I invite you to take your Bible this morning and open to Luke chapter 3, Luke's gospel, chapter 3. And our text will be verses 7 through, I'm going to extend it a little bit, all the way through 17 this morning. We'll read that much of the Bible, that portion of the text, and we'll see if we can get through that much. Regardless, we'll cover some ground. It's so good to see you. and your smiling face this morning, and I know we're all in anticipation of spring, and that's exciting, but even more exciting just to open the word of God, to hear the pages turning in this corporate setting, and to read this ancient text. We have much in front of us this morning, And I trust that it will be helped and edified during this time together. And then we'll have much to ponder as we go forward. So chapter 3, verse 7, is where we'll begin. This is the ministry of John the Baptist. We were introduced to that ministry last week in verses 1 through 6. So we're going to carry forth from verse 7 and all the way through verse 17. So he began saying, now this is John, all right? This is John. He was raised in the deserts and the wilderness. He's the one with the clothing of camel hair. This is the one who ate the locusts and the wild honey. That was his diet. So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore, bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham for our father, for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. Indeed, the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And the crowds were questioning him, saying, then what shall we do? And he would answer and say to them, The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none. And he who has food is to do likewise. And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, collect no more than what you have been ordered to. Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, and what about us? What shall we do? And he said to them, do not take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely and be content with your wages. Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John as to whether he was the Christ, John answered and said to them, all, as for me, I baptize you with water. But one is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to thoroughly clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. The word of the Lord. So this is the ministry of John the Baptist. John the Baptist being the forerunner to the king. He was the herald to the king. The imagery comes from those days in which a king would travel and he would send a herald in front of him. And that herald would go tell the people in the towns that the king would be visiting. The king is coming. Get ready for the king. And this herald would be in charge of making sure everything was just right when the king arrived. And this is the role of John the Baptist. He is the forerunner to the king. And this is a transition ministry. John the Baptist is in the role of an Old Testament prophet. John is going to bring the word. Now, John is roughly six months prior to the coming of Jesus. but he is there to preach and to preach in such a way that the hearts of the people are prepared to receive the king. It's a heart work. His ministry is a ministry of repentance and that ministry of repentance is a heart work. the people so that ultimately they are ready to receive Jesus that's important so we have this verse 3 if you look at that he came into all the district around the Jordan and preaching so John the Baptist is preaching and what is he preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and then we have this quote from Isaiah the voice of one crying in the wilderness that would be John make ready the way of the Lord Get ready to receive the Lord. Make his path straight. Every valley or ravine will be filled. So the humble will be raised and every mountain and hill will be brought low. The proud will be brought low. The crooked will become straight. And the rough road smooth, the obstacles are removed and all flesh will see the salvation of God. So this repentance is characterized in this passage from Isaiah that is quoted right here in Luke chapter 3. John's ministry is a baptism of repentance. It's a ministry concerning repentance. So that's the focal point. And what we're gonna learn is what repentance is and how important it is. So over in Mark, you don't need to turn there. Jesus, when he came, he preached, repent, and believe the good news. That was the message of Jesus. The message of salvation, listen, includes the message of repentance. And we're going to find out today some things about what it means to repent. What was John asking these people to do? Now, just so we get the lay of the land, John the Baptist was raised in the wilderness, but he never left the wilderness to do his ministry. He stayed out there. He was in the deserts. He was out in the wilderness. Just, you know, country boy to the nth degree. And the people, the Bible tells us, the people are going out to hear John. So it wasn't like the Lord sent the forerunner, John, to Jerusalem, a metropolitan area with a temple and all this stuff. No, John stayed in the wilderness and all those religious people and others heard about John and they are going out into the country, into the wilderness, to hear John and to hear this message of repentance. So, what does it mean to repent? What are the, if you will, the components of repentance? What's the purpose of it? Well, we're gonna find out right here in verse 7. We could also include that quote from Isaiah. But we'll just start there in verse 7. Did you notice, this is John's first words. So he's a preacher, he's going to talk, but these are the first words that he's going to say. So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him. So apparently this is working, this is what God wanted, right? The people are going out to hear John. But when it comes time for him to speak, this is what he says. He looks at the people and he says, you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? My goodness. I