Posts tagged All
How Do I Know That I'm Saved? | Matthew 7:21-29

Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-29 (Main); Matthew 16:15-18, John 20:31

Title: How do I know that I’m saved? (Darien Gabriel)

Bottom line: I know that I’m saved when I practice what Jesus preaches, doing God’s will by obeying God’s word.

Q. What do I want you to know?

A. How to know that you are saved.

Q. Why?

A. Because knowing leads to confident, wise and peace-filled living.

Q. What do I want you to do?

A. Do God’s will by obeying God’s word.

Q. Why?

A. Because it leads to abundant, wise living now and eternal life hereafter.

Discussion questions for group and personal study.

1. If not everyone who says they know Jesus iOS in fact known by Jesus, how can you know for certain that Jesus knows you? How can the church help make sure each person genuinely knows Jesus as their Lord?

2. How can you know whether the authority over your life is reason, experience, tradition, or revelation?

3. Examine the characteristics of the two types of wisdom from James.

Is wisdom a mental, emotional, or physical trait?

4. Where else in Matthew do you see Jesus warn of judgment?

5. How should Christians balance salvation by grace with judgment based on obedience as Jesus teaches in this passage?

6. Why is Jesus's parable of the two builders a fitting conclusion to his

Sermon on the Mount?

7. Read the other passages about great storms of judgment (Isa 28:16-

22; Ezek 13:10-16). What are the causes of impending judgment in those contexts, and how do they compare with Matthew's context?

8. What does "casual and comfortable Christianity" look like, and how does that compare to how Jesus calls his followers to live?

9. In what areas of your life (finance, work, family, recreation, etc.) would you say that you were more

"amazed" at Jesus's teachings

instead of obedient to them? What can you change to be obedient in those areas?

10. Since Jesus's words have divine authority, how does that affect your approach to the Bible?

11. How is the obedience Jesus desires both an inward piety and an outward action? How does Scripture characterize and describe obedience in both areas?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Intro

Some of you know that I went to Clemson my freshman year thinking I was a Christian. Two months later, I learned that I wasn’t surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.

I thought I was saved but I wasn’t.

What about you? Do you ever have doubts? Do you ever ask yourself whether or not you’re the real deal? It’s not a bad question to ask.

Jesus answers this question using some shocking words. It’s like he’s trying to jolt the spiritually inoculated. Jesus tells us how to know you are really saved.

The result should be a sense of peace, joy and confidence in who you are and how to live.

Last week we looked at 2 kinds of

  • Roads/Gates—one leading to life the other to destruction,

  • Animals: Sheep and wolves; Prophets or disciples—one part of the flock, the other out to devour the flock

  • Trees—one bearing good fruit, the other bad fruit and teaching falsehoods

This week we’ll look at 2 kinds of

  • Evangelical Christians—both look and speak the part, but only one is alive inside. Like the ancient oak tree that falls in the storm and it’s revealed that it was weaker than expected because the inside was rotten at the core.

  • Foundations—one built wisely on stone is built to last while the other is built to impress or for show.

Today Jesus will challenge the veracity of your faith.

Jesus ends his sermon on the mount (SOTM) with a challenge to do more than just hear and be impressed by it. And notice in v. 29 that the people were very impressed by it. They noted that it was authoritative instead of just footnoted well. His aim is that people would take it to heart and be changed by it. The evidence of this would be them starting to build their lives on the lasting foundation of Jesus the Christ.

The sad truth, however, is that our churches are full of false evangelical converts who rely on

  • Their vocabulary—we know the lingo “brother”, “fellowship” and “born again”

  • Their social conventions—attitudes like “don’t drink, smoke or chew or date girls who do”

  • Their similar likes and dislikes—eat at Chick-fil-A, shop at Hobby Lobby, Ben & Jerry’s, smirk at rainbow stickers, and make it clear to anyone who will listen what we’re against.

  • Their strong heritage—My granddaddy was a pastor; my grandmother was a missionary

  • Their successful jumping through the hoops—I’ve been through confirmation class; I was baptized at an early age.

