Anyone who has read the four Gospels of the New Testament knows that "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." He had godly parents who were instructed by the angel of the Lord to call his name John,and they most certainly obeyed this command. He was later referred to as John the Baptist. "The Baptist" was a title that described his ministry and who he was. He was not born a Baptist but became a Baptist. This is very clear in the scriptures. Is it then heresy for present day Baptists to declare that we are linked to John the Baptist? A scriptural evaluation of his message and ministry will clearly answer this question.
He declared that Jesus Christ is "...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." He preached repentance from sins which his converts clearly did before he baptized them (Matt.3:6). He unashamedly stood against sin even when it came at a cost (Matt.14:3-4). He baptized (immersed) believers. He exposed and separated from false religion (Matt. 3:7). He warned of coming judgment for the lost and clearly described that judgment as a place of unquenchable fire. He continually bore witness to and exalted the Lord Jesus Christ. He made disciples for the Lord Jesus (John 1:35-37). Note that the Lord did not reject these disciples and that they were not full of false doctrine and practices, but were ready disciples for the Lord.
John’s ministry certainly sounds the same as any true, present day Baptist ministry. You see, we Baptists have never changed because the Lord’s New Testament plan has not changed. You will find that these very things that John the Baptist preached and practiced were preached and practiced by all of God’s men and churches mentioned in the scriptures. The scriptures command that we do the same. The Bible makes us Baptists and therefore we are clearly linked to all of the New Testament preachers and churches including "...a man sent from God whose name was John."