mean, what in the world? What is the reference point for John speaking to these people in this manner, calling them, of all things, a brood of vipers? And then he asked the question, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Sounds like John has somewhat of a chip on his shoulder a little bit. And you would wonder as to the eventual success of the ministry of John when you greet the people this way. So what was on his mind? You brood of vipers. Well, he's thinking of, perhaps, the religious elite. Some would maintain that these Pharisees and these Sadducees, they're going out, but they're not really all in on what God's doing. They're going out to investigate. They're going out to criticize. They're going out to to resist the work of God. And so he calls them a brood of vipers. Actually, the literal here is son of snakes. You son of snakes. So is he referring to their activity in the Sanhedrin, where they would, you know, the high court of Jerusalem, of the children of Israel? Was he making reference to their whispers behind the scenes and their deal-making and all that went on in the court there, the religious court? Or, and I think the second is more likely, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? So John brings up a huge topic here in speaking of the wrath of God, the coming wrath of God, the coming day of the Lord, that is referenced throughout the Old Testament. We're not gonna turn to those scriptures this morning, but feel free later on to look at those. But he's saying, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Well, John knows that these folks are not, they're not genuine. They're not out there to humble themselves. They're not out there to hear John for what God has to say to them. They are continuing in their hypocrisy. And because of that, John calls them vipers. And then he mentions the wrath of God to come. Most people associate fire of God, and we'll have that later on, but the fire of God with the wrath of God. And he pictures these people as coming out there in order to be baptized, in order to avoid the wrath of God. Well, It's like snakes, if there's a prairie fire or a brush fire, what are they going to do? They're going to scramble and they're going to go away from the fire and they're going to get as far away from the fire as they can possibly get in order to save their own skin. But John is saying they're not genuine in this. They want to just have the baptism. rather than truly be repentant from the heart. So there's three things at least here at the beginning about repentance. Number one, repentance is all about owning your own sin. It is to recognize your own personal sin. Now these religious elite, these Pharisees, these Sadducees, even chief priests, they did not own their own sin. They thought they were the select of the elect, that they were God's favored children, but they were hypocrites. Jesus called them hypocrites later on in his ministry. John is identifying the fact that they're just hypocrites. They don't want to recognize their own sin. They want to avail themselves of a religious rite or ritual, the ritual of baptism, and just say, John, baptize us. but no repentance. See, it's a baptism of repentance that John was preaching. That means repentance happens before the baptism. And when that repentance takes place, when there's the ownership of personal sin, that our sin is rebellion against God, it is an affront to God, and we own that. God, I'm a sinner. I've sinned against you. I've rebelled against you. And this is something the religious leaders were unwilling to do. And so John calls them out. You Brutivipers. who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Secondly, not only do we recognize our own sin before God, that it is offensive, our sin that is, is offensive to God. We also understand that there's an accountability before God for our sin. That we are responsible before God for our sin, that we will answer to God for our sin. In fact, the consequences of our sin is the wrath to come. God's wrath poured out on unrepentant, unbelieving sinners. And that's what John is referencing here. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Well, there's certainly a wrath to come, But just going through a religious rite or ritual, whether it be baptism, I mean, there's all kinds of religious rites that people participate in. And they think that in so doing, they can be saved or they will win God's approval. Well, repentance is God helping us to remove the props that we as human beings want to cling to and say, based on this, I can be saved. It could be infant baptism. It could be lighting of candles. It could be going through a catechism. It could be a hundred different things. But I want to be very clear on this. No religious rite or ritual is powerful enough to save you. None. And we'll find that out as we read through. But that's what John wants these people to own. He wants them to know you can't just go out to the wilderness, go down to the Jordan, be dunked in the river, come up, and be free of the wrath that is coming. You can't do that. You must what? You must repent. And that's a hard work. And we'll find out. John's the one doing the baptizing. He's a man. I can baptize. You could baptize. But that's a man's work. There's more to it than that. There's more to salvation than a religious rite. Don't count on a religious rite. Well, you know, I'm at church all the time. That's good. The point is going to church doesn't save you because that's your work, right? Taking the Lord's Supper, that doesn't save you. Being baptized, being dunked in water, that does not save you. So what saves? Well, John will get there. So we have to repent, here's the context, we have to repent of believing that I can prop up on some religious thing I've done in the past in order to go to heaven. So I renounce all that. I say, no, that certainly doesn't save. I was baptized as a baby. My infant baptism didn't save me. I don't think that's too hard to understand. There are all kinds of religious things people