WHAT KIND OF BAPTIST ARE YOU?
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Sept. 5, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
WHAT KIND OF BAPTIST ARE YOU?
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-17
Text: Matthew 3:1
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Introduction: This may come as a surprise to you, but there are many kinds of Baptists today. There are Southern Baptists, Northern Baptists, and American Baptists. There are postmillennial Baptists, premillennial Baptists, panmillennial Baptists, and temperamental Baptists. There are Sunday morning Baptists, Sunday night Baptists, and Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night Baptists. There are hardshell Baptists, hardheaded Baptists, and hardhearted Baptists. There are saved Baptists and lost Baptists. There are independent Baptists and invisible Baptists.
In many ways, John was NOT a good New Testament Baptist. For instance, he was not a member of a Baptist church. He did not have a pastor. As a matter of fact, he did not even live under the New Testament dispensation, because the New Testament never went into effect until the death of the Testator, the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, there are a number of things about this man called “the Baptist,” that all of us Baptists should have in our own lives.
I. JOHN THE BAPTIST EXALTED JESUS
John 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
A. He exalted Jesus in his own mind
B. He exalted Jesus in his ministry
* He was more interested in bringing sinners to JESUS than he was to JOHN
C. He exalted Jesus in his message
II. JOHN THE BAPTIST EXPECTED JESUS
Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John 1:32-33 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John expected Jesus at His first coming; we look for our Lord at His second coming!
A. He learned about His coming
B. He looked for His coming
C. He lectured about His coming
D. He lived during the time of His coming
III. JOHN THE BAPTIST EXCITED JESUS
Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
A. I believe the Lord liked John’s plainness
B. I believe the Lord liked John’s preaching
C. I believe the Lord like John’s persecution
IV. JOHN THE BAPTIST EXTENDED JESUS
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
A. He proclaimed Jesus’ person
B. He proclaimed Jesus’ preeminence – Jn. 3:30
C. He proclaimed Jesus position – Jn. 1:29
D. He proclaimed Jesus’ purpose – Jn. 1:29