Kingdom Mindset: Matthew 3

CIT: Entrance into the kingdom of heaven requires a denial and an affirmation.

The man

The message

The method

Our response

What is the most offensive statement in our society? It’s repent. Why? because people hate being told that they are wrong. Repent tells them that they are wrong. People also hate being told to stop what they are doing. Repent tells them to stop what they are doing. But most of all people hate being told what to do. And repent tells them exactly what to do. So tonight we are going to see how this offensive statement is our gateway into the kingdom of heaven.

The man (Matthew 3:1-4, 11)

John the Baptist prophesied boldly (Matthew 3:2)

We should as well, even in an age of persecution

In our society we face ridicule and social exclusion for boldly proclaiming the gospel of repentance. But this is okay because Jesus said that would happen (John 15:18-20) and that we are blessed because of it (Matthew 5:11-12)

John the baptist lived simply (Matthew 3:4)

We should as well, even in an age of comfort

Jesus said that if we are to follow him we must first deny ourselves, and John the Baptist truly lived that out.

When Covid first hit we were forced to give up certain luxuries in life, maybe it was your sport, maybe it was a vacation or two. But these forced reductions in life could also be God’s corrective providence in your life, a spiritual surgery if you will, removing what you don’t need or what is hindering you from growing in your faith. But why do we always wait for these times? Why do we not do this spiritual surgery on ourselves? Let’s be a people passionate about living simply and by not letting anything hinder our walk with Christ.

John the Baptist served humbly (Matthew 3:11)

We should as well, even in an age of self promotion

When thousands of people are following this prophet from God he immediately pushes his following to follow Jesus. In Matthew 3:11 he says that he is not even worthy to be Jesus’s slave. And in John 3:30 he says that, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The message

Repent

Why

The kingdom of heaven is here (Matthew 3:2)

The kingdom that has come to bring victory for its citizens and condemnation for its enemies is here now

The King of the kingdom of heaven is here

Not only has the kingdom shown up, the King himself has come. He has not just sent a messenger, he has shown up himself to bring victory and condemnation.

The reality of seeing the King is massive.

Isaiah sees the kingdom in Isaiah 6:2 but his reaction doesn’t come until he has also seen the King. When he sees the LORD in all his glory his reaction is “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips… for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

If the kingdom were only here we would only see a coming defeat, but when the King is here too we see the conquerer and are compelled to repent.

How

2 denials, we will see the first one here and the second one in a moment.

The first denial is a denial of self.

A denial of self involves recognizing that we have tried to be the god of our own lives and that we must deny ourselves that false hope.

When we deny ourselves the worship of self we confess our sinfulness to a Holy God.

Confession of our sinfulness is vital for repentance and salvation. (1 John 1:9)

The method

Jewish baptism

The second denial is seen in that Jewish people were coming from all over confessing their sinfulness and being baptized. (Matthew 3:5-6)

The struggle for many Jewish people is that the belief of the heritage saving them is a false hope. It is not our heritage that saves us, and these people came to know that. Therefore, their act of confession and baptism was a denial of their family heritage.

For you there must not only be a denial of self but also of family heritage. My fear for many of you in this room is that ultimately you are trusting that because your parents proclaim faith and you’ve been to church all your life then you must be saved. But the reality is this, you need to repent. You need to truly deny yourself, you need to truly deny your heritage. You need to recognize that you cannot save yourself and your family cannot save you either. Only Jesus can, so You. Must. Repent!

Jesus’s baptism

Jesus’s baptism shows us what we must affirm to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

the two denials are of self and family heritage.

The affirmation is that Jesus is Lord. Jesus’s baptism shows us that he is truly Lord.

Roman context shows that Caesar is not the chosen Son of God but Jesus is.

There is no one else that can be the Lord of our salvation than Jesus, we must submit to his Lordship/Kingship.

(Matthew 3:12) John the Baptist promises us that Jesus is coming to save his people but to also destroy his enemies.

When you are baptized it is you publically affirming the Jesus is your Lord

Our response

Repent and be baptized

Deny yourself

Deny your family heritage

Affirm Jesus as Lord

Boldly proclaim the gospel of repentance

Proclaim this Like John the Baptist