The Word of God came to John

As a true prophet John came not with his own word but with the word that had come upon him. His preaching would build a direct highway for the coming of Messiah through the crooked and perverse hearts of those who claimed to be Abraham's children and yet were far from God.
John saw the coming judgement as an ax ready to fall upon Israel and rightly and urgently warned God's covenant people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. He applied this to their everyday lives making it clear that when Messiah came He would immerse them in His Holy Spirit and in the fire of His purifying judgement - cleansing and filling them according to His great covenant promises. The context of God's grace has not changed - there is a coming wrath and a salvation that is totally unmerited and a Messiah who delivers us from the former in order to reap a harvest for His Father's glory. Those who persist in rebellion will know the just judgement of the One who lined up with sinners on the banks of the Jordan - resisting His kindness they will one day face the wrath of the Lamb!