January 6, 2008  •  Pastor Randy Smith

A graphic chapter in the gospel of Matthew calls for a graphic illustration.

Let’s pretend you decide to use the money you received for Christmas to treat yourself to some deep-water fishing. You arrive at the Belmar Marina, meet the captain and board the ship with great expectations to “land the Big Tuna.” Unfortunately, due to the frigid temperature, nobody shares in your excitement and finds any pleasure in braving the chilly elements on the Atlantic this time of the year. The captain nevertheless agrees to take you out alone, a private charter so-to-speak, twenty miles off the Shark River Inlet.

Considering the season, the fishing is great. Things are going so well you almost seem to forget about the weather. The shore has disappeared. Nobody is in your sight as far as the eye can see. It’s you, the captain and a massive ocean, with the bottom 150 feet below your hip-waders.

All of a sudden you feel some water sloshing between your feet. You think nothing of it, but as time goes on, the level is rising at a rapid pace. Within minutes after detecting that something is wrong, you find yourself immersed in the chilly 45-degree ocean waters. Outside help before hypothermia sets in is out of the question. Death is imminent.

Then you see it, the life raft! Your only hope for survival is the rescue life raft the captain has just launched. The only possibility for safety is at hand. Would you receive or reject his offer for salvation?

What would your response be?

“How politically incorrect it is for you to shove a life raft down my throat at a time like this!”

• “Thanks, but I’ll choose to rely on my own goodness and intelligence to save me.”
• “Appreciate the offer, but I’m not ready to jump on the life raft right now.”
• “Thanks for the gift. You saved my life. I’m coming aboard!”

According to the Bible, our spiritual condition is no different. We are sinners and therefore under the wrath of a holy God. As a result, hell awaits us as our final destiny. Our death is imminent. But God in His love and mercy has launched a rescue mission. He sent a Savior into the world, Jesus Christ. As the angel said, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). He is the only hope we have. As we are drowning in our sins, will we receive or reject his offer for salvation?

1. THE PROBLEM FOR HUMANITY

This thought transitions us into our first point, “The Problem for Humanity.” And the problem for all humanity is clearly revealed in two verses by John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 3.

Look with me first at verse 10. It is there the Baptist said, “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The imagery used by John comes from the world of agriculture. As I observe each time I do missions work in Armenia, fruit orchards in and around the Middle East dot the landscape for both commercial and personal use. The average citizen in the first-century was most likely well acquainted with the methods necessary to maintain a successful orchard. And the evidence of a successful orchard is not the appearance of the trees, but rather one thing, the production of much fruit.

You see, fruit trees are not ornamental. They are only as useful as the fruit they produce. Therefore, if a fruit tree fails to produce fruit, the only option is to cut that tree down and burn it lest it take up space and rob valuable nutrients from the ground needed by the other trees. Simply put, as John said, “The tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mt. 3:10b). In Matthew 7:19 our Lord Jesus said the same thing: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (cf. Psm. 80:6; Isa. 5:2-7; Lk. 13:6-9; Jn. 15:6; Heb. 6:8)

So is John the Baptist trying to make us a better farmer or is there a spiritual application at hand? The following main thoughts are intended to fill our imagination: The axe (an instrument used for destruction) is already laid (where?) at the root of the trees. There is a need to bear (what?) good fruit. And the consequences of being fruitless leads to (what?) destruction in fire. Hmmmm…

Maybe a second similar illustration from the Baptist will help. Again, pay close attention to the details. In verse 12 we read, “His (speaking of Jesus) winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Again, from a physical perspective, the people in the first century knew exactly what John was talking about. Those living 2,000 years ago did not have the heavy machinery to aid in processing grain that we enjoy today. Everything was done by hand through very primitive methods.

Whenever a grain crop was harvested from the ground in its crude form, in the mind of the farmer, it had two components. It had the good part, the kernels themselves, and it had the worthless part often referred to as the chaff. Often to separate the two, a threshing floor was established. The dirt would be packed rock-hard, and the perimeter would be fortified with a rock wall encasement. The crude grain would then be placed on the threshing floor and smashed by a team of oxen pulling heavy pieces of wood. In the process, the kernels would be separated from the chaff. To complete the process, the farmer with his winnowing fork would toss the harvest into the air on a windy day. The chaff, being lighter, would blow away while the grain being heavier, would fall to the ground. Once separated, the threshing floor was thoroughly cleared. The chaff was burned, and the grain was placed in his barn.

Again, as I followed every detail of verse 12, is John the Baptist trying to make us better farmers, or is there a spiritual application at hand?

Let’s now translate verse 12. Despite all the artificial distinctions we try to place on humanity, according to the teachings of Christ, there are only two classifications. We are either a child of God (Jn. 11:52) or a child of the devil (Jn. 8:44). We are either wheat or tares (Mt. 13:24-30). And in this case, we are either kernels of grain or chaff (Mt. 3:12). Though all are living together at this present time, a future division of the two groups at our Lord’s return will occur. Those without Christ, the chaff, will be judged and receive eternal condemnation or as the Baptist said in verse 12, “unquenchable fire.” And those in Christ with their sins forgiven, the wheat, will be placed in the Lord’s barn for care and protection.

