much more than a prophet. He was a man sent from God. His baptism separated the justified by God from the rejecter of God.

That John's baptism is the beginning of New Testament Christian baptism is no question for Baptists. We understand that God began Christ's church with the Baptism of John the Baptist and that Christ has built His church on that same baptism

·       After salvation

·       By immersion

·       In obedience and

·       Under the authority of a Scripturally founded Baptist church.