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God does not send messengers to flatter the sinner。 He delivers no message of peace to lull the unsanctified into fatal security。 He lays heavy burdens upon the conscience of the wrongdoer； and pierces the soul with arrows of conviction。 The ministering angels present to him the fearful judgments of God to deepen the sense of need； and prompt the cry； 〃What must I do to be saved？〃 Then the hand that has humbled in the dust； lifts up the penitent。 The voice that has rebuked sin； and put to shame pride and ambition； inquires with tenderest sympathy； 〃What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee？〃
When the ministry of John began； the nation was in a state of excitement and discontent verging on revolution。 At the removal of Archelaus； Judea had been brought directly under the control of Rome。 The tyranny and extortion of the Roman governors； and their determined efforts to introduce the heathen symbols and customs； kindled revolt； which had been quenched in the blood of thousands of the bravest of Israel。 All this intensified the national hatred against Rome； and increased the longing to be freed from her power。
Amid discord and strife； a voice was heard from the wilderness； a voice startling and stern； yet full of hope： 〃Repent ye； for the kingdom of heaven is at hand。〃 With a new； strange power it moved the people。 Prophets had foretold the coming of Christ as an event far in the future； but here was an announcement that it was at hand。 John's singular appearance carried the minds of his hearers back to the ancient seers。 In his manner and dress he resembled the prophet Elijah。 With the spirit and power of Elijah he denounced the national corruption； and rebuked the prevailing sins。 His words were plain； pointed； and convincing。 Many believed him to be one of the prophets risen from the dead。 The whole nation was stirred。 Multitudes flocked to the wilderness。
John proclaimed the coming of the Messiah； and called the people to repentance。 As a symbol of cleansing from sin； he baptized them in the waters of the Jordan。 Thus by a significant object lesson he declared that those who claimed to be the chosen people of God were defiled by sin； and that without purification of heart and life they could have no part in the Messiah's kingdom。
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Princes and rabbis； soldiers； publicans； and peasants came to hear the prophet。 For a time the solemn warning from God alarmed them。 Many were brought to repentance； and received baptism。 Persons of all ranks submitted to the requirement of the Baptist； in order to participate in the kingdom he announced。
Many of the scribes and Pharisees came confessing their sins； and asking for baptism。 They had exalted themselves as better than other men； and had led the people to entertain a high opinion of their piety； now the guilty secrets of their lives were unveiled。 But John was impressed by the Holy Spirit that many of these men had no real conviction of sin。 They were timeservers。 As friends of the prophet； they hoped to find favor with the coming Prince。 And by receiving baptism at the hands of this popular young teacher； they thought to strengthen their influence with the people。
John met them with the scathing inquiry； 〃O generation of vipers； who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come？ Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance； and think not to say within yourselves；
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We have Abraham to our father： for I say unto you； that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham。〃
The Jews had misinterpreted God's promise of eternal favor to Israel： 〃Thus saith the Lord； which giveth the sun for a light by day； and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night； which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar； The Lord of hosts is His name： If those ordinances depart from before Me； saith the Lord； then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever。 Thus saith the Lord； If heaven above can be measured； and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath； I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done； saith the Lord。〃 Jer。 31：35…37。 The Jews regarded their natural descent from Abraham as giving them a claim to this promise。 But they overlooked the conditions which God had specified。 Before giving the promise； He had said； 〃I will put My law in their inward parts； and write it in their hearts； and will be their God； and they shall be My people。 。 。 。 For I will forgive their iniquity； and I will remember their sin no more。〃 Jer。 31：33； 34。
To a people in whose hearts His law is written； the favor of God is assured。 They are one with Him。 But the Jews had separated themselves from God。 Because of their sins they were suffering under His judgments。 This was the cause of their bondage to a heathen nation。 Their minds were darkened by transgression； and because in times past the Lord had shown them so great favor； they excused their sins。 They flattered themselves that they were better than other men； and entitled to His blessings。
These things 〃are written for our admonition； upon whom the ends of the world are come。〃 1 Cor。 10：11。 How often we misinterpret God's blessings； and flatter ourselves that we are favored on account of some goodness in us！ God cannot do for us that which He longs to do。 His gifts are used to increase our self…satisfaction； and to harden our hearts in unbelief and sin。
John declared to the teachers of Israel that their pride； selfishness； and cruelty showed them to be a generation of vipers； a deadly curse to the people； rather than the children of just and obedient Abraham。 In view of the light they had received from God； they were even worse than the heathen； to whom they felt so much superior。 They had forgotten the rock whence they were hewn； and the hole of the pit from which they had been digged。 God was not dependent upon them for the fulfilling of
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His purpose。 As He had called Abraham out from a heathen people； so He could call others to His service。 Their hearts might now appear as lifeless as the stones of the desert； but His Spirit could quicken them to do His will； and receive the fulfillment of His promise。
〃And now also；〃 said the prophet； 〃the ax 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。〃 Not by its name； but by its fruit； is the value of a tree determined。 If the fruit is worthless； the name cannot save the tree from destruction。 John declared to the Jews that their standing before God was to be decided by their character and life。 Profession was worthless。 If their life and character were not in harmony with God's law； they were not His people。
Under his heart…searching words； his hearers were convicted。 They came to him with the inquiry； 〃What shall we do then？〃 He answered； 〃He that hath two coats； let him impart to him that hath none； and he that hath meat； let him do likewise。〃 And he warned the publicans against injustice； and the soldiers against violence。
All who became the subjects of Christ's kingdom； he said； would give evidence of faith and repentance。 Kindness； honesty； and fidelity would be seen in their lives。 They would minister to the needy； and bring their offerings to God。 They would shield the defenseless； and give an example of virtue and compassion。 So the followers of Christ will give evidence of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit。 In the daily life； justice； mercy； and the love of God will be seen。 Otherwise they are like the chaff that is given to the fire。
〃I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance；〃 said John； 〃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。〃 Matt。 3：11； R。 V。； margin。 The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse His people from their iniquities 〃by the spirit of judgment； and by the spirit of burning。〃 The word of the Lord to Israel was； 〃I will turn My hand upon thee； and purely purge away thy dross； and take away all thy tin。〃 Isa。 4：4； 1：25。 To sin； wherever found； 〃our God is a consuming fire。〃 Heb。 12：29。 In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin。 But if men cling to sin； they become identified with it。 Then the glory of God； which destroys sin； must destroy them。 Jacob； after his night of wrestling with the Angel； exclaimed； 〃I have seen God face to face； and my life is preserved。〃 Gen。 32： 30。
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Jacob had been guilty of a great sin in his conduct toward Esau； but he had repented。 His transgression had been forgiven； and his sin purged； therefore he could endure the revelation of God's presence。 But wherever men came before God while willfully cherishing evil； they were destroyed。 At the second advent of Christ the wicked shall be consumed 〃with the Spirit of His mouth；〃 and destroyed 〃with the brightness of His coming。〃 2 Thess。 2：8。 The light of the glory of God； which imparts life to the righteous； will slay the wicked。
In the time of John the Baptist； Christ was about to appear as t