While these things are not necessarily wrong or bad in and of themselves, the result of all of this is often inoculated people who believe that they are evangelical, bible-believing, Christ-trusting, cross-wearing, member-pledging Christians who in fact are false converts that Christ will say to at the day of judgment, “I never knew you.” “Many” are in this boat. Beware of thinking that you could not possibly be in this boat.

Bottom line: I know that I’m saved when I practice what Jesus preaches, doing God’s will by obeying God’s word.

In today’s news cycle, it’s not unusual to hear pundits talk about evangelical Christians as a voter block. But this can leave one shaking his head when they hear the results of the poles describing these creatures. Could it be that the culture has hijacked the word evangelical and defined it in political terms differing from the original religious terms?

What is an evangelical Christian? A person who believes:

  1. The Bible is divinely inspired and infallible, and subscribes to the doctrinal formulations that teach

  2. The total depravity of humanity,

  3. The inerrancy of the Scriptures (The Bible),

  4. The substitutionary death and atonement of Christ,

  5. Salvation by unmerited grace through personal faith in Christ (not through good words),

  6. The necessity of a transformed life,

  7. The existence of a literal Heaven and Hell,

  8. And the visible personal return of Jesus Christ to set up his kingdom of righteousness. Moreover, they believe in

  9. The proclamation of the gospel and

  10. The mission of winning the world to Christ. —Evangelical Dictionary of Theology

Does that sound like the people CNN & Fox are talking about during their election coverage? Or do they define them differently?

In vv. 13-20 Jesus warns against the dangers that come from the outside. In vv. 21-27 he warns us of the dangers that come from ourselves. That is

  1. The danger of basing your salvation on lip service, and

  2. The danger of basing your salvation on lifestyle.

John Newton, the former slave trader and author of Amazing Grace said, “If I ever reach Heaven I expect to find three wonders there: 1) First, to meet some I had not thought to see there; 2) Second, to miss some I had thought to meet there; and 3) Third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.”

This outline is heavily influenced by Kent Hughes.

I. I know I’m saved when I do his will. (7:21-23)

John Stott’s remarkable confession by the “many” in vv. 21-22:

  1. This confession is polite. He is called Lord which is to say “sir”. Even today, this is a courteous and tolerant way to address Jesus.

  2. This confession is orthodox. Of course, it can also mean and does mean divine rule. Context requires that we see Jesus as Lord as in divine ruler by the authority given to him by God the Father.

  3. This confession is fervent. “Lord, Lord” shows enthusiasm and zeal.

  4. This confession is public. Not a private or secret confession of faith. It’s gloriously public.

So what’s wrong with this confession of faith? Nothing! But there is a problem. You can do any one of these and still not truly be saved.

The problem is that you can confess these things in this way and still not have abundant, eternal life. How do know then? How can we tell if we are truly saved?

The answer lies in the bookends of the SOTM. The SOTM begins with the beatitudes (beautiful attitudes) and ends with the application of them. That is when we practice the attitudes and following heart-felt obedience of the will of God on a regular basis, then we evidence genuine knowledge of Christ and salvation by him.

Said another way, we are genuinely growing in Christ-like character and conduct on a regular basis. We are practicing the principles taught in Matt 5-7. No wonder Matthew chose this to be the first of Jesus’ 5 major teaching passages in the book of Matthew!

At Grace, we’re all about making disciples who make disciples. But when do you know you have a disciple of Jesus Christ? When he/she is growing in being and doing like Jesus Christ. What does that look like? It looks like the words, ways and works of Jesus found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But you can start with the SOTM if you want a quick summary.

II. I know I’m saved when I obey his word. (7:24-28)

“Fool” comes from the Greek word moro from which we get our word moron.

“The man who builds his house upon the shifting foundation is likened to the person who hears Jesus’ words but who does not put them to practice. The man who builds his house upon the rock is like

In this passage, we learn that 2 people can go to the same church, do the same things, believe the same things but find themselves in very different places after the storms of life and/or ultimately at the day of judgment.