can do and they take comfort in those. We're speaking with regard to salvation. Those things do not save. So John is very clear. Recognize your personal sin as an affront to God. Renounce religious ritual. religious ritual as the means of salvation, understand the consequences of our sin. What are the consequences of our sin? Well, it's the wrath of God. And then verse eight, therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance. So true repentance before God will bring forth fruit. And that's important. The people John is talking to, they just want to bypass the repentant part. They do not want to bear fruits. So he says, bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And don't begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham for our father, for I say to you that from these stones, God is able to raise up children to Abraham. So fourthly, we have to renounce an ancestral connection to salvation. These people said, hey, Abraham, we're related to him. That means we're in, we are going to heaven, no doubt about it. And John says, no, no, that's not the way it works. You can't just say, well, we're related to a certain race or my grandma was a Christian and she prayed for me. The question would be, have you repented and have you believed and received Jesus Christ as your savior? No, we're not saved because of a family connection or some ancestry. Now, praise God if you're raised in a Christian home. Praise God if you have a Christian influence in your life. That's wonderful. But that's not enough to get you to heaven. It's just not. Look at verse 9. Again, this big idea of God's wrath. He says, indeed, the axe is already laid at the root of the tree, so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. God knows the difference between repentance that is real and bearing fruit, and repentance that is just a false superficial repentance. Just tell me what to do. Tell me what religious thing I need to do so I can please God. No, the thing that John is emphasizing and highlighting is repentance. Renouncing those things that cannot save you. I like verse 9. Right there, you know in the Greek, word order is not In English, word order is more important for our understanding of the thoughts. The Greek is not the word already. In verse 9, indeed the ax is already. Already in the Greek is at the beginning of the sentence. Already. And it brings to mind the imminence of judgment. And that's the urgency that John brings in his preaching to these people. There's an urgency for them to repent because the wrath of God being poured out on them is imminent. And so John brings that idea. through in his preaching. So already the axe is laid at the root of the trees. So every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. That is a spiritual truth there. It also is true in the physical realm. If you have a tree that's not bearing fruit, then eventually it's going to be cut down. And then the crowds are questioning him. They're saying, what shall we do? They want to know, what are the fruits of repentance? So their question, what do we do? What do we do with all you're saying, John? And he tells them. He says he would answer and say to them, the man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none. So he's telling the people, the fruit of repentance is that you're thinking about others, not just yourself. And you're thinking about others, you're concerned about them, and you're willing to share with them. And then he says, he who has food is to do likewise. So if you have a sandwich, you share half your sandwich with the person. It's the fruit of repentance. The one who's changed his mind about his former lifestyle. The one who's changed his mind about what he thinks will get him to heaven. This is the fruit of repentance. And then, not only is he talking to these folks and telling them about the fruit of repentance, the tax collectors are there. Well, these tax collectors, they went out to the wilderness to hear John, and they're hearing him. And they came to be baptized. And they said to him, teacher, what shall we do? And notice, John is dealing with the fruit of repentance. They came to be baptized, but before they're gonna be baptized in the Jordan, John says, you gotta be clear on the fruit of repentance. True repentance before God bears fruit. And so John tells them. He says, collect no more than what you've been ordered to collect. So these tax collectors were ruthless. They were Jews. They were hired by the Roman government to collect taxes. Most of the taxes they collected were customs or tolls. And they would get as much, they would just use as much leverage on the poor people as they could, and they'd get every shekel that they could get from the people. And these tax collectors, though they were Jews, they were hated by their fellow Jews. And there's room for them to repent. Isn't that wonderful? So many, and as we've established from the study of this gospel, this is a gospel that Luke is bringing to all. It's like the whole wide world. Jews and Gentiles alike, hear the good news. And this is good news. He's telling them the truth. This won't save you. And he's getting to the point where he will say, this is who saves you. We're right there. So there were some soldiers there. Lo and behold, look at that, verse 14. Now there's different opinions on what soldiers they were, whether they were Roman soldiers, whether they were soldiers of Herod Antipas, whatever. They were soldiers. And they were questioning John. And they said, well, what about us? What do we do? What shall we do? And John said to them, do not take money from anyone by force. That's what they did. You know, these soldiers, they're basically given their rations. They're basically given what to wear. And anything else they had, they had to exact from the people that they could dominate or intimidate. So he says, don't take money from anyone by force, don't accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages. He's just showing them the fruit of repentance. Now while the