The Preaching of John the Baptist

[ ] 2/8/2015 #1094

THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Luke 3:1-18

INTRODUCTION: John was a strange man. He lived in the desert where he ate locusts and wild honey. He dressedin camel's hair, and he wore a leather belt about his waist. (Matthew 3:3) John's preaching was straight forward and to the point, repent or either experienceGod’s wrath. People listened to this prophet of God.

I. THE MESSAGE

A. PREACHING OF THE MESSAGE. (v. 1-3)

John's message was a call to repent for the remission of sins. Repentance is a call for people to have a change of mind which is demonstrated by a change of direction. Repentance involves turning from sin and bringing forth the fruit of righteousness.

B. PREPARING FOR THE MESSIAH. (v. 4-9)

Isaiah, the prophet, foretold John's ministry and message some 700 years earlier. (Isa. 40:3) John's message was clear: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (v. 4) He was announcing the time for Christ's first appearance. The Jews had waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah to come. The day had arrived. John, the herald of Christ, called for people to get their lives right to face their Messiah.

We are waiting for Christ's second coming. The warning of His coming has been preached since the time ofEnoch. (Gen. 5:22; Jude 14-15) In Revelation 22:20 Jesus said, "Surely, I come quickly." His coming will be sudden. If people are not already prepared at His coming, they will not have time to get ready.(Matt. 24:42-44)

II. THE MULTITUDE

A. CALL TO THE MULTITUDE. (v. 5-9) "bring forth. . . fruits worthy of repentance."

In verse 9, John told the people not to trust in their Jewish heritage. Repentance is turning to God and relying on His mercy. John was calling the people to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance to show the sincerity of their repentance.

B. CONVICTION OF THE MULTITUDE. (v. 10-11) "What shall we do, then?"

The people asked John what were the fruits worthy of repentance? In verses 11 through 14, John gave the people the sort of fruit that grows from genuine repentance. Genuine repentance produces a change of attitudes and actions.

1. Multitude. (v. 11)

The multitude heard John thunder out about God's wrath on the unrepentant. They asked John, "What shall we do, then?" John told the multitude to help the needy. If a person had two coats, he was to give to the person who had none. If a person had enough food to share with someone who was hungry, he was to give to that person in need. John told the people to practice the great commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. Obedience follows genuine repentance.

2. Tax collectors. (v. 12)

On hearing what John said to the multitude, the publicans wanted to know what was required of them. These publicans were tax collectors. Many publicans were Jewsworking for the Roman government. They were hated by the people and were thought of as traitors. They were known as extortionist who cheated the people. They would collect more than what was required and keep the extra amount for themselves. They were usually very wealthymen who lived lavish lifestyles. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who confessed his dishonesty to Jesus, and he was saved. (Luke 19:1-8) Matthew was a tax collector who became a disciple of Jesus. He wrote the gospel of Matthew.

John told the tax collectors not to take more money from the people than what was required. Honesty and care of others is an evidence of genuine repentance.

3. Soldiers. (v. 14)

The soldiers wanted to know what they needed to do. John said they were not to take moneyfrom anyone by force or false accusation. They were to be satisfied with their wages.Theses soldiers tried to supplement their income by taking from others. They used cruel means to get what they wanted from the people.

They listened as John preached of the impending judgment of God. Guilt and fear gripped their hearts. They also wanted to know how to escape God's wrath.

Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for one's sins. It involves a change of mind and a change of practice.God demands everyone to repent. (Acts 17:30) Jesus said "I tell you, Nay. But, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3, 5)

People today want to be saved and go to heaven when they die, but they don't want to change their lifestyle. Salvation is "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21)

Paul commended the Thessalonians for "how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven." (1 Thess. 1:9-10)

Paul preached to Jews and Gentiles calling them to"repent and turn to God, and do the works meet (fit) for repentance."Repentance involves who you turn to (Jesus) and what you turn from (sin).

A young pastor in a logging town noticed that the wood cutters would brand their stamp on the end of each log as they put it in the river to float down to the mill. That way, the mill would credit them for the log. One day, down at the river, he noticed that some men from his church were sawing the ends off of some logs so the stamp would be gone and they could claim the logs as their own. That Sunday, the pastor preached a sermon on “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” but he noticed the same men did the same thing the following week. The next Sunday, he titled his sermon “Thou Shalt Not Saw the End Off Thy Neighbor’s Log” - and was promptly run out of town.

III. THE MESSIAH

A. WORTHINESS OF THE MESSIAH.

John spoke of the "one mightier" than he. John saw and acknowledged the worthiness of Jesus. He knew Jesus as the Messiah, the mighty God. John recognized that he was not worthy to loosen the latchet of Jesus’ sandals. The sandals were made of hard leather and were fastened on with straps; the leather of which was the skin of the camel.John was implying that he was unworthy to do the lowest services for Christ.

1. Greater in His Person. (authority)

John always pointed to Christ as "mightier than I." John knew that Jesus was inherently more powerful. Jesus had all authority. (Matt. 28:19) John knew that Jesus was preferred before him. (John 1:27) Jesus was the Beloved Son of God.

2. Greater in His blessings.

John baptized people with water. This was a public identification with John's message and ministry. Baptism showed the people acknowledging their need of repentance and confessing their sins. Water baptism cannot forgive or remove sins. The Bible clearly teaches that only the blood of Jesus can wash away sin.John’s baptism was to prepare people for the gospel of Christ.

The Jews knew that when the Messiah would come there would be great blessings. They knew the Messiah would offer salvation and usher in the Kingdom.

Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings about an inward life conversion, which identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The believer is baptized "into Christ" (Rom. 6:3) and into the "body of Christ" (church). (1 Corinthians 12:13)

John said that Jesus "shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Those who are saved are purified by fire from the chaff of sin and from dead works.

B. WRATH OF THE MESSIAH. (v. 17)

In verse 7, John warned the people of the coming wrath. Jeremiah said: “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. “ [Jer. 10:10 KJV]

John warned the people of Christ's coming to gather His people (wheat) to Himself and to burn the chaff with fire unquenchable.

The imagery in verse 17 is the practice of sifting grain in those days. A wooden pitchfork was used to lift the grain into the air so the wind could carry the lighter chaff away while the heavier grain fell to the threshing floor. The grain was gathered and stored while the chaff was burned.

Paul warned of the judgment of the Lord Jesus when He returns to judge the lost. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 KJV)

Our nation is morally corrupt. People have no fear of God and no guilt of sin. Like in the days of old, the wrath of God needs to be thundered throughout the land.

God sent prophets to warn Israel of their coming judgment. People need to hear that God is going to judge this world. The reason for this judgment is sin. People without Christ are "by nature the children of wrath." (Eph. 2:3) Jesus said people who believe not on Him are "condemned already." (John 3:18) If they fail to repent, they shall perish. (Luke 13:3, 5)

The Bible teaches that God is a God of mercy and grace as well as a God of judgment. The good news is that today is the day of salvation. Jesus will receive every sinner whocomes to Him in faith and repentance. (John 6:37)

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. Do you have the fruit of repentance in your life? Can people recognize that you are a Christian by your life?

2. Repentance is a necessarypart in salvation. (Luke 3:3, 5) Have you repented and called on Jesus to save you?

3. Salvation is more than turning over a new leaf. It is a matter of being a new person. (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17) You must be born again. Trust Christ now as your Savior.