The Bible

 

Matthew 3:1-12 : John the Baptist (Gospel of Matthew)

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1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The Bible

 

Matthew 6:33

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33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

True Christian Religion #668

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668. Baptism was commanded, as is plainly established by John's baptising in the Jordan, to which the whole of Judaea and Jerusalem came (Matthew 3:5-6; Mark 1:4-5). Again, the Lord our Saviour Himself was baptised by John (Matthew 3:13-17). Moreover, He commanded the disciples to baptise all nations (Matthew 28:19). Can anyone fail to see, provided he wants to see, that there is something divine in that institution, something which has until now been hidden, because the spiritual sense of the Word has not before been revealed? This has been revealed at the present time, because the Christian church as it is in essence is now for the first time beginning. The previous church was merely Christian in name, not in fact and in essence.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.