people were in a state of expectation, there they are, all of them are in a state of expectation. This has not happened before. We're hearing these words, we're seeing this man before us. And they're wondering in their hearts about John. Who is this guy? Maybe they've heard the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth. I mean, this is 30 years removed from the time that John was born. And they're wondering in their hearts about John, listen, as to whether he was the Christ. Oh my, this is a holy man here. We wonder, I mean, is he the herald or is he the Christ? They're wondering if he's the Christ. And listen to John's answer right there in verse 16. John answered and said to them all, as for me, I baptize you with water. But, in that conjunction there, that but, that is a huge contrast. But one is coming. And that's how they referred to the Messiah. He's the coming one. Where's the coming one? But one is coming who is mightier than I. And I'm not fit to untie the thong of his sandals. And then he drops this into their hearts. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. My, my, my. So John, he's baptizing people into Jordan based on their repentance. Their recognition that the way they've lived is not gonna get them to heaven and this is to prepare their hearts to do what? To receive the one who can get them to heaven. They have to be prepared. They have to understand this repentance. They have to change their thinking about the way they've lived and what they've trusted. And John says, listen, I'm a man. I baptize you with water. But there's one who's, he's coming, he's mightier than I, he's stronger than I. And John says, I'm not even fit to untie the thong of his sandals. You know, this is something a Jewish slave wasn't even allowed to do. I mean, even a Jewish slave, no, it was such a demeaning task, even a slave would not do this. And John says, I'm not even worthy to do this. I'm not even worthy to stoop and to untie his sandals. And then look at these words. And I pray they're drilled into your heart. He will, this is his work. He will, he will what? He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now, what's he gonna do? This is what I believe the text is saying. Jesus is coming. There's gonna be two, there are two groups of people. There's one savior, but those who repent and believe and receive Jesus, he's going to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. They're gonna be immersed in the Holy Spirit. He's gonna grant the Holy Spirit to their life. based on repentance and faith. And those who refuse him, will be immersed in judgment, the fire of judgment. And the reason I take the fire of judgment there is because of verses 17 and, well, 17. His winnowing fork is in his hand to thoroughly clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. That gets back to the wrath of God that John spoke of in verse seven. a wrath that is coming on those who reject Jesus, those who forego repentance, true repentance, and bringing forth the fruit thereof. And then John says, listen, I am the herald. He is much stronger than me. So John differentiates himself with Jesus in these three ways. He says, Jesus is stronger than me. He says, Jesus brings a better baptism than me. And he says, Jesus is the judge. He is the judge. So he will bring the baptism or immerse in the Holy Spirit those who repent and believe. We can turn to Ephesians as we close. for some clarity. Sometimes we get caught up in terminology, well the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which I believe is conversion. I believe the Bible teaches that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is conversion. I believe that that is essential for salvation. Conversion is essential for salvation. There's only one name given to us by which we must be saved and that is the name of Jesus and that name of Jesus represents the work of Jesus his perfect life His death, His bloodshed for us on the cross, His burial in the tomb. He was buried and He was in the tomb for three days. On the third day, He rose from the dead and He appeared to His friends, His disciples. He appeared for several days and then He ascended to the right hand of the Father and one day He's coming back. So over in Ephesians chapter 1, This is a very succinct explanation of salvation. There are others in the New Testament, I like this one, this morning. In him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed you were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance with a view to the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory. Jesus told Nicodemus, Nicodemus, one of those elite teacher of the Jews, Jesus said, well, you must be born again. It is a spiritual work of salvation that Jesus provides for those who repent and believe and based on his work in your heart, in your life, your faith in him, your receiving of him, you're saved. And you go to heaven based on his merit, on what he's done, not so much what we do. I'm talking with regard to salvation. Keep that in mind. Father in heaven, we thank you for this day. Lord, I thank you for the message of John. I thank you that he spoke the truth. Now, Lord, help us come to understand that it is only the work of Jesus, it is only his power, that can bring us out of the darkness and into the light. It is only by his power that we can go from being unforgiven to being forgiven of our sins. And so Lord, we rely on Jesus today and we magnify Jesus in this place and in every life as the only way of salvation. We give you praise and glory and honor for it's in his name that we ask, amen and amen. Please stand turn number 542, Lord be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In my life, Lord, be glorified today. In our home, Lord, be glorified, be glorified. In our home, Lord, be glorified today. I'll be reaching out. Now, the God of peace, who brought up from the dead, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us, that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom He hath loyed forever and ever.