The Kingdom of Righteousness

Introduction

I researched the “essence” of various countries and companies. What is at the core of each of these kingdoms? For Canada it was tolerance. For Germany it was order. For India it was respect for elders. For the US, I’m sure you could guess, it’s liberty.

Companies and corporations also try to come up with statements to capture the essence of who they are. Here are some funny examples made up by author Blaine Pardoe

Our mission is to make everyone else look bad by pointing out their mistakes and flaws so that we look better.

Our organization believes that a fool and their money are soon parted.

We are experts in claiming to be experts.

We put the “W” in Qwality.

I bring these things up because I believe Matthew 3 argues for an essential essence to the Kingdom of God. That essence is righteousness. In vv. 1-6, we see righteousness because the coming kingdom demands repentance. In vv. 7-10 we see righteousness because the kingdom is not based on favoritism. In vv. 11-12 we see righteousness because the kingdom brings righteousness. And in vv. 13-17, we see the king of the kingdom pursuing all righteousness.

In a world filled with double-standards and what some may presume to be grey areas, we can thank God for his kingdom of righteousness. In a world filled with injustice and crime and war and murder and addiction, the kingdom of God stands as a shining beacon of righteousness.

We live in a world that had a plurality of values. But we have seen in just a few decades just how quickly our values can change in our very own country. Liberty, while good, if its not grounded in God’s law gives way to all sorts of disaster. Having the freedom to do or not do something does not make that “something” righteous.

Take abortion for example. Notice what the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, our church’s doctrinal statement of faith says about the issue, “We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death.” This is what we say is righteousness. Obviously, the democratic party in the US has been in favor of murdering babies in the womb. But I want you to also know that the Republican Party has taken some steps back as well. In 2020, the phrase “sanctity of innocent human life” was used in the Republican Party platform. In 2024, the Republican party platform simply states that it opposes “late-term” abortion. Really? Can we say that’s righteousness?

When voting in the US has become choosing the lesser of two evils we are reminded that this world is not our home. No political party is our savior. Could one vision for the US do better than another? Of course, but the US government is not ultimate, it can be shaken. Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,”

Repent vv. 1-6

Life in the kingdom is based on repentance.

Look at Matthew 3:1-6

Matthew 3:1–6 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.

The wilderness was frequently spoken of in the Old Testament as a place of new beginning because it was in the wilderness that Israel first began as a nation after the Exodus.

Ezekiel 20:35–36 ESV

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God.

John’s message is short and to the point, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v. 2) Repentance is a whole life change. One commentator writes that repentance is, “a radical transformation of the entire person, a fundamental turnaround involving mind and action and including overtones of grief, which results in “fruit in keeping with repentance””

D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 99.

And why should everyone repent? Because the kingdom of heaven is here. The “at hand” carries the “already, but not yet” sense to it. God’s rule has begun—he is taking back the reins, he is taking back the scepter—but the fullness of that kingdom is not yet seen.

God is pleased to share his rule with his creatures. He gave his angelic host charge of certain areas. He entrusted to mankind the rule of all creation. This is precisely why it is here where Satan made his incursion to usurp God’s reign over creation for himself. Satan stole the scepter from mankind and began to rule the creation in his wicked ways with mankind enslaved to sin, doing his bidding. Jesus came to win back that scepter—to reinstate God’s rule. And what’s remarkable is that God still desires to share that rule with humanity, so much so that Christ became a human.

So John’s message is that everyone, everywhere who exists under Satan's rulership and does his bidding (which is everyone apart from repentance) should repent because God’s reign is now here. Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

John’s work fulfills more prophecy about the Messiah in Isaiah 40:3 (quoted in v.3). John is making way for the divine-human king to come on the scene. John’s appearance is supposed to remind us of the appearance of Elijah. 2 Kings 1:8 “They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”” What a preacher wears can show a lot about him. A preacher wearing a watch worth 10 grand, for example. John’s garb shows he’s all in. He’s not a charlatan. He practices what he preaches. He is so committed to being God’s prophet that he is also committed to wilderness living.

People come to John and indicate their repentance through water baptism. Here, the are submerged by John in the river. This is similar to ritual washings Jewish people participated in to be ritually clean before entering a temple. The big difference is that they are not washing themselves, but John is baptizing (immerse) them.

John’s message, the prophecy he fulfills, his lifestyle, and the people’s response all reflect the first main point of this sermon which is that life in the kingdom is based on repentance.

