COPC Matt 3:1-17 The promised Messiah's Ministry Begins

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Call Us into His Presence for His Worship to Bless Us.

Our Call to Worship ( From the Psalms)

Psalm 118:1-4 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.””

Let us Pray

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

God's Greeting (From the New Testament)

Hebrews 11:1-3 11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

LET US RISE FOR THE SINGING OF GODS WORD

Turn in your TPH to Psalm 1B How Blest the Man

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

O most great, most just and gracious God,

You are the Holy One of love—the God of unbroken promises.

Throughout the Old Testament you promised to send the Messiah,

and in the New Testament the records have been made that he came,

that he died, and that he arose from the dead;

but now in language more clearly you have promised to send Him back to this world for His universal triumph.

That last long look of the apostles on the Mount of Olives was met by the assurance that He would come again and in like manner.

We confess that we were conceived in sin,

and are by nature children of wrath;

and have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

In our baptism you took us into the bond of the holy covenant,

but we did not remember our Creator in the days of our youth,

with the fear, and love, and obedience which we owed you.

We did not please and glorify you in all things, nor walk with you by faith in a heavenly conversation,

nor serve you fervently with all our might;

instead we fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the carnal mind.

We have neglected and abused your holy worship,

your holy name, and your holy day.

We have dishonoured our superiors, and neglected our inferiors.

We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours, not loving them as ourselves,

nor doing to others as we would have them do to us;

we have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness and been content with our daily bread,

but have been careful and troubled about many things, neglecting the one thing necessary.

You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ,

and offered us pardon and salvation in him.

But we made light of it, and neglected so great a salvation,

and resisted your Spirit, Word and ministers,

and have not turned at your reproof.

We have run into temptations, and the sin which we should have hated,

we have committed in your sight, both secretly and openly,

ignorantly and carelessly, rashly and presumptuously,

against your precepts, your promises, and threats, your mercies and your judgments.

Our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us;

if you deal with us as we deserve, you will cast us away from your presence into hell,

where the worm never dies, and the fire is not quenched.

But in your mercy, your Son, and your promises is our hope.

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. Be reconciled to us, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins.

Take us for your children, and give us the Spirit of your Son.

Sanctify us wholly, shed abroad your love in our hearts and cause us to love you with all our hearts.

Make your face to shine upon your servants;

save us from our sins, and from the wrath to come.

Make us a peculiar people to you, zealous of good works, so that we may please you,

and show forth your praise.

Help us to redeem the time, and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure.

Give us the things necessary for your service, and keep us from sinful discontent and cares.

let us consider what manner of persons we ought to be,

in all holy conversation and godliness.

Help us to watch against temptations, and resist and overcome the flesh, the devil, and the world.

And being delivered out of the hand of all our enemies, let us serve you without fear, in holiness and righteousness before you all the days of our life.

Guide us by your counsel, and afterward receive us into your glory, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour.

Amen.

Please be Seated........

We Hear God's Law and Confess Our Sins to Him

Exodus 20:1-17 20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Confession of Sin: (WLC 149 & 152) pg. 959-960

Question 149

Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

No man is able, either of himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God;) but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

Question 152

What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?

Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.

Assurance of Pardon

Assurance of Pardon…Col 2:13-14 “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Let Us rise for the Sining of Gods Word

Psalm of Thanksgiving

Turn in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to

Psalm Preparation #22D The Ends of All the Earth Shall Hear

Congregational Prayer

We make our prayers to you, O Lord God, most merciful Father,

for all people in general, that you will be known to be the Savior of all the world

by the redemption purchased by your only Son Jesus Christ;

for they have been held captive in darkness and ignorance for lack of the knowledge of the gospel.

We pray that through the preaching, and the clear light of your Holy Spirit,

That those who do not know you be brought into the right way of salvation, which is to know that you are only God,

and that he, who you have sent, is Jesus Christ.

Likewise, we pray that they whom you have already endued with your grace,

and illuminated their hearts with the knowledge of your Word,

may continually increase in godliness, and be plenteously enriched with spiritual benefits;

so that we may altogether worship you, both with heart and mouth,

and render due honor and service unto Christ our Master, King, and Lawmaker

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

……..Offering………..

