Untitled Sermon (2)

Introduction

Last Sunday: If we can remember John came or was called out of the wilderness by the Word of God, to ultimately preach the Word of God.

“A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.”

Very much in this day to the Jews offensive, as they had their own ritual of baptism.

And to the Gentile Good News was on the way.

John came not whispering the Words of God, but heralding them; to many near the region

If you were near the Jordan so you heard about John!

So today John’s heralding of God’s Word the “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.” so “crowds” began to gather around John and John doesn’t let up with His words; but keeps them strong and cutting.

This morning as every morning, May we have open hearts, ears and minds to receive the Word of the Lord today.

As it is alive; and it is always meeting us where we are at in our life

Please stand

Read Luke 3:7-9 “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? 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. 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.””

Pray

So context: John is surrounded by many in a crowd; around the Jordan. So he has them right where he wants them, and he doesn’t start like we would think...

For when someone draws a crowd so the natural tendency is to do whatever to keep the crowd, usually

Well lets just say John wasn’t about the number in the crowd, as much as he was concerned about the quality of the crowds souls; and posture before the Lord!

So we will read of John’s words; this morning starting in verse 7.

Luke 3:7 “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?”

Now we would want to think that everyone there in the crowd had pure motives; (right motives to be there)

But John says what?

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

See vipers in Israel usually didn’t grow to be more than two feet long, but they were deadly with their venom. They would often stretch themselves straight on the ground and be mistaken for sticks, which people would pick up, as the book of Acts tells us

When Paul picked up one “then shook off the creature and tossed it into the fire”

John knows something; and that something is this, not everyone here in this big crowd; is here for the right reason

Their are vipers among him!

J.C. Ryle “He speaks to them as a generation of vipers. He saw the rotteness and hypocrisy of the profession that the crowd around him were making.”

So while their were those who needed to check their souls posture before being baptized:

“There were also people who came to be baptized by John who understood what he was saying to them “repent and be baptized” You’re not clean. The Symbolic significance of John’s baptism was to point to a cleansing from sin and forgiveness to those who would repent.”

So some were there for the right reason meaning they were there because they believed in Christ the Messiah to come, and if they knew what the OT prophet Isaiah prophesied;

So this proclamation would be something they were waiting for and listening to hear of one who is to come from the wilderness preaching “make straight the path for the Lord.”

John goes on as if calling the crowd vipers is not enough...

“...Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”...

What wrath is John referring too?

Matthew 23:33 “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”

We are talking about John saying who told you to flee from hell and the wrath you will face?

See as I get older and have more conversations involving faith (in depth;) so the moments i’m most grateful for are when people are 100% real with me and call me out, just as John is doing here. (wether it be how i’m acting, in my struggle and temptation and not fighting it and feeling weak or sorry for myself; or in my behavior) -

So I want them tell me, don’t fool me and be passive with me and lead me to my grave!

So in these moments John was not the least bit passive to the crowd; but extremely real and stern in what he had to say; because he knew in the long run this would be good for them.

And so to be honest hearing they are vipers is probably not what many expected; nor what they wanted to hear as they gathered, but needed to hear!

Nor did they want to hear John say “who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Those moments I referred to when people are real with me (in a sense not afraid to diagnose the real problem in me at the time no matter how painful the words might be), so those are the moments that seem to impact us the most and produce the most fruit in us in the long run in our life.

John here is being deeply loving, and blunt; but this is truth.

He knows some are there for the wrong reason; and he isn’t afraid to say it

Some are pretending to be sticks, when really they are vipers, and vipers bite as we know from Paul’s story, but vipers are also thrown into the fire.

R.C. Sproul “who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Is that why you are here? Are you coming to be cleansed because you know that wrath is coming? and someone warned you and suggested that you flee from this wrath? John of course was not denying that wrath was at the gates, and that it would be a good thing to flee from it.”

Of course we want to flee the wrath to come; anyone you ask’s doesn’t want to go to hell!

But we have to ask the question as John is calling the “Crowd vipers’ who seemed to be their for a good purpose; so if you are here just to flee the wrath then John is saying be warned.

If you come to Church only because you don’t want to go to hell; (your the viper John is mentioning)

Yes you are in a good spot to hear Christ crucified, died, buried, resurrected, so now RESPOND in Faith, repent and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life this morning.

Don’t be deceived, the one who does not repent and embrace Christ as Lord and Savior, will see hell no matter how many times he’s entered the building called the Church...

Yes people come to Church and are saved because they do hear about Christ. Praise God.

But we are keeping it real this morning;.Do you love Jesus or do you love the byproduct of loving Jesus and that is fleeing the wrath to come.

If it isn’t to worship Jesus as Lord and Savior and to thank him again for saving you from your sins! Then what are you doing here?

Now John here in verse 8 will add feet to what he is saying to help those in the crowd understand ultimately the only rescue route of hell, wrath and sin, as he goes onto say...

