3:1-12 | Fruits Worthy of Repentance
Before Jesus came John | 3:1-6
John made a big splash on the scene before Jesus
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Israel was in expectation of a forerunner before the Messiah would come
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Deut. 18:18 | A new prophet like Moses was expected
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Mal. 4:5 | Many believed Elijah would drop down from heaven like he was taken up
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John was the spitting image of a prophet
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2 Kings 1:8 | Dressed as Elijah
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Zechariah 13:4 | Dressed as a prophet
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Not to mention his miraculous birth
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A Time of Anticipation
Jews were very expectant of a Messiah figure during these days
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To hear the kingdom of heaven is at hand is exciting
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All sorts of OT passages are ringing in their ears
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The reign of David's heir will truly begin
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The exile has ended and we are about to take over
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Matthew directs us immediately to Isaiah 40
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This is what John is preparing Israel and us for
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Many Israelites completely missed Jesus because they were unprepared for what the Messiah would be
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If we don't understand this we risk missing out on seeing Jesus as the Messiah God intended
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Isaiah 40:1-11
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Everything leading up to Isaiah 40 has been judgement
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Upon Israel and Judah
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Upon the nations
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Chapter 40 does a complete 180
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Now we're talking about comfort
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Easy access to God
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God coming to shepherd his flock
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Matthew wants us to have this in mind as we see Jesus
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He is the comfort
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He gives us direct access to God
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He is our mighty shepherd
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How to Prepare
Repent
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Johns prophetic message: Repent!
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Literally change your mind because of the guilt you should be feeling
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More than just an intellectual changing, but a radical reinvention of self
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Do this because the kingdom of heaven is just outside the door
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And so the people confess their sins and are baptized | 5-6
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They are acknowledging what needs changing in their lives
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They are coming to have those sins cleansed
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Application
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Our minds are not compatible with Gods kingdom
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His thoughts are above ours | Isa. 55:8
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We need to have the mind of Jesus | Philippians 2:5
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No one can come to God without changing their thoughts and lives
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When we are confronted by the gospel we are confronted by a transformative process
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It is foolish to tell unbelievers they won't have to change much
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We all have sins needing to be washed away
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The Pharisees and Sadducees Arrive | 3:7
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The Pharisees
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Common people with an extreme dedication to the law
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Israel was destroyed by disobedience, so we will never do that again!
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Over time began to honor traditions over the actual law
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They lost focus on what the law truly was
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The Sadducees
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Generally upper class
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Denied the oral law and traditions of Pharisees
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Denied the afterlife
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Did not get along with the Pharisees
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Neither got along with John
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John accuses them
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Called a brood of vipers!
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Sarcastically asks who warned them to come out?
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John's Condemnation | 3:8-10
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Bear fruit in keeping with repentance | OR | Worthy of repentance
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Our actions must align with our changed mind
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Repentance is more than just saying sorry about what we did
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A true apology stops the hurtful action from occurring again
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Every unfruitful tree is cut down | 10
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Repentance without action is nothing
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We are going to be recognized by our fruits and actions | Matt. 7:15-20
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They trusted in their ancestry as righteousness
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As children of Abraham they were special and privileged
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Many saw Abraham's righteousness as a spiritual inheritance
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Saw no need for repentance. We're already saved because of who fathered us!
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Paul condemns this thinking | Romans 3:9-18
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Application
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Our repentance must be our own
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The Pharisees and Sadducees thought they were covered by Abraham
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We think we’re covered by all sorts of things
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Preacher
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Congregation
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Nationality
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Parents
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That is presumptuous
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Nothing but faith in Jesus is going to get us into heaven
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We must live out our repentance
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We can't steal a bike and pray for forgiveness
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Romans 6:1-4 | We're done with that life!
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What happens when we don't live out that repentance
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Hell is described as an eternal lake of fire in revelation
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That's what happens when we cheapen God's grace
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Our conduct must be in keeping with Jesus
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Crying Out in the Wilderness
John Preparing the Way
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John teases what's coming in 11-12
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Someone mightier
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Someone who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire
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Holy Spirit baptism
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We have the benefit of looking back on the story
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We see this happening in Acts 2 and 10
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Fire baptism
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Judgment on the unrepentant
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Destruction of Jerusalem
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A separation of God's true children from the rest of the world