Evidence of Change

Evidence of Change Evidence of Change Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Repentance; Forgiveness; John the Baptist tells people how to show repentance; Root / Luke 3:1-14 Just because a claim is made doesnt make it so. Actions speak louder than words because we are what we choose to do. We cannot claim to be health nuts if we eat McDonalds everyday - we are health nuts because we choose and live accordingly. The same is true when it comes to repentance for salvation - John now entering into his public time of ministry has come to proclaim sinners everywhere to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Some came to be baptized for forgiveness without true repentance. Johns words are harsh but helpful for us to evaluate and see if we have truly repented. True repentance bears evidence in the life of the one ho has repented and believed. John says bear that evidence - dont just claim it but show it. Introduction 1. Any one can make a claim about anything - but it becomes harder to fake it when you look at the evidence a. Your claim isnt real because you made it - but it can be shown to be real through evidence i. If you claim to be vegan but eat bacon, eggs and pork - you arent really vegan - no matter how much you say it and no matter how much tofu you eat otherwise ii. If you claim to be a CrossFitter but have never done a CrossFit workout you arent a CrossFitter - no matter how much lingo you know iii. You arent healthy because you say you are - but because you eat right (most of the time) and exercise and take care of yourself b. Evidence is the current standard for proving things - if something is true there will be evidence proving it i. The evidence must be consistent with the truth ii. Just because you stand in a garage doesnt make you a car - just because you go to the gym doesnt make you healthy or in shape 2. Luke recounts the beginning of John's ministry and John comes preaching a powerful message a. He says repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins i. Forgiveness of sins is only found for the one who repents b. Then as people are coming to be baptized - he says to them produce fruit consistent with repentance › SLIDE Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. In other words if you have truly repented there should be evidence of repentance › SLIDE True repentance has evidence of change c. Lets read Luke's account of John's first message and see what is the evidence of repentance we should have and where is the evidence found for it › SLIDE Luke 3:1-3 CSB 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, › SLIDE Luke 3:4-6 CSB 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, 6 and everyone will see the salvation of God. › SLIDE Luke 3:7-8 CSB 7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. › SLIDE Luke 3:9-11 CSB 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 "What then should we do?" the crowds were asking him. 11 He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same." › SLIDE Luke 3:12-14 CSB 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized." 14 Some soldiers also questioned him, "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." › SLIDE Message of Repentance › SLIDE Luke 3:1-3 CSB 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, › SLIDE Luke 3:7 CSB 7 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 1. John's ministry of repentance began with God's word coming to him in a specific time a. A time that can be verified - historically i. 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar ii. WHILE Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea iii. Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene (Not Texas) iv. DURING the high priesthood of Annas and Caiphas b. Despite these political and religious somebodies - at least in the world's eyes - God's word didnt come to any of them i. We understand that for the first 5 people mentioned - they were political rulers ii. Why wouldnt God speak through the High Priests? 1. The position of the high priest long stopped being the position picked and chosen and called by God a. It was now a position given to who ever had the money to purchase it - which Annas did - appointed by Quirinius the governor of Syria (remember him?) AD 6 to AD 14 b. Removed from position by Valerius Gratus c. Caiphas - his son in law - replaced him i. Appointed by Rome for a price - but the Jews saw Annas as the true high priest 2. This position now ruled by politics and wealth and not spirituality 2. God's word came to John in the wilderness a. We are told it came to John son of Zechariah - this was before he became a baptist and would be John the Baptist i. In the eyes of the world you would think that God would use the influencers to receive His word 1. An emperor, perhaps a governor 2. any of the three tetrarchs 3. The high priests? Two indicated that they were is disarray religiously as well as politically ii. It didnt come to Rome or Jerusalem - it came to John in the wilderness 1. A man who eats locusts and honey and wears camel skin › SLIDE In times of wilderness wandering and dry desert places be encouraged to listen for the word of God b. John immediately upon receiving God's word went about proclaiming it i. Gods word was a message and John proclaimed it 1. Proclaimed - kerysso - a herald - a herald is one who brings good news 2. Gods message to John was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins a. Coming from Isaiah's words in Isaiah 40:3-5 b. A voice crying out from the wilderness - this was John and he was preparing the way of the Lord ii. John proclaimed this message to the Jews 1. This would have been incredulous to the Jews because the idea