A Sincere Request: Assuming you have read my previous articles titled "Baptism: A Commitment to Leading by example, like John the Baptist" which is for humanity, please review them before proceeding.

Jesus Sets an Example:

Jesus exceptionally demonstrated the value of baptism to humanity by Himself undergoing the 'Baptism of Water. He also showed what it means to be a divine leader post-baptism. Jesus was baptized in His youth. However, people of all age groups came to John the Baptist in large numbers, from newborns to the elderly, including whole families and communities, to receive the 'Baptism of Repentance' by water. Thus, they were freeing themselves from their ancestral sins. Consequently, the baptism administered by John the Baptist can be categorized as 'Baptism of Repentance' and 'Baptism by Water'.

The Role of ‘Baptism of Repentance’:

It is termed ‘Baptism of Repentance' because John the Baptist was preaching to the crowds, urging them to repent sincerely for their sins committed since their youth, as the scripture states: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.' Matthew 3:7-8 ‘Baptism of Repentance’ cleanses both personal and ancestral sins.

The Role of ‘Baptism of Water’:

It is termed the 'Baptism of Water' because it cleanses humanity from the ancestral sins that are inherited at the time of conception, which defile the soul that God creates in His own image. As it is written: 'You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.' Exodus 20:5 ‘Baptism of Water’ thus Cleanses ancestral sins, yet repentance is necessary for cleansing of personal sins.

Severity of Generation’s Accumulated Sins:

If the present generation does not relieve themselves from their ancestral sins and their own committed since youth through ‘Baptism of Repentance’ and ‘Baptism of Water’, then it will descend to the future generation with added severity and consequences. The fifth generation is followed by the fourth, and the fifth generation is re-counted as the first generation. This means that the burden of the ancestral sins of the past four generations is passed to the new first generation with higher intensity. Therefore, the current generation must free themselves from their own sins and ancestral sins. In doing so, they will free the next generation from the severity of generation’s accumulated sins, so that they can glorify God freely, as written in the scripture: Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! Psalm 22:30-31

A Call to Action:

In order to help free the next generation from the severity and consequences of ancestor’s sins, those who administer and receive baptism must seriously consider and find a heartfelt response to the question: Have we overcome all the weakness experienced in our youth? Or are we sharpening the descending ancestral sins from generations? As the scripture at Luke 13:5 states: "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." Similarly, Matthew 4:17 conveys: From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This being the reason for John the Baptist that he stressed upon the need to repent through the ‘Baptism of Repentance’ by water, warning against spiritual stagnation, which had led to a state of complacency and sluggishness in the lives, keeping them away from truly seeking God’s purity. His such a stress has been recorded in the scripture as: And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:9-10

To be Continued…..

==> Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll uncover how 'The various parts of John the Baptist's Baptism' that transforms our faith journey.

Amen!

Praise be to God, Thanks be to God.

Not being Unrighteous is Religion!!

Jharkhand! Peace be upon you!!

India! Peace be upon you!!

Peace to the whole world!!