"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, For this is he that was spoken of by the prophets Esaias, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his path straight."

Matthew 3

We know that the preaching of John the Baptist was the preparatory time for the coming of Jesus. That is, his preaching prepared the hearer, the people who listened to him, for the time when they would meet Jesus. John the Baptist preached repentence and baptism. Repentence for the people to feel sorrowful and change their ways, start loving and treating their fellow man rightly, and baptism by water as a type of cleasing, removal, or taking away of their sins in the order of Jesus. Now through Jesus this baptism became the baptism of the Holy Spirit which cleanse, takes away, and removes, which all leads to forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit (baptism) which we received when we accepted Jesus, replaces water baptism. We are baptized in and by the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:8, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.").

Water baptism for our time, and the reason we do it, is because it simulates Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection only. It does not remove sin, nor does it saves, thereby being useless to anyone who thinks it's neccessary for salvation. I just thought I'd inject this since so many are confused about it.

Now, the repentence John preached was heard by many people. And many did receive him. But many more didn't, because they had their own priorities in other areas. But yet, they continued to go to the temple, the house of God, make their sacrifices (tithes) like they were holy. They sat and heard the reading of the word of God from the books of the prophets. They did this because in their way of looking at sin, they considered themselves righteous just like the world do today. The world or the wordly thinks they do not need to serve Jesus, because their sins are not all that bad. They don't do the real bad stuff, and since they don't do the real bad stuff, they think they will go to heaven when they die. Sorry! I have real bad news for you.

Let's look at two situations where Jesus clears the air on "My sins vs Your sins." Turn with me to the Gospel of Luke chapter 13 verse 1. It reads, "There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. These followers had an ancient belief that bad things only happened to really bad people. Since Pilate killed these Galilaeans during their sacrifices, these figured they must have been truly bad sinners and deserved it. --You probably heard many time when people say someone deserved what they got. Or that certain ones are living their lives so bad that if they died hell would be their home. Some people seem to think that as long as they see the other person doing real shameful and horroble things, and they talk about it, then it makes their sins ok. They think they are better than that person. They think their sins will be excused by God. Bad news again. Sorry, sorry, sorry to bust your bubble. This kinda think and belief will land you into hell. LET"S GET BACK! Jesus asked Them, "Suppose Ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?" Meaning - why do you think these Galileans that were killed were greater sinners than the rest of the Galileans, or that your sins means something to God because you go to church regularly. Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." He said their is no different in their sins or yours. He gave another example to them. He said, "Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?" Eighteen men were killed working on a tower in Siloam. Because these eighteen were killed, Jesus asked, did it mean that they were the worst people in Jerusalem? Again he said No! But listen very carefully at what he says for the second time to these people. "I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise parish."

Now we sum up what Jesus is telling them.

He's saying the time is "NOW" for all to repent. Everyone have sinned and come short to the glory of God. In the sight of God, your sins, my sins, no matter how small they are under someones greater sins will send us all to hell if we don't stop it, confess it, and receive Christ as our personal savior. Some may be a murderer, thief, drug addict, a drunk staggering in a filty alley, the sorrowiest person you ever known, "BUT," in the sight of God, you both are in the same boat heading towards hell if you dont repent. He said yes they are sinners, but so are you if you do not receive me.

Ezekiel 18:4 says, "the soul that sinneth shall die." Jesus said you shall parish. What do this mean. It does not mean you will die from some sickness or mishap of this world. Yes you will die. All of us will someday. But this means that sinners will die a second death at the White throne judgement where you will be tried and found guilty of disobedience. Disobedience which corrupted yourself thereby corrupting the minds of those around you, and leading them to hate and dispise God. This is a high crime against God that warrants death. To be cast into the lake of fire to forever burn. An eternal separation from Christ (death).

Revelation 20:11 reads, "And I saw a white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the dead gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Now is the time to repent. Don't wait for tomorrow, it may never come.