The Gift of Repentance/John Prepares the Way

Hook: Have you ever tried to change someone’s mind? Or tried to offer an alternative point of view? It can be an arduous process. Perhaps you’ve attempted to discuss whether or not dogs are better companions than cats (they are), pugs aren’t cute they’re ugly, AFL is not a real sport, Gold Coast? Sunny Coast?. Some people have some crazy beliefs like, the NRL is a fair and definitely not a NSW-favouring enterprise. There are some more contentious issues, such as political issues, such as… naaaah I ain’t giving you political examples from the pulpit! Let’s stick to Broncos jokes, they’re safe.

A more serious issue, is the misrepresentation of Christianity in pop culture. Often times, when we see a church service, they’ll depict a minister or priest that is well past retirement age who’s a bit of a creep and always gives these fire and brimstone speeches, “repent and believe or you’ll be thrown into the firey pit of hell!” The word and idea of repentance seems to always be one that is overlooked as archaic and oppressive. Even within the Roman Catholic Church, during the beginnings of the dark ages, the Vulgate- a latin translation of the Bible, replaced the word ‘repent’ with ‘do penance’. Penance means a public form of punishment, often physical violence, as an absolution for wrongdoing.

As I wrote these words I felt grief. This is wrong. This grieves, and I believe, kindles the anger of God himself. That a gift, offered to sinners for freedom and redemption could be twisted into a bludeoning device and used as a way to mock the faith in our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I want to today, redeem a word for you. I want to take it back from pop-culture mishandling and hand it to you as a beacon of hope, rejoicing and freedom. I want to redeem the word ‘repent’. It’s true meaning is a command to turn away from the temporary things of the world and lock our gaze instead on the Eternal. It’s an invitation to freedom from the brokenness, shame, guilt and darkness of the chaos fo the world.

The command to repent is an invitation to freedom.

We are going to dive into the story of John the Baptist, his ministry and his message and I hope by the end you’ll walk away knowing the gift and invitation of repentance.

The Man

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.

Chapter 3 begins with the introduction of John the Baptist. It’s likely you’ve heard of John the Baptist but let’s do a little look into who he was.

Firstly, why was he called the Baptist? Baptisms in this day were self-administered. If someone adopted Judaism they would baptise themselves in a ceremony. A Rabbi would instruct the person with teaching as they stood in the water and once finished the person when immerse themselves in the water and re-emerge. It signified that the old person was buried and the new, Jewish one would emerge. The language here is a similar parallel to a Christian baptism, but being baptised like Jesus is far more significant.

Who was John the Baptist? John was related to Jesus, likely being cousins, though they did not grow up together. John grew up in the wilderness. Many scholars believe that John was likely associated with the Essenes. The Essenes were one of four major Jewish sects of the day. The Essenes were essentially a monastic, hermit-like Jewish sect. They believed in segregating themselves, and operated on an exclusive membership. They considered many things of the culture to be unclean and impure and embodied a strict, legalistic and ritual-heavy lifestyle.

By the time John begins his ministry, he had clearly separated from them. He went to the world, not away from it. He preached a message of Good News and called all to repentance, confession and baptism. He wasn’t a flashy man of status or wealth, he was rough, perhaps a bit crazed and wild. He preached an abrupt, in your-face call to believe.. And it worked.

This was all according to purpose. Jesus said this about John is Matthew chapter 11

Matthew 11:7–10 (ESV)

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

John’s appearence mimiced that of Elijah the prophet, as did his preaching and lifestyle. John didn’t dress or style himself to be appealing, he didn’t set up an elaborate stage and set, he didn’t have a minsitry that was built on vibe or coolness or fun. No flashing lights or rockband. He was a wildman, unconcerned for the things of the world and set only on his uncompromising focus on preparing the way for the coming Messiah. He was sent before your face a confronting, overt burst of revelation to God’s people. And it was that, his faith and his message, that caused many to believe.

The Message

What was his message.

Matthew 3:2 (ESV)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

I’m certain it was more than this. However, Matthew is being intentional in what he writes. As Jesus begins His minsitry Matthew records it the same

Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

So whatever it is that both John and Jesus are preaching specifically, Matthew draws our attention, that the ultimate theme and point and purpose can be summariused as follows: “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”. Repent.

