GOSPEL OF MATTHEW - CALL TO REPENTANCE

JOHN’S CALL TO US

Last week we looked at the closing of chapter 2 and looked at the how God calls us to obey in uncertain times and to fully trust God in times of suffering. We had another example in Scripture of this as we looked at Joseph and Mary as the escaped to Egypt. We closed with looking at being called to walk in God’s redemptive plan and that sometimes God makes a way at the beginning or may even wait for us to trust in Him and open a path as we trust in His plan like when the Israelites entered in to the promised land.

We begin to look at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and His obedience to God’s Will with His baptism by John the Baptist.

Today we will look at our call to repentance so as being – Let Us Pray!

Sermon Title: Preparing the Way

Scripture Text: Matthew 3:1-17 – 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.”

1. The Call to Repentance: Turning Back to God (Matthew 3:1-4)

Key Idea: John the Baptist’s message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” calls people to a heart transformation in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

Repentance should be –

Sincere

Timely

Continuous

Just – make restitution or make it right

Repentance –

Here the Greek - metanoeo – met an o eh o – over 34 times in NT to change one’s mind for the better to whole heartily to amend behavior with abhorrence to one’s sins

Turning Around

Changing Your Mind/Heart Set

Be Sorry enough to quit sinning

Hebrew - Repentance Hebrew shoob - used over 650 times - is the whole person – heart mind soul body turning towards God and away from sin – deciding a lifestyle change to obedience in response to the Kingdom of Heaven message

Basically – Return to God

Supporting Scripture: Acts 3:19 – "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

Matthew tells his Jewish readers and us that John fulfills the prophecy of 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.

Like the Sargent-At-Arms that announces the arrival of the President – John came to call people and point them to the coming Messiah – Jesus

Application Questions:

1. Is there an area in your life where you need to repent and realign with God’s will?

2. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of daily repentance and humility before God?

3. What four areas of repentance have you included in your life? What area(s) do you still need to incorporate?

2. The Fruit of Repentance: Living a Changed Life (Matthew 3:5-10)

They responded, repented, confessed and were baptized

It is said – God has no grandchildren – we are all responsible to respond to His call on our life (explain)

Key Idea: John challenges the crowd to produce fruit in keeping with repentance, warning against relying on heritage or status. True repentance is evident in a transformed life.

Being saved is more than repentance, more than saying you believe – it is not baptism that saves – if you have truly trusted Jesus – then there is fruit to show your decision

Jesus tells us the same –

John 15:4-5 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Repent – Be Baptized – Reside in Him so that He grows His fruit in you

Supporting Scripture:

Paul tells us the fruit we would have in our life when the Holy Spirit resides in us and guides us.

Galatians 5:22-23 – "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

True Faith – True repentance produces the fruit through the Holy Spirit-

Application Questions:

1. What evidence of spiritual fruit is present in your life?

2. How can you demonstrate the authenticity of your faith through your actions?

3. The Fruit of Obedience – Fulfilling of God’s Righteousness (Matthew 3:11-17)

Key Idea: John declares that One greater than he is coming, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John’s humility and purpose were to prepare the way for Jesus and point people to Him.

Baptism after repentance is both cleansing (water) and refining (fire)

We get a better understanding of the God the Father, Jesus the Messiah, the Holy Spirit helper and we must think like John

John 3:30 – "He must become greater; I must become less."

We are to follow Jesus and His example –

He was baptized – not for repentance like us –to fulfill all righteousness – complete obedience to God the Father which bestows – “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

We should work towards operating within God’s righteousness so that we may hear Well done good and faithful servant!

Application Questions:

1. How are you pointing others to Jesus through your words and actions?

2. In what ways can you embrace humility and focus on Christ’s glory rather than your own?

Conclusion and Call to Action

Key Takeaway: John the Baptist’s ministry reminds us of the importance of repentance, bearing fruit, and pointing others to Jesus. Our lives should reflect hearts prepared for His kingdom.

Challenge: This week, ask God to reveal areas in your life that need repentance, commit to living a life that bears fruit, and seek opportunities to share the hope of Jesus with someone.

How are you bearing fruit and sharing the Gospel, God’s Good News with others - remember

Closing Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9 – "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

He wants everyone to come to repentance – if they don’t know and no one tells them how can they know?

Let Us Pray!