Luke 3:8 “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.”

I’m not talking about a bear holding fruit; no.

But as Matthew 3:8 “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

We as Christians; every Christian is number, 1 repentant; #2 filled with the Holy Spirit and #3 every Christian bears fruits of the Spirit

John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove (what?) to be my disciples.”

So as John is telling them to bear fruit, but how? On their own? V.4 “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.”

There is an abiding that must occur; for a branch disconnected from a vine can not grow grow nor produce anything

As a matter of face the branch as John 15:6

John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

So John telling them to bear fruit not on their own, but through abiding in Christ.

“Bear fruit IN keeping with repentance...”

Fruit being the fruits of the Holy Spirit such as Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

If these fruits are not evident (and never been evident) in your life have you really repented? Has the Holy Spirit really regenerated you life? Let’s be real this morning.

Phil 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

What a question to ask oneself this morning? || Is their fruit in my life? and have I really repented?

Repented of what?

Repented of your sin!

Well I haven’t sinned? Yes you have, we all have fallen short of the glory of God!

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

John is getting at, you who are here, who want to be baptized this is a baptism *not as the jews ritual and cleansing as you know, but a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of what? sin. John says in verse Luke 3:16 “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.” - an inside cleansing; a soul cleansing.

And what is the evidence of this repentance? “bearing fruit.” - IN keeping with repentance.

What fruit for the Kingdom of God for the glory of God are you bearing in your life Christians? (i’ve been asking myself the sobering question as well)

Is there any fruit you can see and discern in your life right now?

Do you see the evidences of God’s fruit because of repentance; and continual repentance at that in your life?

I’m talking to the Christian; not referring to salvation per say; yes the Lord calls us to repentance and faith in Him. (New Life)

But only to be met with the struggle of the flesh to fall back into sin and temptation, only to find ourselves confessing and repenting over and over again and to bear fruit.

We are not perfect, But we do repent and confess daily to the one who is perfect and the one who forgives!

Why? Because this is how we bear fruit, in keeping with repentance in our Christian life.

So John gives us some examples of what this fruit lived out looks like:

John goes onto say in verse Luke 3:10-14 “And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Tax collectors & soldiers)

John is NOT pointing to their works in his words in v.10-14 for salvation!

But it is because of the work of the Holy Spirit to come (in our context) that Christ will will begin to produce in them these ways of Himself.

As Charles Spurgeon says… “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

Fruits of the Spirit; and good works accompany a regenerated and repentant heart. (2 sides of the same coin)

Where is the fruit of the Spirit in your life?

What fruit are we bearing and how do we see this lived out?

If we had two tunics and kept both that is not very LOVING is it?

And they will know we are Christians by our love, and I wills ay by our fruits (works)

Let keep going...

“...And do not begin to say to yourselves, (crowd) ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”

And notice John stomps down before the crowd can even speak what the people might say is their “saving grace” as their lineage seems to be a stumbling block in believing that just because their forefather is Abraham....

As this would save them from the wrath to come?

No Abraham is indeed our Forefather; but He is not our heavenly Father who sent HIs one and only Son to save us from our sin and the wrath to come.

See many believed that Abraham's righteousness benefited his descendants.

What John is doing from this statement; is he is debunking the deceptive lie that they are entitled to fleeing the “wrath to come” because of Abraham’s righteousness.

We see this today in the Church:

The fact your family comes form a long linage of faithful Christians (great, but that’s not going to save YOU from your sins...

The fact that just because your grandparents and parents are strong Christians so you are too automatically? No!

Now maybe it is the case that you have seen their faith and they have pointed you to Christ and you are following Him now, PTL

But if not, repent and believe. You not them; they are not your rescue out of hell, wrath and sin, Jesus is.

R.C. Sproul uses this example: “its like saying “I’m a Church member. My parents were Christians. I was raised Christian. and I don’t have to bring forth fruits of repentance.”

We don’t live our faith and repentance out through Christians past; those who were faithful in their time on earth and who are now with Jesus in heaven

But we live out OUR faith in the Lord and He grows us to produce fruit, as we repent and keep a repentant posture to the end

What does John say about God “for I tell you, God is able form these stone to raise up children of Abraham.”

“John warned them that: like God had cut Israel out of Abraham who was a rock spiritually, so He could produce children for Himself from the stones in the wilderness.”

Basically Abraham is righteous but He is not God!

Recap:

So as we know, John has called out the un-genuine vipers (the unrepentant ones; or ones faking it) And set the stage that we are to bear fruit in keeping with repentance and as well it’s not through Abraham’s faith that one repents and finds freedom from the wrath of God to come.

So lets continue onto verse 9...

Luke 3:9 “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.””

So this is an urgent crisis “john has come shouting this” “even now (meaning at any moment) the axe is laid to the root of the trees.’

What happens when you lay an axe to the roots of a tree? it dies!

Why would a fruit tree that’s been in the garden for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years need to be removed?