Last night, Emily and I went out to eat. There was a group of people sitting next to us. It looked to be a middle age couple and three college-age guys. They all felt free to drop the f-bomb and make crude jokes. I tried to tune them out, but then the older man began to tell a story about a preacher, which of course I had to listen in. He said a preacher came in with a bleeping clerical collar which he found ridiculous because he said, “I’m a baptist.” Then he went on to make crude jokes about this preacher.

I just want you to know as a point of application from the text, you can claim the name baptist all you want, but that does not mean you’re in the kingdom of God. Life in the kingdom is based on repentance.

Not Status vv. 7-10

And this goes in line with the next point that life in the kingdom is not based on status. It does not matter who your parents are or what denomination you are or how many hoops you’ve jumped through. Look at verse 7.

Matthew 3:7–10 ESV

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.

The Pharisees and Sadducees are the religious leaders of that day. They come to the place where John is baptizing, most likely not to be baptized themselves but to inspect what John was doing and report back. Some may have evened entered the baptismal waters, not because of any felt need of repentance or confession of sins, but merely to test John and see what he would do.

John calls them a brood of vipers, recognizing their baptism and repentance is not genuine. The image of “fleeing the wrath” is the imaging of trees falling down and fire being set to them. The snakes come wriggling out to escape the flame. Jeremiah 46:22 ““She makes a sound like a serpent gliding away; for her enemies march in force and come against her with axes like those who fell trees.” The question John poses is like the following according to D.A. Carson, “Who suggested to you that you would escape the coming wrath?” Thus John’s rhetorical question takes on a sarcastic nuance: “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath and come for baptism—when in fact you show no signs of repentance?”

D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 103.

The command is simple in v. 8, “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” and this is contrasted in v. 9 with why they assume they will not receive God’s judgment. Notice the simplicity of it all for a moment. There are two certainties for all of mankind in light of God’s coming kingdom: judgment or repentance. We can try to come up with all the excuses in the world why we should not receive judgment. But if we don’t have repentance, what do we receive? judgment.

Do you want to have assurance of salvation? look at v. 10. Matthew 3:10 “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.” This, of course is primarily a negative statement, but think about the tree with good fruit. What happens to it? Not judgment. How can you know if you’re saved? Salvation is based on faith alone, but faith that is genuine is never alone. True saving faith produces fruit.

False faith makes excuses. “I’ve been a baptist all my life.” “I had an emotional experience when I was 10 and then got baptized” “I walked the aisle and prayed a prayer and the preacher told me I was saved”

Listen: It does not matter what denomination you are, how wet you got in the baptismal pool, how emotional or sincere you felt when you prayed one time, where you were located in a church building, how much money you’ve given, how much time you’ve served, how genuine or profession of faith seemed to be or how many people believed it. You could have been a preacher for 30 years. The entire world may think you’re a Christian! But if you don’t have the fruit of repentance in your life, guess what? You’re not! Life in the kingdom is not based on status

Earnestly seek God’s will

Remorse for sin

Sensitive to sin

Justice vv. 11-12

Life in the kingdom brings absolute justice

Matthew 3:11–12 ESV

“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.”

There is so much that can be said about these verses but I’m going to try to keep my comments brief. John identifies the Messiah as the one “stronger.” Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit. We see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. What is Spirit Baptism? Spirit baptism is a supernatural experience ever Christian has that coincides with the salvation experience. Just as physical baptism is the initiation into a local church, Spirit baptism is the initiation into the universal Church. 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

So, Spirit baptism is not some subsequent event that only the “super-Christians” have. It is for all believers. It is the down payment, the guarantee of our salvation. It unites us to Christ. Spirit baptism begins our cooperative work with God in sanctification. So Spirit baptism is initiatory, effective, and purifying.

Then he also says, “And fire.” I want a nice clean divide here. I would like it to say, “or fire” because the next verse uses fire as an image of judgment. But the text does not say “or” it says “and.” So it seems the same person who gets Spirit Baptized is also baptized by fire. This is probably an image of purification that’s left open on purpose. The same fire that works to purify can also works to destroy that which is impure. which is what is seen in v. 12.

Using chaff as imagery for the wicked is as old as Psalm 1. The wicked’s influence on this world now may seem insurmountable, but soon it will be done away with. Life in the kingdom brings absolute justice.

Everyone in this world wants justice but no one knows how to attain it. Because to attain justice means you have to know what is good. Because secularism has thrown out the Bible and its definitions, no one knows what’s good anymore.

When I was a toddler, dad said I would cry. He would come up to me and ask, “why are you crying?” And I would reply, “I don’t know” then stop and go about my day.

