December 30, 2007  •  Pastor Randy Smith

In 1722 at the age of 17 years old, Jonathan Edwards, coined by some to be the greatest theologian American ever produced, penned 21 resolutions by which he would live his life. As he added to the list, the number grew to 70.

Pledged changes in one’s lifestyle are common this time of the year. Frequently we hear of “New Year’s Resolutions.” Yet God is more concerned about the daily reformation of our lives, than a flimsy seasonal wish to try a little harder. Consider Edwards resolutions: Far from them being a yearly exercise to reorient his life, the man made it his goal to read over these resolutions on a weekly basis. As one author said, “(They) were neither pious hopes, romantic dreams, nor legalistic rules. They were instructions for life, maxims to be followed in all respects” (Geroge Claghom, Introduction to Jonathan Edward’s Personal Writings, Works, v. 16). Edwards frequently meditated and pored over his list as a resource for self-examination.

Among the many topics covered in his resolutions such as living in moderation, helping others, avoiding laziness, maximizing time, cultivating an even temper and demonstrating a heavenward focus, a reoccurring theme and primary reason for his resolutions was the issue of repentance. Though ignored and undervalued in Christendom today, true biblical faith is girded by a daily commitment to repentance. And I can think of no better way to bring in the New Year than to make sure we understand the nature and the need for biblical repentance. It stands at the forefront of God’s expectations and is brought to us this morning through our text in Matthew 3.

Yet before we dive into the specifics regarding repentance, I believe a little review and background from chapters 1 and 2 will assist us to see the “big picture” and establish the context of this essential topic.

Upon starting the Gospel of Matthew two weeks ago, we learned that the long-awaited Messiah, the divine King had finally arrived. Matthew goes through great trouble in verses 1-17 of chapter 1 to present to his Jewish readers how Jesus was in the kingly line of David as predicted in Scripture. David’s greatest Son would fulfill the promise to rule in righteousness and extend David’s throne into eternity (2 Sam. 7:12f, Psm. 132:11; Ac. 2:30).

Then in verses 18-25 of chapter 1 the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ is presented. In the appearance of scandal, the Virgin Mary was found to be with Child by the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:18, 20). The Second Person of the Trinity had taken on flesh. Immanuel, God was now with us in a unique and personal way (Mt. 1:23). The King had arrived. And the King, despite contemporary expectations, would also be a Suffering Servant (Isa. 53) culminating with His work on the cross. As the angel said, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people (not from the Romans but) from their sins” (Mt. 1:21).

While Jesus is born in the “white space” between 1:25 and 2:1, Matthew picks up the account approximately 1-2 years later in chapter 2. There we are informed that word regarding King Jesus spread to many. Some like the magi came with joy bringing worshipful hearts (Mt. 2:2, 11). Others like the religious leaders were indifferent to the news (Mt. 2:5-6). And still others like king Herod, when told about the arrival of the new King, were filled with hatred and jealousy (Mt. 2:3, 16). Three attitudes toward Jesus – joy, indifference, and hatred – that still continue to this day.

Throughout the remainder of chapter 2 we see God’s hand protecting this Child, such as sending the couple to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod (Mt. 2:13-14, 16-18) and then directing the family to Nazareth upon their return to Israel to escape the wrath of Herod’s son, Archelaus (Mt. 2:20-23). Also we see the beginning of Matthew’s repeated attempt to show how Jesus Christ was the One of whom the prophets spoke. Some have estimated that Jesus fulfilled over 330 specific Old Testament prophecies. At least 4 are mentioned in chapter 2 alone.

The King had arrived. He was protected by Almighty God until the appointed time when He would then willingly go to the cross and give His life as an offering for sin. And due to His sacrificial atonement, bring salvation and a kingdom for His people. As the angels in heaven sing, “Worthy are You…for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

The King had indeed arrived. And with the arrival of the King was the arrival of the kingdom – a blessed kingdom in which righteous and peace would reign, a kingdom where God Himself would rule and shepherd His people (Mt. 2:6). But now as we enter chapter 3, the next logical point of progression must be understood. The King had arrived and the kingdom was at hand, but what was the requirement to enter this kingdom?

The answer is…Repentance. And the one who initially brought this message might surprise you. This morning we will concentrate our attention around the topic of repentance by looking at the man, the message and the method.

1. THE MAN – JOHN THE BAPTIST

Point number one; the man was John the Baptist. Verse 1 says, “Now in those days John the Baptist came.” This man’s ministry was so significant he is mentioned in each of the four gospels.

The best way to identify the role of John the Baptist is to view him as a forerunner to the Lord. That ministry was stated at his birth: Luke 1:76, “And you, child will…go on before the Lord to prepare His ways.” That ministry was stated in his own words: John 3:28, “I am not the Christ, but, I have been sent ahead of Him.” Great bands have a warm-up act, famous speakers have elaborate introductions and politicians have those who get things ready for their arrival. Just prior to Jesus beginning His earthly ministry, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Messiah.