that as a Jew they needed to be baptized was foreign to them a. Sure Gentiles converting to Judaism needed to be baptized 2. John was calling Jews to acknowledge they were sinners in need of a savior a. This is akin to a Jew admitting that they were as bad as a heathen or Gentile c. The way of the Lord is prepared through repentance i. John preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins 1. Repentance comes from two words - meta and noia a. Meta meaning to change b. Noia/nous - mind or way - faculty or moral reflection c. repentance means to change mind from evil to good or from good to better 2. Forgiveness - Aphesis - remission a. The word remission occurs in Luke more frequently than all other New Testament writers combined b. Medical writers this word is used for the relaxing of a disease i. Such as when they say cancer is in remission - a phrase we rejoice to hear ii. How much more joy to hear of the remission of our sin? ii. Baptism puts us into it › SLIDE John's baptism of repentance identified a person with their need to get right with God and be forgiven 1. Baptism didnt save them - it was the admitting of their need for salvation - even the Jews d. Repentance is necessary to flee from the coming wrath i. Wrath is coming for those who have not repented and do not have forgiveness of sins › SLIDE Ephesians 5:6 CSB 6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. › SLIDE Colossians 3:6 CSB 6 Because of these, God's wrath is coming upon the disobedient, ii. John is speaking to the Jews as well as the religious leaders - the brood of vipers is referring to the Sadduccees and Pharisees › SLIDE Matthew 3:7 CSB 7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? › SLIDE Truth of Repentance › SLIDE Luke 3:4-6 CSB 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, 6 and everyone will see the salvation of God. › SLIDE Luke 3:8-9 CSB 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." › SLIDE Luke 3:10-11 CSB 10 "What then should we do?" the crowds were asking him. 11 He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same." › SLIDE Luke 3:12-14 CSB 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized." 14 Some soldiers also questioned him, "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 1. Repentance is evidenced in your life a. John describes the evidence of repentance as fruit i. Fruit in the bible is always in reference to life of deeds or works ii. John is using it the same way here › SLIDE Repentance is evidenced by the deeds or works in your life b. Isaiah details what repentance looks like i. Every valley filled ii. every mountain and hill will be made low iii. crooked becomes straight iv. rough ways become smooth › SLIDE A life in repentance is one in which an opposite change has been made 1. The change is from bad to good - look at the examples again a. a valley is filled b. a mountain is made low c. crooked to straight d. rough to smooth c. The repentant know they need to change and the unrepentant refuse to change i. Like the Pharisees they would hold on to their claim of righteousness because of lineage of Abraham ii. We tend to think we dont need to repent either because we come from a family of Christians or religious people 2. The fruit of your life reveals who you are a. John says that the ax is already at the root of the trees - ready to cut off in judgment b. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire - into judgment i. Jesus tell us that we will be known by our fruits › SLIDE Matthew 7:18-20 CSB 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you'll recognize them by their fruit. ii. John is saying God knows us by the same way - and we shouldnt be surprised all we need to do is see what fruit we are producing 3. What then should we do? a. Great question from the crowd and tax collectors, and soldiers i. They heard the words of John and knew they wanted to right and escape the wrath to come - what must we do for fruit of repentance ii. This was a people who were broken and wanting to do what was needed b. The crowds - the general people i. live generously - give to those who have none - love one another ii. If you have no need share with those in need c. The tax collectors - those hated and outcasted by society - they too could repent and live in repentance i. do not collect more than you have been authorized ii. Usually collected as much as they could and became wealthy at the expense of others d. Soldiers - known for their harshness and brutality i. dont take money by force or false accusation ii. be satisfied with your wages Conclusion John's message is a call to repentance. Sometimes we tend to treat repentance as being more about feelings - feeling sorry for our sins and wrong doings. It is a great and wonderful thing to be broken hearted at your sin - but repentance is not a feeling word. Repenting is a deliberate action. Johns call to repentance was a call to change the mind and actions not merely be sorry for what they had done and to continue the same way as before. Repentance speaks of a change of direction. The change of mind and heart represented by repentance has to be evidenced by a change in choices and behavior Communion As we come before the communion table - we remember that this meal is for those who have been forgiven of their sins by Jesus - through repenting and asking forgiveness. Also as we remember it is not just to remember for nothing but that as we remember we can refocus and redirect our lives in accordance with Jesus sacrifice on the cross for us. 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 CSB 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 CSB 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:25 PM August 31, 2019.