I must decrease… (4 things)

• 1^st – Baptizing in the Jordan… vs. 22
  • Jesus baptizing in Judea… vs. 22
    • After Jesus conversation with Nicodemus in Jerusalem – He left to go to Judea…

• Judea was a barangay on the outskirts of Jerusalem toward the east in the desert…
• The Jordan River ran through Judea – and had water flowing year around…
• Jesus went there to baptize with His disciples – still only 6 of them at this point…
• The purpose of the ‘Baptism’ – there are three baptisms in the life of the believer…
  • 1^st – The water baptism (John’s Baptism) – a Baptism of repentance…
    • Confessing our sin – and our need to be ‘cleaned up’ by Jesus Christ…
    • Baptism does not save us – it is simply a picture of our repentance and salvation…
    • Shows we died to our old selves – were buried with Christ – born again in new life!
    • Romans 6:4 –“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
  • 2^nd – The baptism into Jesus Christ…
    • The moment we have faith in Jesus – we are baptized into Jesus Christ…
    • Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
    • The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptism is from a Greek poet…
    • He wrote a recipe for pickles – the vegetable should first be  ‘baptized’ in vinegar… 
    • So the act of baptizing the vegetable – produces a permanent change….
    • We are no longer the same person – we have been born from above – II Corinthians 5:7
  • 3^rd – Baptism of the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8…
    • The Baptism of the Spirit is to empower the believer to live for Jesus
    • The POWER – gas – for the Christian walk – is the Holy Spirit!
    • Jesus not only gives us salvation – He gives us the POWER to live for Him!
  • All three baptisms are part of the Christian faith…
    • As sinners we are required to repent – recognize we are sinner and need Jesus…
    • For salvation we are baptized into Jesus – born again – new life in Christ…
    • As sons we are baptized in the Spirit so that we can live for Jesus…

• 2^nd – Competing baptims… vs. 23-26
  • John the Baptist was also baptizing in the area – in the ‘springs’ near Salim… vs. 23-24
    • The Jordan River valley was a major ‘highway’ to and from Jerusalem…
      • With all the pilgrims going home from the Passover celebration…
      • There was a huge opportunity to share the Good News with the multitudes…
      • So both John and Jesus were there baptizing the crowds in the same area…
    • John had not yet been thrown in prison…
      • The arrest of John the Baptist is not recorded in the Book of John…
      • John rebuked Herod Antipas for marrying his brother Philips wife – Herodias…
      • So Herod had John thrown into prison – and beheaded – ending his ministry…
  • A certain Jew began to argue with John’s disciples about baptism… vs. 25
    • The suggestion is this Jew had been recently baptized by Jesus’ disciples…
      • Then went over to John’s disciples and began to ‘pick a fight’ with them…
      • Men love to divide – if you are not in my group – then you are not on my side…
      • Just because someone does not go to the same church – or is not in our group…
      • Does not mean they are not saved – a Christian – or going to heaven…
      • ‘The Church’ is HUGE and diverse – but it has one thing in common – Jesus!
    • His argument may have been – ‘we baptize the right way – your way is wrong!’

• As believers we need to agree on the essential doctrines of the Bible…
• The triune nature of God / salvation only through the cross of Jesus – absolute!
• On non-essential issues – all believers are to agree – to disagree / not cause division…
• Sprinkle or dunk / praise songs or hymns / shoes or slippers – agree to disagree…

• Because – division causes the church to be ineffective for Jesus…
  • Rather than seeing the love of Jesus in us – the world sees us fighting each other…
  • Satan loves to cause division  – because then we will not be able to fight him…
  • When we are busy fighting ourselves – we are not fighting for a lost world!
• Because the church is not a building – or a particular denomination – Ephesians 4:4-6…
  • There is only One Body – and all who believe in Jesus become a part of it!
  • There is only one Jesus – one cross – there is only one salvation – one heaven…
  • There is not one heaven for one religion – and another heaven for another religion
  • We are going to spend eternity together – start getting along with each other now!
• The disciples went to John the Baptist and began to complain… vs. 26
  • The man you met (not name mentioned) – is baptizing more people than we are…
  • The crowds are going to Him (Jesus) rather than you – they were obviously jealous!
  • Sadly a lot of people / pastors are only willing to let God do a work in their church…
  • When they see God blessing someone else – they get jealous…
  • There is even the temptation to want to attack / talk bad about the other ministry…
  • Our joy should be seeing people grow – bear fruit for the Lord – no matter what church…

John the Baptists time was over – it was time for Jesus to begin His public ministry!

