Repentance and Baptism

Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:5–6

D.L. MOODY
Think of the whole population going out into the wilderness to hear this wonderful open-air preacher, to be “baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins!” John was a preacher of repentance. Perhaps no one ever rang out the word “Repent!” like John the Baptist. Day after day, as he came out of the desert and stood on the banks of that famous river, you could hear his voice, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). We can almost now hear the echoes of his voice as they floated up and down the Jordan. 
Many wonderful scenes had been witnessed at that stream. Naaman had washed away his leprosy there. Elijah and Elisha had crossed it dryshod. Joshua had led through its channel the mighty host of the redeemed on their journey into the Promised Land. But it had never seen anything like this: men, women, and children, mothers with babes in their arms, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, publicans, and soldiers flocked from Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, to hear this lonely wilderness prophet.

ERWIN LUTZER
We seldom hear the word repentance. It’s not merely changing our minds, it’s changing the direction of our lives, turning away from sin. If properly understood, to savingly believe in Jesus means to repent; it’s an act of trust. Prayer alone doesn’t save us. Without a heart that acknowledges its sin and its need for the gift of forgiveness and grace, there is no salvation. 
Baptism should follow our conversion as an expression of our identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4). Because we’re identified with Christ, let’s “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8).

PRAYER
Father, thank you for the gift of repentance; I trust that divine work will be evident in my life.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Why did John the Baptist aways preach repentance? Why is this message so important?

What is the role of repentance in the life of the believer?