The call, the command of both John and Jesus is to repent and this command is laden with an urgency- “for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” ‘Heaven’ here refers not to some cloudy domain in the sky, but rather Matthew refers to the sovereign reign and rule of the Divine. God himself is coming, to intervene into human affairs with the promised redemptive work of His grace and mercy. He is near, therefore, repent.

So what does this mean to ‘repent’?

Repentance means, 1. to be grieved by sin; 2. a decisive turning away from sin.

If we need to repent of our sin, what is sin?

Romans 1:18–23 (ESV)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, he goes us a simple definition of sin- its replacing God as king with something else. It’s replacing God, the one scripture says by whom, through whom, in whom and for whom all creation was made, the one who thought of you at the dawn of creation, who hand crafted you to be you in your uniqueness, gave you life and put the breath in your lungs it’s that God whom we have replaced with Netflix shows, bank accounts, instagram feeds, football clubs, pokies, politics and pornography.

Paul makes this terrifying claim- No one has an excuse. Not one of us can say “oh sorry man, I, uh, didn’t know”. No, we actively, everyday make the decisions to either be self-centred, self-focused, self-praising, self-gratifying. Or give Him the glory. God’s glory and divine nature is on display, we choose not to see it and recognise Him for it. Sin ultimately is declaraing in our hearts, perhaps even openly, that we know best. That we know right from wrong, good from evil, that we have what it takes to be the god of our own lives. This is what Paul describes as foolishness, and there are consequences-

Romans 7:18–19 (ESV)

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

We do the things we know we shouldn’t, or even don’t want to- and we don’t do the things we know we should! It’s simple, but this formula is a the blueprint of human brokeness across our planet, throughout our history. Human rule and self-governance has and will forever bring about suffering, pain, brokeness, corruption, destruction, war, slavery, financial disparity and inequity, racial and gendered violence and on and on. WE NEED A SAVIOUR.

The call to repentance is to turn away from that reality and experience something new- it’s a call toward hope.

What is repentance? How do we repent?

Well let’s talk about what it isn’t. It isn’t simply saying sorry, certainly not saying sorry when you’ve been caught. It’s not engaging in some self-reprimanding punishment or a form of atonement, a making up for our sin.

To repent, literally means to turn away from. Picture a lighthouse whose aim is to prevent ships being dashed to pieces on the rocks. So to, repentance is agift to prevent us being destroyed by our own foolishness.

If we simply said we were sorry, there is no meaningful change. How often have you apologised or been apologised too for something, only to experience repeat behaviour? We aren’t truly sorry for our hearts or our attitude, just that it happened or that we got caught. True repentance is then a change of attitude, or heart. It changes how we view our sin.

Your sin separates you from God, infact, it places you in rebellion against him. Not only that, but it is the cause, the reason for the brokeness you experience within you and the world around you. Repentance begins with a recognition of the seriousness of our sin.

We don’t repent to simply receive foregiveness, we repent to be transformed. Repentance isn’t just for those who do not yet believe but it is for all of us, all of the time.

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.

Lo and behold, the pharisees and sadducees, the religious elite of the time, come down to see what John is all about. By the record, it seems they don’t even get a word in before he unloads on them- “You brood of Vipers! Who warned you of the coming Wrath!” What’s this all about? The Pharisees and Sadducess with very religious people, they likely knew more scripture off by heart than any of us, they prayed a minimum of three times per day- probably more, religiously attended worship and prayer services, they gave generously to the temple and strictly kept themselves to the rites and rituals of levitical worship. Where did it all go wrong?

They did it... for themselves. They didn’t read and memorise scripture for God but for their own boasting, they prayed not for the joy of knowing God but for their own righteousness, they attended every service, every event as a sign of their worthiness to recievbe the inheritance. It was all for them and their own glory. They don’t hate their own sin, or detest their rebellious stance before God, rather they cover it up with legalistic religious pomp. They lean on their status as Jews to be enough. They trust, not in God, but rather their social standing, their wealth, their achievements and reportaire. It’s all about them.

We would be remiss, friends, if we miss the point here. As we will likely hear time and time again as we walk through the Gospel of Matthew. These religious people, are not called out for Matthew’s own gloating or vengance- but as a desparate warning. And the warning is this- that a person’s religious activity is not a suitable substitute for genuine faith and the righteousness found in Jesus. And if we had to draw a parallel between them and a modern audience- the Pharisees and Sadducees most look like us. People who have grown up in a Judeo-Christian environment. Many of us grew up attending church. The warning was to them, so it is to us- if you call yourself a Christian, but your hope and trust is not in Jesus Christ but rather your attendance to this building on a Sunday- You are not secure in your salvation.