3^rd – All about Jesus… vs. 27-30

John answered his disciples – we have nothing God has not given… vs. 27

We often get the idea we are different/better than other churches…

As if somehow we have perfected the idea – and everyone else needs to catch up…

We forget it is God’s church – and He has a plan for each and every part of it…

God has allowed there to be many denominations in the world…

Each with a slightly different flavor – different focus – but all with the same Lord…

The reason is so that the church can minister to all different kinds of people…

I Corinthians 9:22 – “All things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

One person might be more comfortable in the traditions of the Catholic Church…

Another might enjoy the lively worship in a Pentecostal church…

Another might draw closer to God in the teaching of an Evangelical church…

Many churches for many different kinds of people – but all still God’s Church!

John had openly declared – I am not the Christ… vs. 28

John was not out there to start the ‘church of John the Baptist’…

Any time people start making church about a name / person / religion – stay away!

They are not looking to draw you towards Jesus – they are trying to lead you away!

John knew his purpose was to help establish God’s Church…

There is nothing wrong with having a particular church you are comfortable with…

There is nothing wrong with enjoying a particular pastor’s teaching…

The problem comes when we start to follow men – rather then having unity in Jesus!

We focus on our differences – rather than coming together as the family of God…

Making our identity a church rather than simply Christ – we miss the point…

What we should be is united by love as one – so the world can see Jesus!

John 13:35 – “All will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Like the friend of the bridegroom… vs. 29-30

If you have a friend who does not yet have a wife – but you know this great girl…

At first you are very important to their relationship – you bring them together…

Perhaps you set up their first ‘date’ – encourage them to spend time together…

But as time goes on – as their relationship grows – you become less important…

That is not a bad thing – it is your JOY to see their LOVE for each other bloom…

Jesus is the Groom that John introduced to the Bride – the church – Revelation 21:9

He must increase – I must decrease…

John knew his purpose was coming to an end – because it was all about Jesus…

People do not need to hear about denominations – or religion…

People need to hear about Jesus – He is the one who can transform lives…

It is only when we point others to Jesus we really give them the answer!

The way to spot a church that is pointing to Jesus – people grow in the Lord…

Faith comes by hearing God’s Word – Romans 10:17 – getting to know Jesus…

In the same way you always spot a church that is focused on men…

There is no maturity in the believers – 20 years down the road – still babes…

Still arguing over denominations – living like they did before they knew Jesus!

4^th – Jesus is above all… vs. 3:31 – 4:3

John was not the answer – Jesus was – 4 things…

1^st – Because Jesus came from heaven… vs. 32-33

Jesus could tell about the things of heaven – if only people would listen…

But the reality is that there were very few who listened to His words!

The majority of people follow Religion – because they do not listen to the Bible!

But those who do listen – discover that God’s Word is true…

Those who do take the time to listen to the Bible – find the answer!

Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the LORD is good…”

Like walking through life blinded – only to one day have your eyes opened…

The reason for life – getting to know Jesus – so you can spend eternity in heaven!

2^nd – Because Jesus was sent from God – and the Spirit is upon Him without measure…

To say that Jesus was filled with the power of the Spirit of God…

Would be like saying the Pacific Ocean was just a pond – massive understatement…

Jesus had access the power of the Holy Spirit without any limit…

The problem is people are limited – cannot always help those who look to them…

They have limited abilities / time / resources – limited access to the Holy Spirit…

Jesus has no limitations – all the abilities / unlimited resources – and power!

3^rd – The Father loves the Son – and has given Him authority over everything…

Jesus is the boss – He is the authority – He is THE head of THE Church…

We are all under the authority and direction of the head – Jesus Christ!

Colossians 2:18 – “Christ is the head of the body. We are joined together in His body by His strong ties, we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.”

4^th – Everyone who believes on Him has eternal life…

We were not baptized in the name of a religion – or any person…

No pastor or leader dies on the cross to take away your sin…

Only Jesus can save us from our sins – on He can give us access to heaven…

All of that to say – do not put your trust in a man / demonization / religion…

Churches – pastors – do not get the credit for people going to heaven…

I Corinthians 3:7 – “He who plants is nothing, nor he who waters, God gives the increase.”

You might have even gotten saved listening to a pastor – in one church…

Then you grew in God’s Word in a completely different church…

That does not make one church better than the other – both were used!

And ultimately it was God who used both to plant and water you in the Lord!

So do not look to the church – do not put your trust in men – put it in Jesus!

When Jesus knew the Pharisees learned he had baptized more people than John…

Not that Jesus baptized anyone – His disciples did all the baptizing…

Because it would have cause a lot of problems if Jesus had baptized – boasting…

Jesus left Judea and returned the area of Galilee…