This concept is best seen in verse 3. Once again showing fulfillment from the Old Testament, Matthew wrote, “For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, ‘THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’’”

In antiquity it was common before the arrival of a famous dignitary that people would go before him, not only to announce his arrival, but also to make his arrival as smooth and pleasant as possible. Roads would be repaired, rocks would be relocated and garbage would be removed. Everything would be done to make his appearance as unobstructed as possible. The stage would be set for a grand entrance and people would be prepared to receive his message without distraction.

When Matthew quotes from Isaiah 40:3, not only does he take a passage that referred to God and apply it to Jesus which stresses Christ’s divinity, but he also alters it from the physical preparations commonly made by the forerunner to spiritual preparations. John the Baptist was not concerned with filling potholes with dirt, but rather filling barren hearts with God’s Word. He was not consumed with straightening crooked roads as he was straightening crooked lives to better receive the King’s message.

As a forerunner to the Messiah, John the Baptist was to prepare the way without getting in the way. That meant he did all he could to draw as little attention to himself. His goal was to shine the spotlight on King Jesus without seeking personal honor and stealing His glory. And considering John’s miraculous birth (Lk. 1:13) and the crowds that flocked to him (Mk. 1:5), it would have been very easy for him to get a big head. Yet the man consistently lived a life of humility pointing to the One where all attention should be focused.

Without a doubt, John’s lifestyle was marked by humility. On one occasion, the people actually thought he was the Messiah (Lk. 3:15) to which he replied, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals” (Mk. 1:17). Elsewhere he said, “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me’” (Jn. 1:30). He preached Christ, not himself and his joy was in the reception that Christ received (Jn. 3:29). When Jesus eventually arrived on the scene and the transfer of authority was established, John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). When we consider his humility, it is no wonder our Lord said, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Mt. 11:11a; cf. Lk. 1:15).

Now as we read on we learn that John the Baptist lived in relative obscurity in the “wilderness” (verses 1 and 3). He wore a “garment of camel’s hair” girded with a “leather belt” eating “locusts (big grasshoppers – a modern day Bear Grylls) and wild honey” (verse 4). Though God might not call any of us to this type of lifestyle, He does call all of us to adopt the same humility as John.

That thought is worthy of an extended pause for personal reflection.

Do we live in such a way that glory is given to King Jesus? Do we speak in such a way that draws attention to God and not ourselves? Do we deny ourselves? Do we exchange our way for God’s way? Do we find joy when the ministry of Christ increases through us? Do we wish to be great in the sight of people or great in the sight of the Lord?

In many ways, John was an unusual man to usher in the Messiah. He is not what many of us would have expected. Furthermore, as we move to point number 2, his message is not what we would have expected either. We have and will see this repeatedly in the Gospel of Matthew that the ways of God are much different than the ways of man.

2. THE MESSAGE – REPENTANCE

Point number two; John’s message. And John’s message was so simple it could be summarized in one word: repentance. Leon Morris in his commentary put it as succinctly as possible: “The Baptist came prophesying the doom that awaited sinners calling his hearers to repent (Matthew, p. 51). The angel said, “(Jesus) will save His people from their sins.” By grace He saves us from sin’s condemnation and by grace, through our cooperation with the Holy Spirit, He saves us from sin’s domination. So isn’t it only natural to assume that God’s first words through the Baptist is a call for kingdom citizens to turn from their sins? To repent!

Verse 1 says, “Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.” John was called to be a preacher; the primary way God has ordained His message to go forth. Yet John did not preach anything he wanted. Quite the contrary, as a good herald for the King, he was under authority to faithfully preach the King’s message commissioned to his care. The emphasis was not on the King’s messenger, but on the King’s message. And as a spokesman for the King, John’s words were to be exactly the same as if the King were present preaching the message Himself.

And what was the content of John’s divinely commissioned message? “John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, (verse 2) ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” The King had arrived. The kingdom was at hand. And entrance into this kingdom is conditioned on repentance, period!

This was the message of John. This was the message of Christ. Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (cf. Mk. 1:15). And this was the message of the Apostles. Acts 2:38, “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Through the door of repentance is the only way to enter God’s kingdom.

What is repentance? Listen to John MacArthur’s great definition of repentance: “The Greek word (metanoeo) behind repent means more than regret or sorrow; it means to turn around, to change direction, to change the mind and will. It does not denote just any change, but always a change from the wrong to the right, away from sin and to righteousness… Repentance involves sorrow for sin, but sorrow that leads to a change of thinking, desire, and conduct of life” (Matthew 1-7, p. 53).

The way I see it, true repentance often has three elements. First, our intellect is informed that our lifestyle is not in line with Scripture. This is the reason we read our Bibles and listen to sermons and discuss the Scripture with others. After an understanding of our sin, our emotions are stirred, sometimes we say we are convicted, that we need to change a pattern of behavior. Our conscience presses upon us. Our heart is broken and contrite. We are grieved that we are disobeying the Lover of our soul. Now unfortunately, here is where many people stop. Yet genuine repentance is not complete until it reaches the third step, which is a change in our actions. As we will learn next week in verse 8 we must “bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” Summarizing: True repentance is intellectual, emotional and volitional.

