What did John the Baptist mean?

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seansmom

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When he asked the Pharisees and Saducees (who where coming to be baptised) who warned them to escape? Did this indicate that baptism is more than a symbolic act of obedience? How could being baptised helped them to escape the wrath and indignation?

Thank you for any thoughts and scriptures!!!
 
Perhaps the easiest way to answer your question is to point out that John was offering a baptism of repentance, which John himself contrasts with the baptism Jesus offers. Repentance can help someone who is in sin. One could be fleeing the wrath to come by repenting of the sins you have done to deserve wrath. The old testament is filled with calls for repentance, so it is easy to see that God wants and encourages it.

A nice passage from the OT is from ezekiel 18:21+
But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
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A bit further on it says: repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!..Turn, then, and live! (hand-typed so may have typo)

Jax, I just saw your post. I think OP is taking about Mat3:1-12
 
I think what I am asking (stupid as it may sound but I am not the brightest bulb) is would baptism have cleansed them of their sins?
 
I would suggest Acts 19: 1-7, when Paul meets the disciples of John. You will find your answer there.

This may help also Baptism

Peace and God Bless
Nicene
 
sean(name removed by moderator):
I think what I am asking (stupid as it may sound but I am not the brightest bulb) is would baptism have cleansed them of their sins?
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The baptism that John offered was not the same as the baptism that came later with Jesus and his disciples. In other words, the baptism that John did to people wasn’t the baptism that modern Christians receive. John’s did not have the Holy Spirit and new birth and the sanctifying grace thing by nature. So having water poured on them by John did not guarantee the washing away of original sin and the gift of sanctifying grace and HS. God could give them grace at that time, just as he is always free to do so. But John’s baptism was not the same as the one we have today. It was a preparation, as can be seen here in the CCC

720 Finally, with John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to man of “the divine likeness,” prefiguring what he would achieve with and in Christ. John’s baptism was for repentance; baptism in water and the Spirit will be a new birth.100
 
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