John the Baptist’s message was “repent, for the kingdom if heaven has come near.” When the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the Jordan River, John had a message for them...a message that is very relevant for all of us today.
He told them of the need for repentance and said: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and your heritage (as sons of Abraham) is neither necessary nor sufficient for your salvation.
The call to repentance is either an invitation to kingdom life or a warning of coming judgement: there is no third choice.