Topic: GENUINE REPENTANCE
Text: Matthew 3:1-12
3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;Make His paths straight.’ ”
3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
3:6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
3:7 But 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 wrath to come?
3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
3:9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
3:10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit [a]and fire.
3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
STUDY:
John the Baptist was in the desert of Judea preaching that the people should repent because the kingdom of Heaven was approaching. John’s dressing and food were ordinary. However, many people came to him to be baptised at River Jordan as they confessed their sins. John challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees who came for baptism to show the evidence of repentance and not to rely on just being the children of Abraham. He also told them that a greater personality was coming who would be more impactful.
Today, baptism that should be an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual grace, is now a mere outward ritual of the church which members just carry out to belong to the church. If John the Baptist were to be here today, his fiery words would have still have been “Brood of vipers!” The need for genuine repentance-a process that begins from the heart-must be emphasised. A proof is required in genuine repentance to discourage mere profession and outward show (v.8). The kingdom of God which John the Baptist preached about is only accessible to all who have genuinely repented of their sins. This prepares the repentant sinner for the refreshing that comes from the presence of the Lord(vv.11-12;Act3:19).
PRAYER:
Father; I repent of all my sins; please send forth the refreshing that comes with your Presence.
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