Prepare the Way of the Lord

Matthew 3:1-12

John’s Message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is Near.”

What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven?

A ‘kingdom’ is by definition the sphere in which a king reigns. God certainly reigns over all creation, but a coming kingdom implies the expectation of a future in which God would restore his people’s fortunes and liberate them from the power of their enemies.

The first step was the coming of the Messiah, who would pave the way for the kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of Heaven is where the reign and rule of the Lord are evident, where righteousness abounds, and those who dwell in the kingdom live in righteousness and peace.

John’s Ministry: Luke 1:16–17 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

John is the fulfillment of the promise that one coming like Elijah would be a voice in the wilderness, turning people back to God, going before God to prepare his way, leading father’s back to care for their children, the disobedient to righteousness, and preparing a people for the Lord.

Why must we prepare for this coming Kingdom?

Because we are not there yet. We live in the “in-between.” His Kingdom is established, it is advancing, and it will be victorious, but there are many who don’t acknowledge Christ as King, many who live in rebellion, and even those who know Him struggle in disobedience.

If long for His coming, for the Kingdom of Heaven, our desire should be to remove every obstacle, every hindrance, to make the way straight to our hearts.

How do we then “Prepare the Way?”

“Repent”

What the word means: μετανοεω - literally to change your mind, to reconsider, to repent.

We often think of repentance as the confession of sin.

Admitting that we were wrong, that we have seen the error of our ways.

WCF XV.2 - Repentance is when a sinner, “out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of God, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins.”

Turning from wickedness to godliness

Repentance is incomplete unless confession is accompanied by a turning from sin unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.

It is not genuine repentance to say, I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help myself, I’m just going to keep doing it.

What does it look like to bear fruit in keeping with repentance? Mere outward profession is meaningless unless it produces real change

If your sin is anger and lashing out, repentance would be to bless and not curse, especially those who persecute you

If your sin is immorality, to turn from sinful behavior and keep yourself chaste, pure, and upright.

If your sin is sloth, repentance would be found in an eagerness and readiness to serve.

If you have indulged yourself; repentance is found in fasting and prayer, putting the needs of others before your own.

If your sin is pride, always having to be right, and to have the last word, repentance would be found in humility, praising those around you, and delighting in the truth.

It is not enough to merely admit what is right and wrong, you must bear the fruit of repentance. Calvin wrote, “repentance, which is attested by words, is of no value, unless it be proved by the conduct.”

The way of sin and Satan is a crooked way; to prepare a way for Christ, the paths must be made straight.

“Believe”

You’ll notice that this word isn’t in John’s message, but it is still central to what he says about preparing the way of the Lord.

How does Belief fit into John’s message?

Look at the rebuke of the Pharisees - Do not presume in your minds, “Abraham is our father.” They were resting in birthright, tradition, ceremony.

John calls them a brood of vipers - offspring of the serpent. He saw their hypocrisy and pride

Satan is a serpent, and these men were children of Satan (John 8:44).

They did not come out of fear of the Lord. They did not come to repent, but out of curiosity.

God’s promise to Abraham - to be His God, and his children’s God, and through them to bless the world.

Romans 4:13 - The promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.the promise to Abraham is to all who believe

John 1:12 - to those who believe in his name he gave the right to be called the children of God.

Faith is the key to entering the kingdom

How do we keep ourselves from presumptive Christianity

Walking with the living Christ

Not merely knowing about Jesus, but knowing Him, and allowing yourself to be known by him

Speaking with Him in prayer, listening to him in the Word, giving your life in service to him

Not resting on previous experience with Christ, but daily seeking to know him more. Giving up the formalities, in order to get to the heart

A presbyterian reading of Philippians 3:5-7:

Baptized as an infant, parents were Presbyterian, R.C. Sproul was my teacher, a member of the PCA; graduated from Princeton; served as a Minister of Word and Sacrament; no charges from Presbytery. Whatever this might have brought me, I count as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

The Gospel According to John the Baptist

Flee from the wrath to come

God is bringing judgment: with the coming of the Kingdom there will be a clear distinction between those who are in the kingdom and those who are out. The ax is at the foot of the tree; if it does not bear fruit, it will be cut down and thrown into the fire. The wheat is at the threshing floor, and the grain will be gathered in, while the chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire.

The threat of God’s wrath and the threshing floor are not meant simply to terrify, but to shake us out of our stupor and draw us to Christ.

The temple was built on the threshing floor - the place of judgment became the place where grace was found - the cross has become our crown He will gather in his wheat - Jesus will never leave them nor forsake them. He will guide them safely through this life, and at length give them eternal glory. They shall be hid in the day of wrath. They shall be safe as Noah in the ark.

Repentance is Responsive

The kingdom is at hand when we are called to repent He moves first - He comes to us Standing in the light of His goodness, mercy, and grace, we repent

He Baptizes with Spirit and Fire - He gives what we need.

We are naturally dead, and blind, and asleep in spiritual things. But Christ pours out his Sprit to bring us to life, and to make our hearts burn within us. The Spirit to bring us to life Fire - to cleanse, to purify

Knowing His Kingdom is Near - Prepare the Way

True Repentance

Genuine Faith

Resting in the Gospel