Both build a house that looks the same. But one cares more about the foundation and he digs deeper through the sand to the rock and builds his foundation on that. As a result, when the storms of life come, his house will stand. (Metaphorically) And when Jesus returns, Jesus will not say, “I never knew you” because he built his life on the rock-solid confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and that by believing in him will have life in his name. (Matthew 16:15-18 + John 20:31)

III. I know I am saved when I live based on his authority. (7:28-29)

I like how Matthew ends this sermon for Jesus. He tells us what the people say which tells us two things:

  1. His words are amazing.

  2. His words are authoritative.

Norm Geisler gives us 4 sources of authority that shape our decisionl-making:

  1. Reason (I think),

  2. Experience (I feel),

  3. Tradition (I have always done), and

  4. Revelation (God says in his word).

Geisler adds, “one or more of these authorities will govern how we live.”

Who’s your authority in making decisions in life and hereafter?

Conclusion

Bottom line: I know that I’m saved when I practice what Jesus preaches, doing God’s will by obeying God’s word.

“Look around and be distressed; look within and be depressed; look to Jesus and be at rest.”

-Corrie Ten Boom

Bill Murphey, my favorite e newsletter guy, shared an idea that he’s heard that people die 3X in life:

  1. When their body stops working,

  2. When they’re buried, and

  3. After the last time anyone says their name.

I’ll add a fourth. It’s either when

  1. When they die to self and surrender to Jesus Christ, or

  2. When they enter the hereafter in a real place called hell.

I want you to know that abundant and eternal life is possible when we do God’s will by obeying God’s word.

In summary,

We know that we are saved when we do his will and obey his word, outwardly and inwardly, because we trust he is good, able and trustworthy. As a result we love him and gladly submit to his authority evidencing our genuine salvation.

  1. Do you believe God is good?

  2. Do you believe God is able?

  3. Do you believe God is trustworthy?

  4. Do you believe God loves you?

  5. Do you gladly submit to his authority?

If you don’t, then you haven’t answered 1-4 with a yes yet.

If you do, then you know that you’re saved. Continue to walk in his grace and wisdom.

So I ask you to you know that you’ve been saved from sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself?

Is your life pattern to do the will of God?

Is your life pattern to obey the word of God as summarized in the Sermon on the Mount?

Repent and believe today! Trust him who is good, able and trustworthy! Trust him who loves you unconditionally and sacrificially through the cross of Christ.

Pray

Outline Bible

II. JESUS' ILLUSTRATION (7:13-27)

A. The two roads (7:13-14)

1. The broad highway to hell (7:13): The gate is wide, and many choose this way to destruction.

2. The narrow road to heaven (7:14): The gate is narrow, and only a few ever find it.

B. The two animals (a condemnation of false prophets) (7:1)

1. They pretend to be sheep (7:15a): They seem harmless.

2. They prove to be wolves (7:15b): They tear you apart.

C. The two kinds of disciples (7:21-23)

1. True disciples (7:21a): On judgment day, the true disciples will be separated from the false ones.

2. False disciples (7:21b-23): On judgment day, the false disciples will be condemned.

a. The wondrous deeds they will say they did (7:22): They will say they prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles in his name.

b. The wicked deeds Christ will say they did (7:21b, 23): They disobeyed the Father, and God will say he never knew them.

D. The two trees (7:16-20)

1. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit (7:16, 18).

2. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit (7:17, 19-20).

E. The two builders (7:24-27)

1. The structures (7:24, 26)

a. One man built his house on solid rock (7:24).

b. One man built his house on shifting sand (7:26).

2. The storm (7:25, 27)

a. The house on the rock stood firm (7:25).

b. The house on the sand fell flat (7:27).

III. JESUS' DEMONSTRATIONS (7:28-29): Jesus continues to teach, amazing his listeners with his authority.

References/Bibliography:

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“Sermon on the Mount” by Charles Quayle’s

“The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World” by Sinclair Ferguson 

Bible.org https://bible.org/seriespage/12-maintaining-peaceful-relationships-matthew-521-26

“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman

“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

“Exalting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount” by Daniel Akin (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)

"Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey

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How to Live Out the Beatitudes Today | Matthew 5:10-16

Series: All: All Authority, All Nations, All Allegiance

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-16 (main)

Title: How to Live out the Beatitudes Today

Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell (See below for bibliography)

Summary of passage: Coming out of who Citizens of the Kingdom are in the beatitudes, Jesus describes what those citizens get to do in a dark and tasteless world.

