Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Luke 3:7-18
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  December 16, 2018

What is the first feeling that comes to mind when you hear the word “repentance”? Pain? Sorrow? Grief? What about joy? Have you ever considered repentance to lead to joy? Maybe you’ve never really thought about it. Maybe we understand that repentance is something good for us, yet overall a sad activity. After all, Scripture says, “godly sorrow produces repentance, which leads to salvation, leaving no regret.” Yet, today in Luke chapter 3, we see John the Baptist teaching us that repentance leads us to a deep and widespread joy. This joy is so overwhelming and powerful that we change the way we think and act. And ultimately, that’s what repentance means, a turning around, a change of mind.

Repentance is what John the Baptist used to prepare the way for Jesus. John’s main work was to fix the roads in the hearts of the people and prepare them for their King. Last week, we heard about valleys being filled in and mountains being flattened as a result of John’s preaching and teaching. Undoubtedly, John did a ton of preaching and teaching the people. However, very little of what John actually said is recorded for us. What is recorded is a brief summary of his message, found at the beginning of this chapter, which we read last week. John was “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” John’s main message was repentance and forgiveness. And believe it or not, people flocked to see him. To be fair, there were some who were only curious about John because of his odd dress and diet. Most, however, were coming out to him with a desire to have their sins forgiven.

And yet, today we learn that there were some who had ulterior motives. Just look at the first verse of our lesson for today. “So John kept saying to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruits in keeping with repentance! Do not even think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ because I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is going to be cut down and thrown into the fire.” You might recall in Matthew’s gospel these words are directed at the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. However, Luke tells us that the whole crowd was addressed. A brood is a number of offspring that are produced at one time. By calling the crowd, a “brood of vipers,” John is telling them that they are children of vipers, that they have fallen into the sins of their fathers. God allowed John to see their intentions. John could see that their coming out to see him was just a show. It was a false repentance. By simply coming out to the wilderness to see John, they believed they could be saved from the coming wrath and yet still continue in their sinful lifestyle. They thought if they went through the motions in baptism, they’d be good. They thought for sure that being descendants of Abraham had to count for something. However, John destroys both lines of thought. “Therefore produce fruits in keeping with repentance! Do not even think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ because I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.”

Are we any different? Does John’s accusation hit home with us as well? Do we also think that we can attain the joy of salvation while at the same time seeking the “joy” that comes by gratifying our sinful nature?  Do we ever use the hour we sit in church to excuse our sin in the other 167 hours of the week? Do we think that the percentage of the income we return to the Lord somehow negates the materialism evident in the way we think about and use the majority of God’s gifts?  Life doesn’t work that way. You can’t enjoy eating all the junk food you want and still enjoy good health. There are certain joys that cannot co-exist. Spiritual life doesn’t work that way either. How much of our religious life is desperately wanting to know that sins are forgiven so we can attain eternal life…and…how much of our religious life is about wanting to know that sins are forgiven so we can keep doing them? If we are pursuing the joys of the sinful flesh think that by simply showing up at church or giving the impression that we are outwardly religious that we’ll be able to enjoy heaven, friends we’ve been listening to a viper. If there’s any viper’s poison in us, we need to listen to John and understand that he is not lying. “Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees.”

That’s some pretty heavy stuff I know. I know we’d much rather talk about happy things, about joy. But true joy, eternal joy, is impossible without first acknowledging the seriousness of our sins. And we’re not serious if we come to church simply to soothe our consciences when we fully intend to go back and willfully commit the same sin. There is a time when sorrow is necessary, is healthy. James tells us there is a time to “Lament, mourn, and weep.” A time to “Let your laughter be changed into mourning and your joy into gloom.” This is a sorry far beyond being sorry for getting caught or for having to deal with the consequences. This is a sorrow of knowing that we have offended your Creator and loving Father…a sorrow of knowing that we have made ourselves worthy of damnation. That is a healthy sorrow! If we don’t acknowledge our guilt and the seriousness of our sin, then we can’t possibly have joy.

So how do we find that greater, lasting joy? John tells us. We need to focus on the one infinitely greater…more powerful. John says, “Someone mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” This might seem a bit strange, but I want you to picture your life as a tree. If you were to look at your life as a tree, how healthy does it look? How tall is it? How much fruit is on it? Now picture Jesus as a tree. How majestic is that tree? How much fruit would be on it? Considering John describes fruitfulness in terms of generosity and kindness and compassion, the Jesus-tree would have branches so heavy with fruit, they’d almost touch the ground. Yet, when God looked at our scarce or absent fruits…when he picked up his ax and walked determinedly toward us…Jesus begged, “No Father! Not them! Cut me down instead.” On the cross, we see God swinging the ax of justice. In Jesus’ words, “Why have you forsaken me?” we hear him “being thrown into the fire.” The fruitful tree was cut down. The fruitless trees were spared. It would be a story of pure sorrow, but for the fact that just like trees that look so dead this winter, the Jesus tree came back to life…even stronger and more beautiful than before. When that fact sinks in…that God loves you…God wanted you…God chose you…God was willing to pay anything to spend eternity with you…it melts our hearts. We are joyful that “The Lord has removed the judgment against [us].” We are overwhelmed to see that, not just in words, but in actions God proved he was serious when he had Zephaniah say, “He takes great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love.” So we ask with the crowds, “What should we do then?”

John told us what we should do. In our baptism, Jesus clothed us in the white robe of righteousness. We show we value that robe. We strive to keep it clean. Notice what John tells the crowd. “He answered them, “Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized. They said, “Teacher, what should we do?” To them he said, “Collect no more than what you were authorized to.” Soldiers were also asking him, “And what should we do?” He told them, “Do not extort money from anyone by force or false accusation. Be satisfied with your wages.” John doesn’t call for activities of heroic proportions. He doesn’t say the necessary fruit is becoming a missionary in a foreign country or selling everything we have to support the poor or work for the Church. We simply strive to reflect the love Christ showed us in dealing with our neighbor. We share with those less fortunate. We give an honest days work to our employer. We’re content with the blessings God has given. We live for the one who died for us. We struggle with all the strength given to us by Christ when he baptized us with the Spirit to leave behind the sins that cause his death.

Has John changed your thinking when it comes to repentance? If you think that repentance still has sad connotations, you’re not wrong. But you not getting the whole picture. True repentance concludes with the joy of knowing how much your Savior loves you. True repentance grasps the joy of a perfect future waiting for you. True repentance results in being grafted into the Jesus tree, connected to Christ, living a joyful and thankful life, one that is full of fruit. This is the joy that is overwhelming. This is the joy that changes lives. This is the joy that prepares our hearts to receive our coming King. Amen