Yes, we may stumble along the way, but only true citizens of God’s kingdom enter through repentance and then maintain a repentant spirit throughout their walk with Christ. It has been said repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. Both intricately related. Both necessary to receive Christ and enter His kingdom. And both will also remain present if we truly are members of His kingdom. Could we conceive of being kingdom citizens if we stopped believing? Likewise, we should not be able to conceive being kingdom citizens if we stopped repenting!

I know that this is not a popular subject for many preachers today. But if I wish to be faithful like John the Baptist, I too must proclaim the message of King Jesus and not what my feelings dictate or what the audience may crave to hear. The message from the lips of John the Baptist, confirmed by Jesus Christ and continued through the Apostles, was clearly one of repentance. And even though it cost all of them their lives (save John the Apostle), this is what they proclaimed because this is what the people truly needed to hear. All of us in this room as preachers of the gospel have a choice. We can be quiet and compromising and watch people go to hell (many with a false assurance of their salvation). Or we can believe the truth and declare the truth, despite the persecution, and be used as a vessel for the King to add subjects to His kingdom. You tell me which one is more loving both to others and to Jesus?

It is no different for us today as it was for John the Baptist. John the Baptist spoke to a world lost in their sins, awaiting their just penalty in hell. As Jesus said in verse 10, my paraphrase, “God’s wrath hangs over all like an axe over the root of a tree.” Yet good news has arrived! The King has come and the kingdom has arrived! The message of entrance is without question. The King did not call for religion. He clearly called for repentance to be saved. The glorious King deserves no less. Those who repent will enter. Those who refuse, regardless of their profession will remain outside and under God’s judgment. Again the words of Jesus Christ this time from Luke 13: “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3, 5).

What was the response of the people to God’s message through the Baptist? Again, it was the same as today. Of the many people who came to see John and hear the message (verse 5), some (as we will learn next week) rejected the message and others (verse 6) “were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.” Did you hear that? – “As they confessed their sins” (cf. Ac. 19:18; 1 Jn. 1:8-9). They entered through the door of repentance as confession, agreeing with God that we have violated His will, is the first step to genuine repentance.

3. THE METHOD – BAPTISM

So the man was John the Baptist. The message was one of repentance. Now, point number three, the method was one of baptism.

When we keep John’s baptism in the context of the Scripture, it helps us to better understand this essential practice of church life. Permit me to present a few observations.

First of all, John’s baptism did not bring salvation or entrance into the kingdom. Jesus brought salvation and entrance into the kingdom was contingent upon repentance. So why the baptism? Baptism was a sign. Verse 11, it was a baptism “with water for repentance.” It was an outward picture of an inward reality. According to Romans 6 it pictures a death to our old way of living. It pictures spiritual cleansing. It shows how we are now immersed into the life of Christ: Death to self, alive to God (Rom. 6:3-5).

And second, speaking of immersion, there is every indication from our text that John immersed the candidates for baptism. Not only does immersion best display the picture that baptism represents, but also even the word “baptize” suggests he immersed the people. In the original Greek, the word “baptize” means “dip” or “plunge” and was used in the secular day to refer to the dying of a garment or the sinking of a ship. A totally different Greek word is used for sprinkling. Literally, we could call the Baptist, “John the Immerser” (Mt. 3:1). Combine this with the fact that John was baptizing “in the Jordan River” (verse 6) and in John 3:23 we read that “John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there” and we have convincing evidence to establish baptism by immersion.

Third, baptism occurred only after the people repented and confessed their sins. In Mark 1:4 we read, “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Next week we will see John refuse to baptize some Pharisees who came to him to be baptized because they refused to enter through the door of repentance (Mt. 3:7-10). In our account repentance precedes baptism. And there is every indication that a public confession of sin preceded baptism as well. This is why we do not baptize babies here at the Grace Tabernacle who are unable to make this personal and radical act of commitment to Christ.

And fourth, baptism seems to be the decisive way to take a public stand for Christ. In many churches we see dozens come forward during an “altar call” and then months or years later some of them are baptized and then years later only a few remain who are obediently walking with the Lord. This, my friends, is not the biblical model. Search the Scriptures. There is no mention of any “altar call” and baptism always follows immediately upon repentance and trusting Christ. Biblically speaking, the public way to respond to the gospel is not an “altar call” but through baptism.

So the man was John the Baptist. The message was repentance. And the method was baptism.

As I began the sermon, I spoke of Jonathan Edwards Resolutions.

In point one we learned that John the Baptist was a humble man, faithfully serving the King. Edwards, resolution number 43, “Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.”

In point two we learned that John the Baptist proclaimed the message of repentance. Edwards, resolution number 56, “Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.” Number 48, “Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of.” Number 3, “Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.”

And in point number three we learned that John the Baptist employed the method of baptism. Edwards, resolution number 42, “Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church.”

And lest we think we can take any credit, we must remember that the kingdom and the ability to exercise faith and repentance are all gifts from God. Our Lord has designed it in such a way that we must both enter and live by His empowering grace every second of the day. That is why a cross the top of his resolutions, Edwards penned, “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake.”

So as we approach another New Year may we renew our commitment as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom to live a repentant life by God’s grace and for His glory!