Bottom Line: Jesus follows how to BE like Christ with how to DO like Christ. (Fruitfulness Matrix) (draw?)

Discussion questions for group and personal study.

Reflect and Discuss in your groups:

1. British pastor and author John Scott said at the Cape Town Lausanne Conference, “The greatest hindrance to the advance of the gospel worldwide is the failure of the lives of God’s people.” What do you think about John Stott's claim? Do you agree or disagree, and why?

2. Where do you see decay around you? Where do you see darkness?

How can you be salt and light in these places?

3. What is the connection between the Beatitudes and Jesus's call in verses 13-16?

4. How does a pure life impact our witness to the gospel? How might impurity also affect our witness?

5. What might it look like for your life to be "useful" in the kingdom?

6. What are some ways we can lose our saltiness and become useless in the kingdom of God?

7. How does this passage command and inspire international missions?

8. How do many Christians hide their light under a basket? What causes us to do that?

9. How does the light of the Christian lead to God's glory?

10. Consider the questions at the end of this chapter. Which strikes you as most convicting? Why?

Final Questions

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Opening to Sermon:

There is a salt and pepper shaker collection in our home that has generated much conversation over the years.

  • Who gets them when mom kicks the bucket?

  • Why are the ones on the table always empty?

  • Which ones will we use next?

  • Who gave us that set?

Use matzah to help people taste no salt. As each person comes into the room, give out to each person along with a slip of paper that says:

This cracker is to eat at sometime in this service. The explanation will come during the message. Feel free to eat it now or when I explain it in the message. God bless you.

The idea will be to show people a sample of how bad tasteless is.

We move from the beatitudes where Jesus describes to us what his people look and act like. We get more detail to this as we work through the entire sermon on the mount. But Jesus laid the foundation in verses 1-12. We’ll pick this up in v. 13 but I’m going to start reading in v. 10.

In v. 13-16 we’re going to answer the questions that Jesus answers on behalf of his fellow Kingdom citizens:

  1. Who am I? (In light of being a kingdom citizen), and

  2. What do I get to do as a kingdom citizen?

““You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.5.13-16.NIV

Notice right away that the words “You are” are grammatically emphatic. Jesus says what is true. You can reject it or you can believe and embrace it. But he says what is true. In Christ, you are salt and light. The question is, do you receive and believe this? (John 1:12)

Once again we see that Jesus acts as one with “All Authority.” This series is called “All!” because Matthew wants us to see that Jesus has all authority so that all nations will give him all of their allegiance. This is seen throughout the book of Matthew.

  1. Who am I? What do I get to do?

    1. This is a question of identity. We ask this question more than we think. Because intuitively we know that what we do flows from who we believe we are. Not necessarily from who we want to be or someone tells us we are. But who we really believe we are. This is why faith is so important.

    2. Also, it’s not you CAN be salt and light. You ARE salt and light. You have all that you need in Christ to do what these imply you can do.

    3. Jesus answers this question in 2 ways using metaphor:

      1. We are the salt of the earth.

        1. Why salt? Salt can do a lot of things. One commentator listed 11 things that salt does. But I agree with Hughes who tells us the passage gives us the one that matters to Jesus here. Salt flavors things. Salt is NaCl and it flavors things. Which is why you don’t usually choose to eat unsalted food. (Health reasons not withstanding)

        2. Warning: Don’t lose your saltiness (i.e. usefulness—flavoring power)

        3. Our flavoring power is a metaphor for us to bring flavor of Christ into our world. Now we still acknowledge that flavor can be received one of two ways:

          1. Some will like it.

          2. Some will hate it.

          3. People respond to Christ in one of two these ways when he confronts them with the gospel.

            1. They gladly receive it or

            2. They reject it.

      2. We are the light of the world. “This little light of mine” (sing?)

        1. Why light?

          1. Jesus said he is the light of the world in John 8:12. So why this? Jesus chooses to reveal himself to the world through his people. This is his strategy of blessing the world through us to bless us in the process.

          2. Light does a lot of things too. But again context pushes towards the more obvious thing: Light shines. Light illuminates.

        2. Warning: Light was meant to be seen. Therefore, don’t hide it. This implies we will be tempted to not “let” our light shine. If we don’t, what happens?