Repentance to place your faith in Christ and Chirst alone- and this is not a burden. This is the invitation to freedom. Your repentance leads to transformation not in behaviour but in heart. God desires a people whom to call his own, to dwell with, to know and be known by- He says Himself “a treasured possession, a Holy nation and a royal priesthood. He promises to give us a new heart. Our transformation is not really for His benefit but for our own. Repentance is for you. That you might have life and life in abundance.

John calls us out, if we are praying in volume like the Pharisses or memorising scripture in step with the sadducees, then there ought to be a sign of transformation. That there should be something different about us. What’s the point if we are able to keep the religious practices? The muslims do, the hindus do, buddhists do, even satanists do! If our faith is genuine and the only true faith- then there olught to be something transformed, something new about us.

How do we then turn away from sin and bear fruit in repentance?

Matthew 3:11 (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.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus ascends into Heaven. He says he must do this to send His Holy Spirit to guide and empower His Church. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This happens upon one’s salvation, when we express belief in Jesus and all that he has done. This doesn’t superseed baptism by immersion in water. Jesus infact instructs us to baptise people of all nations at the Great Commissioning. Baptism by water is a outward act of an inward change, which is a result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

It is with the help of the Spirit’s power that we are able to repent from our sins. The Holy Spirit is our helper and our guide. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us and, like fire, burns away the impurities of sin.

But finally, John ends with a warning

COMMUNION HELPERS

Matthew 3:12 (ESV)

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.”

We don’t like this. I don’t like preaching this, we would rather tiptoe past these passages. But we shouldn’t, if I did that I’d be doing you a disservice.

We worship of God of grace and mercy, but also a God who is Holy. He hates the sin of the world. Hate is a strong word, but that is what He says in His Word. He hates that sin has separated he from those whom He made in His own image. He hates the oppressive suffering, pain, turmoil, abuse and subjegation of his own people- how great is his patience! But that patience is coming to an end. He will return to judge the world and destroy sin once and for all.

Where will you stand before him when that day comes?

I think we have tried to not be in a position of being accused of fear mongering, or trying to coerce people on the basis of not being offensive. However, I’m trying to be clear and not avoiding difficult topics. A Holy God cannot stand in the presence of sinners. Those in rebellion to Him stand to be judged by Him. If you were killed in a car accident on your way home today without the ability to atone for your sin then you will be cast like chaff out of His presence.

But the Good News is this- He took mercy upon us.

Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

God the Father sent His Son Jesus to live a life of obedience and sinlessness that we could not live. His word said that by His wounds we are healed. Those who put their hope and trust in Jesus, who believe in their hearts and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD- Christ will stand in their place and be an offering for their sin and the sinner will be forgiven and called His beloved.

John’s ministry was an act of love to God, to prepare the way for His Son, that many may believe. He gave his life for it and bore fruit.

-PRAY-

Communion

Extra’s.

But don’t get complacent- we are at risk of doing the very same thing. As the church was once all doom and gloom without grace, the modern church has often been at risk of preaching instead this happy-go-lucky Jesus is your mate who wants to hang out and that’s where it ends. My concern, my fear is that many people are not resting in the hope of Christ but on their own status as a Christian, they tithing or their church attendance as sufficient.

To be like Christ first and foremost, is to hate sin. We don't like hearing that. It goes against everything in our human nature. We'd much rather emulate the Jesus who looked out for the underdog and welcomed outsiders into his circle.. [Jesus] came to earth to square off against sin. His lifelong goal was to conquer it on the cross, as well as to confront it in the attitudes and actions of others. So, if we want to be like Christ – like God – then it means cultivating a disdain for sin: in the world, in our neighborhoods, but mainly, in our own hearts.

That is stark warning but one laden with hope.

Pharisees & Saducees - call to repentance not just for non-believers.

Calling yourself a Christian- bear fruit in keeping with the Christian walk.

A call to hate our sin, causes us to fall to our knees in desparation at the sight of how serious it is.

Gospel of grace, saved by faith.

2 Corinthians 7:10–12 ESV

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.