fruits meet for repentance
Matthew 3:8
3:8 fruits meet for repentance. John’s baptism was conditioned on repentance—that is, a genuine change of mind and attitude toward God. It symbolized a washing away of fleshly sins, as well as a new life following death to the old life. Peter’s exhortation after Pentecost was very similar (Acts 2:38). In both cases, true repentance, as well as faith in God and His promises, are assumed as conditions for forgiveness of sins. Without these, the baptism was meaningless.