          1. Good works don’t happen in our world in and through us. (Sin)

          2. God doesn’t get the glory (light!) he deserves and uses to bless.

  2. How does this fit with 1-12? When we live this way—meaning it’s the pattern of our lives—we will be persecuted.

    1. Ex. When a husband loves and serves his life well in another country where maybe men don’t typically do that, he will stand out.

      1. Some men will make fun of him and even be angry with him for suggesting this is appropriate.

      2. Some men will see the good in it and change. Maybe even repent and believe.

  3. Imagine a church—or a movement of churches—where everyone lived salty, bright lives in dark places! Boy wouldn’t they stand out! Like a bright city on a hill!

    1. And yes there would be fireworks! Some would lead to peace-filled lives.

    2. And some would lead to conflict where we’d have to love our enemies publicly.

    3. But both would bring glory to God.

Conclusion

“David Brainerd, missionary to the American Indians, died at the age of 29. Reflecting on his life and calling from God, he said, Here I am, Lord, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth! send me even to death itself, if it be but in thy service, and to promote thy kingdom. (Edwards, Life of David Brainerd, 224)” —Akin, p. 21

“Ion Keith-Falconer (1856-1887) was a Scottish missionary and Arabic scholar who died at the age of thirty-one. He won the world cycling championship in 1878 at the age of twenty-two but would leave all that behind and go to Egypt and later Yemen as a missionary for Jesus. He died from malaria after being married to his missionary wife Gwendolen for only three years. In the preface to his biography, Robert Sinker wrote,

A career of exceptional promise was early closed in the death of Ion Keith-Falconer. The beauty of his character, his ardent missionary zeal, his great learning, form a combination rarely equaled. . . . How noble a life his was. (Memorials, v)

What was it in this man that would cause him to give up all for the glory of King Jesus and the lost among the nations? I suspect it was this conviction buried deep in his heart that settled the issue:

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light." As was true of Ion Keith-Falconer, may it also be true of us: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!" —Akin, p. 22

References/Bibliography:

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

“Exalting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount” by Daniel Akin (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)

"Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey

“The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World” by Sinclair Ferguson

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What is Repentance? | Matthew 13:1-17

Series: All!

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-17

Acts 2:37-38, 3:19, 8:22, 20:21, 26:20

Title: What is Repentance?

Heavy credit: David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell (See below for bibliography)

Summary of chapter: “John the Baptist begins his ministry and baptizes Jesus. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus and God declares that he is pleased with his Son.” (Outline Bible)

Bottom Line: Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of living. Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance of sins.

Story: CWP letter, finger prints and my trip to the Goose Creek police department on a Friday afternoon. (3:58)

“Lord, keep me close and keep me clean.” -Dr. Bill Bennett, pastor and professor

Discussion questions for group and personal study:

Note: We encourage you to use our sermons and discussion questions to gather with some friends and talk about the passage together. Pray and ask God to guide you. He is faithful. Questions? Email us at info@GraceToday.net

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Goal: The goal isn’t to ask every question. The goal is to encourage people to engage the scriptures together.

1. Why is it significant that John's first command had to do with repentance?

2. What is the difference between regretful confession and true repentance?

3. How are some church attenders similar to the Jews who counted on family heritage for salvation?

4. How would you counsel someone who professes Christ but shows no marks of repentance?

5. How did the arrival of the kingdom point to the nearness of both salvation and damnation?

6. How would you explain to a non-Christian that a

"hellfire and damnation" sermon expresses love?

7. Explain why John's baptism and Christian baptism appear to exclude infants.

8. How are all three members of the Trinity present in Matthew 3:15-17?

9. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin?

10. What is the difference between resolving to be good before salvation In resolving to be obey God after salvation?

Scripture:

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” Matthew‬ ‭3:1-7, 9-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://matthew.bible/matthew-3-17

Opening:

"…Additionally, the ancestry was important to demonstrate that Matthew's Gospel did not pertain to a mythical character or hero. To the Jew, the ancestry testified to historical reality.

