(Compare Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness, vv. 1–6
What evidence have we in verses 1 and 2 of the accuracy of this story? Where had John been educated? (1:80). Who was his teacher? What led him to begin his ministry at this time? From whom had he obtained his message? What had God told John? (John 1:33). Where did he do his preaching? In what sort of a building was every great sermon recorded in the Bible delivered? What did John preach? What is repentance? (Matt. 12:41; see Jonah 3:8–10; Is. 55:7). What is the baptism of repentance? (Acts 2:38). Did Paul preach any other baptism than this? (Acts 19:3–5). What was the exact form of John’s message as delivered by him? (Matt. 3:2). Had there been any prediction of this ministry of John? By whom? (Is. 40:3–5). How long before? Had anything seemed to come of this prediction? Why did it come true at last? (Is. 40:5, last clause). What may we be sure of as regards every prediction of God’s Word?
2. “O Generation of Vipers,” vv. 7–9
In what terms did John address those who came to hear him? Who was it that he especially addressed in this way? (Matt. 3:7). Why did he address them in this way? Is it ever right to speak to men in this severe way? (Matt. 23:33; John 8:44; Acts 13:10). What is it evident from verse 7 that these men were relying upon? What other false hope does John shatter in the 8th verse? What is hinted at in the words: “God is able of these stones, etc.”? (Gal. 3:28, 29). In what way was a true repentance to be manifested? What are “works meet for repentance”? (Is. 1:16, 17). Whose else preaching resembled John the Baptist’s in thus demanding repentance and works meet for repentance? (Acts 26:20; see Matt. 4:17). What other delusion of the Jews is shattered in the 9th verse? What is meant by the ax being “laid unto the root of the trees”? What trees in Jehovah’s orchard are to come down? Is it enough that a man does not bear bad fruit? For what had Jehovah been waiting for a long time from His orchard? For what is He waiting from us? Suppose He does not find it, what then? What is fruit? (Gal. 5:22, 23; Col. 1:10; Ro. 15:28; Phil. 4:17; Ro. 1:13; John 15:16). How can we bear fruit? (John 15:5).
3. Fruit Worthy of Repentance, vv. 10–14
What was the result upon the hearers of this faithful preaching of John? What is one of the best proofs that a man has preached well? (Acts 2:37; 9:6; 16:30). What was the substance of John’s answer? Is the spirit of “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none” binding to-day? To whom is it to be given? Why did John give different directions to publicans and to soldiers? What is the substance of his directions to the different classes? What suggestions may we draw from John’s words as to our preaching to different classes of men? What part of John’s preaching is particularly applicable to laboring men to-day? How much ought a man desire in order to be content? (1 Tim. 6:8). Is there any gain in this contentment? (1 Tim. 6:6). What part of John’s preaching is particularly applicable to the capitalist today? (v. 11). Is this part at all applicable to the poor man? What thought will enable a man to be content? (Heb. 13:5).
4. “One Mightier Than I Cometh,” vv. 15–18
What did John preach besides repentance? (vv. 16, 17). To what temptation was John peculiarly subjected by his immense popularity? Did he yield to this temptation? (See John 3:29, 30). What is the comparison that John drew between himself and Jesus? Do professedly Christian men nowadays all think that it is an honor of which they are not worthy to do the lowliest service for Christ? Do you think so?
What contrast between his own baptism and that of Jesus did John draw? What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1:5, cf. 2:4; 10:44–46, cf. 11:15, 16; 1 Cor. 12:4–13). Is the baptism in water a symbol of the baptism in the Holy Spirit? (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Ro. 6:4). What is the baptism in fire? (Jer. 23:29; 20:9; Acts 2:3; 2 Tim. 1:6, R. V. margin; Is. 4:4). What does fire do that the Holy Spirit also does? (1 Cor 3:13; Mal. 3:2, 3; Ezek. 24:9–11).
What other offices should Jesus Christ perform? (v. 17). Who, in the Old Testament, is represented as doing this work? (Micah 4:12; Is. 21:10). What is the significance of this fact? What becomes of the chaff? What else was cast into the fire? (v. 9). Where else do these two figures occur together? (Ps. 1). Is the fire literal? (Matt. 13:42). Between what two fires do we have our choice?
Was this the whole of John the Baptist’s preaching? What were some of the “other things” he preached? (John 1:29, 34; 3:29–36). What was the general character of this other preaching? (v. 18, R. V.).
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus Christ
(1). His person:
Divine, 17.
(2). His work:
Gives the Holy Spirit, 16; judges, saves, damns, 17.
(3). Exalted privilege of serving Him in lowliest service, 16.
2. The Model Preacher
(1). In what he preached:
Judgment on sin and fruitlessness, 9, 17; heart repentance the one condition of forgiveness, 8 (see Mark 1:4); holy living the sole evidence of true repentance, 8, 11–14; the coming Saviour and the necessity of faith in Him (see Acts 19:4), the dignity of Christian service, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, 16; the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins, 3; the eternal security and blessedness of the saved, 17.
(2). In the way in which he preached:
Outspoken, 7; easily understood, 9, 11, 13; adapted himself to his audience, 12, 13, 14; fearless, 19; put self in the right place, exalted Christ, 16.
(3). What he got for his preaching, 19, 20 (see Phil. 3:10).
3. The Scriptures
Their Author—God, the certainty of their fulfillment at last, 4–6.
4. The Holy Spirit
(1). Who bestows the Holy Spirit:
Jesus Christ, 16.
(2). What the Holy Spirit does:
Searches, cleanses, consumes, illumines, makes to glow, energizes, 16.
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R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.