Psalm of Preparation

Turn in your TPH to #110B The Lord Has Spoken to My Lord

Please be seated

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 40:1-8

Let us turn in our Bibles this morning for our Old Testament Reading to

English Standard Version Chapter 40

40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that her warfare is ended,

that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.

3  A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4  Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

5  And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Word of God Stands Forever

6  A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

7  The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

8  The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

THE LORD FEEDS US FROM HIS WORD

New Testament Reading and Sermon Text Matthew 3:1-17

Open up your Bibles to Matthew 3:1-17

Matthew 3:1–17 (ESV)

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’ ”

Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

HP: The Promised Messiah’s Ministry is confirmed

Vs. 1-6 Johnthe Baptist Fulfills Prophecy

English Standard Version Chapter 3

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

John is fulfilling what the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 40:3 “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

And what is Johns message

John’s message is the message of Christ.

John’s message is that of a herald to all that would hear him here at the River Jordan.

And what is this message

What is his proclamation.

His proclamation is to repent.

To turn away from this wicked and perverse generation.

And why because with out a new heart

without a true repentance over ones sins

How would you know you even need Christ.

How would you know that the Lord is coming unless he is declared to you.

And what is the urgency?

Why is John proclaiming this message of Repentance.

Becasue he is preparing the way for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Jesus is coming

And John says “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand”

The long awaited King Jesus is here.

And John the Baptist was of the line of Aaron the high priest.

And we don’t find him in the Temple where the priests usually are.

John the Baptist was a priest of the order of Aaron,

yet we find him preaching in a wilderness,

and never officiating in the temple as far as we know;

but Christ, who was not a son of Aaron,

is often found in the temple, and sitting there as one having authority.

We find another prophecy coming true in the life of John and the life of Christ

Its found in Mal 3:1

Mal. 3:1 ““Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. “thats John” And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

So John was always going to decrease

And Christ was always going to increase.

John came from the line of Aaron

but would step aside for our true High Priest Christ.

The High priest was the one who would make atonement once a year for the sins of Gods People.

Christ is the one who would once and for all times going forward make atonement for the sins of Gods people on the Cross.

So why are the people listening to John?

Becasue John was a priest of the Line of Aaron.

And his message is no longer bring an animal to me to make atonement for your sins.

Rather his message is Repent “For the Kingdom of God is at Hand”

Repent “I am the one crying in the wilderness and preparing the way of the Lord”

It is interesting that John the man who’s father was made mute until his Birth as we are told in the Gospel of Luke .

John’s Dad couldn’t speak of what John’s name would be.

Or what the angel said to him because of his unbelief at first.

But now John his son is Speaking loudly

Is a herald of the Gospel

He Is Now declaring the Good News that Salvation and the Kingdom of God is at hand.

And John is decreasing in his apparel a garment made out of Camels hair.

He’s decreasing in what he eats “Locusts and wild honey”

And the Messiah was Born in lowly conditions.

Born in a manger

attacked and persued by Herod.

But now that he has come to the age of 30 Christ is ready to begin his ministry.

And the people are responding to John’s preparation for Christs Ministry

They know they are sinful

They know that they need to repent.

And John is showing them that they are now cleansed by Faith.

Faith in Christ allows one to repent

Faith in the promised Messiah allows one to have contrition.

And then John is showing the people of God the New mark of the Covenant.

that which replaced circumcision.

Baptism by water.

So the people are coming to him repenting because faith is being worked in them and they are being Baptized.

But is Johns Message for All Men?

Johns action seem to say that his message is not for all.

Lets look at

Vs. 7-12 Only Men who are repentent and have True Faith will escape the Fire.

Matt 3:7-12 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.””

The Pharisees and Sadducees are coming to this priest in the wilderness for this baptism.

And John does what all good preachers do.

He makes it personal.

He lets them know their condition.

That their office as Pharisee or Sadducee can’t save them

That being the children of Abraham can’t save them.

Becasue they, like all of us, apart from Christ saving work

are a brood of vipers!

and we should when we are warned to flee from the wrath to come?

FLEE, Repent, Turn,

Cling to Christ

We are called out from our law breaking against a thrice Holy God.

Who convicted us of our sin and misery in this life.

We cannot say that its because of our lineage that we will be saved from the wrath to come

like so many Jews do today.

They say we are the people of God of course we are going to heaven.