Several years ago a friend of mine, a missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators, worked among a people who had never heard the gospel in their language. The people could not write or read, so all their communication was oral. The missionary's first task was to learn the language of the tribe. Then she had to change that oral language into written form and teach the people to read and write it. It was a laborious task that took many years. Only after all that was accomplished could she undertake the task of translating the Bible into this language. She began with the Gospel of Matthew. To expedite the project she skipped the genealogy to get to the meat and substance of the story of Christ, and then she sent her translation work off to be printed by a publisher in a distant city. She waited months for the first copies of Matthew to arrive at the compound, and when the trucks came in with the Bibles, or, at least, the Gospel of Matthew, the people were much more interested in the trucks than they were in the translation. After having spent ten years on the project, she was crushed when she saw that the people didn't care at all.

Nevertheless, she persevered in her task, and in the second edition of Matthew she included the genealogy. When that arrived the missionary explained the genealogy to the tribal chief, and he said, "Are you trying to say that this Jesus you've been telling us about for ten years was a real person?" She replied, "Yes, of course." He said, "I thought you were telling us a story about some mythical character."

Once he understood that this Christ was real in space and time, the chief came to Christ, and shortly thereafter the whole tribe came to Christ.”

—Douglas Sean O’Donnell

Outline based largely on David Platt and Douglas Sean O’Donnell

I. The ministry of the Baptist: Prepare the Way (aka Tell the World)

A. The man

  1. Prophesying boldly

  2. Living simply

  3. Baptizing openly

  4. Serving humbly

B. The message (What we do and Why)

  1. Repent…How?

    1. What is repentance?

      1. It is changing your mind in such a way that you change your actions; 180 degree about-face

        It’s necessary to believe and follow Jesus Christ and enter into his Kingdom

    2. Repentance involves confession (admission of sin)

    3. Repentance involves contrition (sorry over sin)

    4. Repentance involves conversion (turn from sin)

  2. …for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near (which means that the King has come near as well)

  3. Repentance is for everyone

  4. See Acts for other sermons and thoughts on repentance including:

    1. Acts 2:37-38 “They were cut to the heart…what shall we do? Repent and be baptized”

    2. Acts 3:19 “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out”

    3. Acts 8:22 “Repent of this wickedness and pray…that he may forgive you”

    4. Acts 20:21 “they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

    5. Acts 26:20 “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance but heir deeds”

    6. See the 7 churches of Revelation 2-3 as well

C. The method

  1. The baptism of Jews

    1. Renounce your dependence on self

    2. Rely on mercy of God

  2. The baptism of Jesus

    1. The Son obeys

    2. The Spirit anoints

    3. The Father speaks

II. The ministry of the Church today: Tell the World

A. Repent and be baptized.

B. Resolve to proclaim this good news yourself. (Bearing fruit…leading others)

Conclusion

This is what we want to be known for. Loving our neighbors so well we’re willing to risk rejection to show and tell them about the mercy and grace of God found in and through Jesus Christ.

Let’s do this and lead others to do the same!

Pray

Other notes:

Why do people get baptized?

Because the Bible says to.

Because they see others who trust Christ do this.

To go public with their faith.

To testify to what Jesus Christ did for us

To testify to what Jesus Christ did in them

In our country, this is no big deal. They will likely not be threatened or abandoned because of this.

In other countries, they would do this a great personal threat to their literal lives.

Why do it then? Because they have come and seen who Jesus is and what he’s done. God has opened their eyes to see clearly. And they have believed what they have seen as more evidence that all God has said is trustworthy.

What about you?

What do I want you to know? The gospel

What do I want you to do? Believe and receive the gospel and live accordingly. It’s more than a game-changer. It’s true life-change. Transformational.

At the end I will invite you to do what many in this room have already done. To consider who Jesus is and what he’s done and then responding as you see fit.

My hope is that by believing you’ll find true and abundant life in his name. At the very least, I hope it will lead to more conversations about this for you in the near future.

We’re going to look at this through the eyes of a couple of women who witness stuff before anyone else does. Just walking through these 10 verses as if we were these ladies. They are not telling us what they believe happened. They are telling us what they saw and heard. We have it recorded reliably in the thousands of biblical texts/transcripts. Over 25,000 partial and/or complete. Overwhelming evidence.

References/Bibliography:

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“the Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)

ESV Study Bible

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)

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