Think about the slogan rioters around our nation have been saying, “No justice, no peace!” In other words, because society is not just, they will cause an uproar so that no peace is experienced. But. . .is disturbing the peace a just thing to do? So they want justice but refuse to act justly themselves? How is this “justice.” I hope you can see the moral insanity of our day, because this stands in stark contrast with life in the kingdom which brings absolute justice. There is a day coming when all wrongs will be made right. And the question will not only be, “Did you stand up for what is just” but also, “did you yourself do what is just?” It’s easy for us to throw a tantrum about how all those people over there or all those people above us are not being just, but its difficult to see how unjust our own hearts are.

Psalm 1:1–2 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Psalm 1:4–6 “The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The King’s Pursuit vv. 13-17

Finally, I want you to see the King of the Kingdom pursues righteousness. Look at v. 13

Matthew 3:13–17 ESV

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.”

John recognized Jesus for who he is. He is the “stronger” that he predicted. Other gospel accounts tell us John saw the Spirit descend upon him. Though they are cousins, it is unknown how much interaction they had before this moment. Regardless, John knew this was the Messiah and that was his hesitation.

But I want to focus in for a moment on v. 15. Jesus says John must baptize him because, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” It is for this reason I believe the theme of the whole chapter revolves around righteousness. Repent (vv. 1-6)! Why? because the kingdom is righteous. It’s not status (vv. 7-10), then what is it? The fruit of repentance. What is the fruit of repentance? Righteousness. The kingdom brings ultimate justice (vv. 11-12) which is reflective of righteousness. This is why I believe the essence of the kingdom of God is righteousness.

Notice that Jesus travels all the way there to be baptized by John. He goes out of his way. He’s active. Why? Is it because he needs to repent? No. Jesus has no sin. Rather it’s to “fulfill all righteousness.” Theologians call this active obedience. A lot of Christian focus on salvation is on the death and resurrection of Christ, and rightly so, because without those things, we could not be saved. But likewise, without Christ’s righteous life, we could never be saved.

Jesus didn’t only die the death we deserved, he also lived the life we could never live. At the cross there was a great exchange that theologians call “double imputation.” Our sins were placed on Jesus Christ. Our sins died with Christ never to be seen again. But that’s not all, there’s another imputation. Christ’s righteousness was given to us. You see, even with our sins removed, we could still never live righteous enough on our own to meet God’s holy standard. But Christ has given his righteousness, an alien righteousness to us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

When you repent and place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ your standing with God, your verdict in the divine courtroom, the question heaven or hell is settled not on the basis of your works, but on the basis of Christ’s righteousness in his life applied to you by the sacrifice. When God looks on you in judgement, he sees the righteous robes of Christ. This is why Jesus was baptized, to actively obey God and live the life we could never live.

Notice God’s response, and this is a major Trinitarian passage that we don’t have the time to go through in a lot of detail. But notice the Holy Spirit is active, Jesus is active, and the Father is active all at the same time. The Bible does not purport, as some say, that the Father became Jesus then later became the Holy Spirit. No, all three persons subsist in one essence simultaneously.

The Holy Spirit comes signifying Jesus is the anointed one. The Father proclaims a combination of Psalm 2:7 (you are my Son) and Isaiah 42:1 (In whom I am well pleased) again, confirming that Jesus is the anointed one, the Messiah, chosen by God to redeem his people.

Because Christ has attained the righteousness necessary for us to please God what does that mean for us? It does not mean, as the Roman Catholics claim about Protestants, that we can just live like hellions and still go to heaven. No, we still must repent and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. But Christ’s active obedience changes the production process, so to speak.

All religions can be summed up by man’s attempt to control the supernatural for his own benefit. Christianity is the only religion where the good works produced are not done to manipulate God or gain his favor. If we do good simply to get what we selfishly want could we really call that righteous?

If all the good we do is simply to manipulate God to convince him to let him into heaven, we’re not in the kingdom of God, the kingdom of righteousness, because we would not truly be righteous. Instead of producing fruit to manipulate God, Christians can produce fruit simply because they delight in God.

Do you delight in God? Or do you try to manipulate him?

Do you trust in Christ’s pursuit of righteousness? Or do you try to make it all for yourself?

Do you look forward to the day of absolute justice? Or do you fear it?

Do you produce fruit in keeping with repentance? Or do you trust in your status?

Have you truly repented of your sins? Or have you just jumped through some evangelical hoops a preacher set up for you one time?

Prayer