The King Who Comes with Fire

Claim: The promised King is coming to judge — but through true repentance we can meet Him as Saviour rather than face His fire.

Focus: Repentance is not simply moral improvement; it is the necessary response to the righteous, Spirit-anointed King who will judge the world — but who first bore the judgment Himself.

Function: To call us to sincere, hopeful repentance — not out of dread, but in anticipation of the King’s renewing reign, so that we stand ready to meet Him with joy rather than fear.

INTRODUCTION – ADVENT INTERRUPTS

Advent often feels cosy — candles, carols, countdowns to Christmas.

But John the Baptist never got that memo. If he walked in today, he wouldn’t ask about the Christmas tree — he’d ask about your heart. His message isn’t: “December is here — let’s prepare for the holidays!” His message is: “The King is coming — are you truly ready?”

Because Advent doesn’t just remember Christ’s birth — it anticipates His return. And when He returns, He will come not as a baby in a manger, but as Judge and King.

So Matthew 3 confronts us with one question:

Will I meet Him as Saviour — or will I face His fire?

That is the burden of this passage.

Judgment is coming.

But there is a way to meet the King not with fear, but with hope.

That way is called repentance.

MAIN TRUTH OF THE MESSAGE

“The coming King will judge — but through repentance we meet Him as Saviour, not as fire.”

Let’s open this passage together

1. THE WILDERNESS CALL – GOD AWAKES US (vv.1–4)

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea…

The wilderness matters. God often begins renewal in barren places. Why not the temple in Jerusalem? Why not a royal palace?

Because the people had grown comfortable. Religious. Settled. God’s word first comes — outside all that is safe and familiar. The wilderness is disruptive — it wakes us from spiritual sleep.

But even this fulfils prophecy:

“A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD.” (Isaiah 40:3)

And that connects to our Old Testament reading today from Isaiah 11. Isaiah wrote in a time when the royal dynasty of David had become a dead stump. No life, no hope, no future. But then:

“A shoot shall come from the stump of Jesse… and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.” (Isa 11:1–2)

That is Advent hope: life springing up where nothing should grow. The coming King arises out of hopelessness — into a world of decay.

And so the wilderness is not the end — it is where God begins. The voice in the wilderness is God saying: “I haven’t finished yet.”

Application: Maybe some of us this morning feel like the stump — no life, no joy, no power. Spiritually barren. But Isaiah says — your barrenness is not beyond His reign. God’s work often begins in places that feel lifeless.

So John calls from the wilderness today — “Prepare the way — because the King is coming.”

2. THE MESSAGE – REPENT, THE KING IS NEAR (v.2)

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

This is not a suggestion. This is a royal summons. Because if the King is holy, so must His people be. If He is righteous — then we must be righteous before Him.

To understand this we need Psalm 72 — a prayer for God’s King. The perfect ruler who will defend the weak and crush all oppression. The One in whom justice, peace, and compassion will abound.

Psalm 72:

“Give the king Your justice, O God… May righteousness flourish and peace abound.”

This begins to tell us why repentance is necessary. If the King is coming to put the world right… He will also put me right. Before Christ renews creation — He must first confront the human heart.

And that means repentance is not guilt-driven — it is hope-driven. The King’s reign is good — so I turn, because He is worth turning to!

Repentance is not punishment — it is preparation for the reign of the righteous King.

Application: What rules our lives right now? What would change if Christ truly reigned? Repentance is stepping off our own thrones — so that Christ may rule.

3. THE AXE AT THE ROOT – JUDGMENT IS IMMINENT (vv.7–10)

Now suddenly the message intensifies. This is the Advent warning.

“Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance… The axe is already laid at the root of the trees.”

Judgment is not distant — it is imminent. John does not say, “One day the axe will arrive…” He says — it is already here.

And no heritage, no religious background, no tradition will save us.

“Do not presume to say, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’”

You grew up in church? You know the words to every hymn? You serve? You give? You know the doctrine?

John says — that must not deceive you. Appearances are not enough. Repentance must take root — and it must bear fruit.

Romans 15 connects perfectly here.

Paul teaches that Christ has come as the fulfilment of all promises — but His grace must not stop with comfort. It must result in obedience.

“Through endurance and through the teaching of Scripture we find HOPE — so that we may live in harmony… glorifying God with one voice.”

True hope leads to holy living. If the Lord has truly come to save us, then our hearts must be changed.

Advent warning:

The King will separate true and false disciples — not on the basis of appearance, but on the basis of fruit.

Application: What in our lives would need to change if we knew Christ was visiting our home tomorrow morning? The Advent season asks — Am I ready to meet Him?

4. THE WINNOWING FORK – FIRE OR SPIRIT (vv.11–12)

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire… His winnowing fork is in his hand to gather the wheat… but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Two baptisms. Two destinies. No middle ground.

When the King comes, every life will be tested. Every heart will be exposed. And the question will not be — Did you go to church? Or — Did you believe in God? But:

Is there fruit that flows from repentance? Has Christ truly taken root?

John gives us clear Advent theology: Jesus comes as Judge and as Saviour. The same King can either gather — or burn. He brings Spirit and fire.

And that makes this moment the most urgent moment of our lives.

THE GOSPEL — THE FIRE FELL ON HIM FIRST

But now — here is the hope that transforms everything.

The fire of judgment fell — BUT — it fell on Christ first.

The One who comes with the winnowing fork — first stretched out His hands on the cross. The One who brings unquenchable fire — was plunged into the fire of God’s judgment in our place.

So — repentance is not despair. Repentance is not torment. Repentance is the doorway to safety. It is how we meet Him not as fire — but as Saviour.

“The coming King will judge — but through repentance we meet Him as Saviour, not as fire.”

CONCLUSION

Christ has come. Christ will come again. Today is the moment in between — the time to prepare His way.

So hear John’s call not as condemnation — but invitation: “Repent… for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The axe is at the root — but the cross stands in the way.

The fire is coming — but the Saviour waits with mercy.

And so we close with Advent’s ancient prayer:

“Come, Lord Jesus.” And make us ready — to meet You with joy.

PRAYER (after sermon)

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the righteous King who comes to judge the world. We confess our hearts are not clean before You. Shine Your light upon us; Grant us true repentance. Thank You that the fire of judgment fell on You first — so that we may stand before You in hope. Come, Lord Jesus. Prepare our hearts. And reign in us, now and forever. Amen.

If you’d like:

Slides & headings formatted for PowerPoint

Service leader cues & timings

Shorter version for split sermon

Bible study sheet for Home Groups

Kids worksheet based on “fire / wheat / chaff”

…I can provide any of those. Let me know how you’d like to use this!