Because it has not produced one fruit and it’s taking up space in the garden.

So John mentioning bear fruit, and then an axe I wonder if the roots of the people in the crowd started to tremble.?

As John finished his sentence at the end of V.9 “every....”

Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.””

Does this make us think differently and intentionally and soulfully on Phil 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

Is their fruit? if not, as the text says; the tree is cut down and burned (this is referring to those who never repent)

Those who do not produce fruit are burned and thrown into the fire, to face the full wrath of God. (HEAVY WORDS)

And after John was done speaking and saying you vipers and to bear fruit and that Abraham’s righteousness is not going to save you...so we read of this is Luke 3:15

Luke 3:15-20 “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 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. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn,(Heaven) but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. (Hell)” So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

John was being very real!

Jesus was on His way and He was indeed preparing the way for Jesus

He has delt this crowd a heavy, but deeply needed hand. If we know from Luke 3:10 “And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?””

What shall we do then Church? How do we flee the wrath to come?

3 Short Points from our text:

While we learned....

Don’t expect someone else’s faith to save you; as John called out the reason the crowd thought they were righteous, was through Abraham’s righteousness. NO!

And as we read we are to bear fruit in our life; so if not we will be cut at the root; done with and burned

The question John asked at the beginning to the crowd. was “you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Church this morning we flee God’s wrath only by repenting and putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ...

But not only God’s wrath; do we have rescue from; but even more so rescue from our sins

John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, not a “hey flee the wrath of God on your own righteousness and goodness, or by someone else’s Christian faith”

No! But be saved from sin and hell and the wrath to come through repentance and faith in Christ alone!

See the full wrath of God was laid on Christ at the cross, and the full sin of man was laid on Christ at the cross.

Jesus who Died for us that we can be forgiven of our sins and rescued from Hell has “Finished the work of sin!”

And has taken they keys from Satan, to release His people!

Real Talk this morning; and real fruit:

If you are not bearing fruit you are not repenting, if you have not repented of sin then you don’t have faith, and if you don’t have faith you will face the wrath to come.

What happened to the vipers in John’s story - they who pretended they were sticks they ;were tossed in the fire and burned

What happens to us if we don’t repent, put faith in Christ and bear fruit, proving to be his disciples - we are axed down put in the fire and burned

What happens to the chaff at it is sifted? Its burned; while the wheat is stored.

Charles Spurgeon said it best in his quote... “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

Faith without works is dead.

James 2:14–26 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Charles Spurgeon “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

We are alive, alive things produce, the Holy Spirit in us should produce the fruits of the Spirit.

We should want to keep with repentance why? Because this shows the posture of our hearts and our sincerity unto the Lord and that we desire His righteous ways.

To Close: We often in America want our fire insurance:

And this is ultimately those people, those vipers whom John is calling out are living.

Fire Insurances definition: This being those only wanting to escape hell and God’s wrath; only to be found that’s all they ever wanted, was to not be punished and sent to hell and never really followed Jesus with their life.

Never Repented and believed in Jesus but they think they are going to heaven?

Never bearing any fruit; the Holy Spirit not present and no faith; no works just longing for rescue.

Their is only one rescue route from God’s wrath, hell and sin and that is through faith and repentance in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son, our Savior and Lord.

Whom John is preparing the way for.

So the call is to repent (to turn from sin) and put your faith not in yourself; not in your good works, not in the thought “i’m not going to hell alone,” but in Christ who is the only way to the Father.

So now that John has laid it on them; let me lay it on you:

Were you baptized to only escape hell “To flee from the wrath to come” because someone told you about a hell and it’s punishments and torments?

Did they share anything about repentance to you, turning from sin and turn to Jesus and putting your faith in Him to be rescued from sin and hell?

If not hear the Word of the Lord this morning; John baptized with water; but Jesus was coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit, and if that’s the case their should be fruit in your life, and moments of repentance in your life

Or were you baptized because Christ is your Lord and Savior of your life? And you know without Him you are still dead in sin and the wrath of God is still upon your life.

Which as you have repented of sin and trusted in Jesus you know that the full wrath of God for sin, was laid upon Jesus and no longer you. (the great exchange)

And if this is you, a genuine repentant; fruit bearing believer; so this brings God glory and can give us assurance of our salvation (That there is fruit on the tree of our life; and we know we are walking by the Spirit to live for the glory fo God!

Let’s be real this morning; I pray the Holy Spirit now is confirming the truth of Jesus to you, from these words of John the Baptist.

It’s not a baptism of repentance so you don’t go to hell alone...

But it’s a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin; and as you trust in Christ, so a blessing from this repenting and believing in Christ ;is our rescue from sin and hell.

Remember at the beginning John was not concerned about the number in the crowd, but the soul quality of the crowd...

Today have your soul saved; by repenting and believing In Jesus.

And Christian today keep with repentance; seek the Kingdom of God and may your tree be overbearing with fruit.