They are like many in the church today who say I grew up in the church of course we are going to heaven.

Don’t presume.

John say don’t presume this.

Don’t think that grace is owed to you.

And what is Johns measuring stick.

Bring forth fruit

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Christian if Christ has called you

If Christ has shown you your sin and misery

Then you must bear fruit.

And lets not presume to say to Ourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’

Or we grew up in the church,

My parents are Christians.

Make your election and election that is sure

And that is based on what the Scriptures teach.

And not what our opinions of what Scriptures teach.

And what is Johns reasoning.

He want’s to make sure that they know that they need Christ

And its not Christ who needs them.

John does this in verses 9-11

English Standard Version Chapter 3

9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

So the Kingdom of God is at hand

And God is able to raise up a people from stones for himself

And you apart from repentance

apart from this baptism with water which signifies your repentance .

You showing your need for forgiveness.

Are like a brood of vipers.

your snakes

and your rather resemble your father the devil who took the form of a snake in the garden.

but if you know yourself to be sinful.

If you know your need for Christ.

Repent and be baptized

Just as John called these brood of Vipers to repent and be baptized.

I call you to repent of any unconfessed sin and turn to Christ.

Becasue the Kingdom of God is at Hand

Becasue Christ did come after John declared him.

And who did John say Christ was?

And what did he say Christ would do?

Vs. 11-12 He would Baptize with the Holy Spirit

English Standard Version Chapter 3

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Christ is the one who can cut a man to the bone.

Christ is the one whose Sandals John and you and I are not worthy to Carry.

It is Christ who has the power to baptize with the Holy Spirit.

All those elect before the foundation of the World will be gathered by him as wheat into the Barn.

All that the Father has Given to the Son will be converted by the Spirit of God.

And all those Vipers who won’t repent.

Who won’t turn to Christ.

Who won’t bow the knee.

they are life the chaff.

When you rub wheat together there is a part that comes off its called the chaff.

And what will Christ do to the Chaff according to John.

He will burn it up with unquenchable fire.

the full wrath of God will be released on all those

Who do not turn to Christ in true repentance.

Not because of their lineage

Not because they grew up in the church.

Not for anything they mustered up in themselves.

Rather because of the finished Work of Christ on the cross.

And the active obedience of Christ which John is heralding and we are about to witness in verses 13-17.

Lets Read verses 13-17

Vs.13-17 Christ Baptism is Fulfilled

English Standard Version Chapter 3

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Here we get a glimpse into the Heavenly Throne that is set before man.

Christ fulfilling his Word that John would declare him in the wilderness.

The Messiah is now confirmed in his earthly ministry by be baptized by John in the Jordan River.

And the Spirit of God the Holy Spirit descends upon Christ like a dove.

And the Father speaks from Heaven this is my Son

This is the one who has never sinned

this is the one who will never sinn

this is the one who is not like the brood of Vipers that all mankind is

This is the Son in who I am well pleased.

Christ the Promised Messiah

Is declared by John

Prophecy is fulfilled

Calls men to repentance through the foolishness of preaching by his servant John

And by all his ministers after him.

And is baptised for all to see.

That Jesus is the Christ

whose Baptism was witnessed and blessed by both the Spirit of God and God the Father.

And so our Messiah Jesus Christ fulfills yet another promise showing he is the Christ that men can turn to .

A christ that can forgive sins.

A Christ promised the forgivness of sins to all those who trust and rest in Christ finished work.

The Work he began in the River Joran 2000 years ago and blessed by the trinity and declared before men.

And this is the God who saves and calls all men everywhere to repent and bring forth fruit.

To show the World.

To declare to the World

That you are redeemed by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

That you are his chosen seed

That you are the Elect of God.

That Christ has called you out of darkness

And into his marvelous light.

Praise God for this.

Amen

LET US RISE for the Singing of Gods Word and to praise his for his marvelous work.

*Hymn of Response

Psalm 110B The Lord has Spoken to My Lord

LET us now turn in our TPH to page 851 thats page 851 to recite the apostles Creed together.

Apostles Creed (together ) page 851

Hymn of Thanksgiving: Turn now to #552 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Closing Hymn TPH 567 Doxology

Praise God from whom all Blessing Flow; praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host praise Father Son ands Holy Ghost Amen.

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