Preparing Our Hearts for Christ
Advent 2021 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsJust as John is called out into the wilderness to preach, the people are called out to where he is to hear his hard-hitting message of the gospel: Bear fruits worthy of repentance. In other words, we are to get our hearts ready for the coming of Christ. He will come in judgment, but he will also come with grace and mercy to cleanse us and make us whole through the Holy Spirit.
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7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin 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. 9 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.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
1. Our hearts are prepared for Christ through repentance. (vs. 7-9)
1. Our hearts are prepared for Christ through repentance. (vs. 7-9)
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
2. Our lives are to reflect Christ through sanctification. (vs. 10-14)
2. Our lives are to reflect Christ through sanctification. (vs. 10-14)
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
3. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are truly transformed. (vs. 15-18)
3. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are truly transformed. (vs. 15-18)
6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.