Too proud for God?

Luke 7:29  And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.  

All the people and the Publicans, the tax collectors, justified God. They obeyed God and consented to his righteousness being baptized by John to show repentance for sins. The first step to God is repentance, realizing that God is above us and the judge or justifier of our lives we humble ourselves before him. The baptism of John was water baptism unto repentance. This did not remove sins nor was it salvation, but a cleansing and preparation for the one who would follow John. Jesus is the sin remover and the baptizer in the Holy Ghost unto eternal life.

Luke 7:30  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

  Who rejected God's counsel to repent and be baptized? The Pharisees and scribes, those who were responsible to God for the law. The law cannot save. Jesus saves by faith in him and through the grace of God.  

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  

Why did they not obey God and be baptized? Perhaps because they were putting on a hypocritical show? Pretending to be righteous? This story illustrates this:  

Luke 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luke 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luke 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as hiseyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luke 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  

They were too proud to obey God and submit to God for baptizing. Contrast this to our Lord Jesus Christ who submitted to be baptized, but had no sin to repent of.  

Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.  

 Jesus was not trying to look good, but he wanted to do all things good as our example. Are we too proud to obey God? Gary

********************************************************** This weeks John Bible Studies in Life - John Bible Study  

 Monday at 8pm est  ABIDE IN ME (John 15:1-6)  

Thursday at 8pm est FRUIT BEARERS (John 15:7-27)