Let’s go back to John’s illustration in verse 10. The story is slightly different, but the same conclusion is drawn.

The branches that did not bear fruit were thrown into the fire. Again, all humanity will face an inescapable time of divine judgment, one much nearer to us than we all imagine. As John said in verse 12, “The axe is already laid at the root of the tree.” Some trees will be spared. Others will be cut down and thrown into the fire. According to this illustration, the only quality that separates both of these trees (the good and the bad) is not the verbal profession but rather the evidence of spiritual fruit.

My friends, those covered by the blood of Christ will be saved from the wrath of God. Listen to Romans 5:9: “Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” And the only true indication of those saved is the production of spiritual fruit. I am not saying we are saved by our works, but I am saying that our works, our spiritual fruit, give evidence to the reality of our salvation. In describing the Final Judgment the Apostle John said, Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” If we are saved, spiritual fruit, evidence of the Holy Spirit’s activity in us will follow. As one author said, “Salvation is not verified by a past act, but by present fruitfulness” (John MacArthur, Matthew. p. 70).

This ties in so well with what we learned last week about baptism and what we will cover very shortly from Matthew 3 this week. We will soon see that John the Baptist will refuse to baptize some Pharisees and Sadducees because they did not, verse 8, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance”—because as we learned last week, baptism does not save. Baptism is only the sign or our salvation. Therefore we should be saved first before we are baptized, and evidence of our salvation should be spiritual fruit, especially the fruit of repentance as John the Baptist told the religious leaders.

I do not know how any professing Christian can read Matthew 3 and walk away concluding that what they do with their spiritual life is insignificant. Those of us who call Jesus Christ our King show evidence of belonging to the King by whether or not we obey His commandments. Listen to 1 John 2:3-6: “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” Regarding our present discussion, John 3:36 cannot be any clearer. “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Over 100 years ago J.C Ryle wrote: “We need to be straitly warned, that it is no light matter whether we repent or not. We need to be reminded, that there is a hell as well as a heaven, and an everlasting punishment for the wicked, as well as everlasting life for the godly. We are fearfully apt to forget this. We talk of the love and mercy of God, and we do not remember sufficiently His justness and holiness. Let us be very careful on this point. It is no real kindness to keep back the terrors of the Lord. It is good for us all to be taught that it is possible to be lost forever, and that all unconverted people are hanging over the brink of the pit” (Commentary: Matthew 3).

So what do we have here? We have a consolation to fruit-bearing believers, “You are forgiven! The guilt has been removed! Enter into the abundant life and joy of your Master!” And we have a stern warning to those who resist this instruction, “Repent, for the judgment of God is already over you like an axe over the root of a tree.” It is of the utmost magnitude that we understand this instruction, accept it for ourselves and rightly present it to others. There is a serious problem for all humanity, but God has provided the remedy for us in Christ.

As we move to the second point, let’s examine the problem for John the Baptist and the remedy provided for him as well.

2. THE PROBLEM FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST

Last week as we examined verses 1-6 of chapter 3, we learned about John the Baptist’s ministry. He served as a forerunner to prepare the way for the Messiah, King Jesus. His message was simple: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2). Those who repented, seen in verse 6 by “confessing their sins,” were then baptized by him as a sign of their conversion. We get the impression that John agreed to baptize many, but now he was approached by two completely different parties of whom he refused to perform the service. Who were these two parties and why did John refuse to baptize them?

Those unworthy of baptism

The first party were those unworthy of baptism—the religious leaders. Verse 7, “But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism” (stop right there).

I know we tend to place an emphasis of the radical nature of being baptized as an adult—The public confession of sin and public proclamation to all that you are a committed follower of Jesus Christ. Yet in the first century, these elements were there as well, but to a much greater degree.

In the Jewish religious system, baptism by immersion was not required for ethnic Jews. They were the physical descendants of Abraham, and they believed due to this connection that a guarantee of eternal salvation was automatically stamped upon them. The only baptisms performed were for the spiritual misfits, the Gentiles, who wanted to convert to Judaism (SBK, 1:102-12). So for John the Baptist to demand repentance and baptism for the Jews, John was in effect saying that their religion was worthless, their belief system was flawed and in they eyes of God they were no closer to Him than a pagan Gentile! No wonder that John’s head eventually wound up on a platter, literally (Mt. 14:8)!

So why these religious leaders were coming to John for baptism baffles my imagination. If they were truly repentant we can understand, but in this case these self-righteous leaders were totally insincere, and John could see through their smokescreen and in turn offered a scathing rebuke. Verse 7, “He said to them, ‘You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’”

A viper was a small poisonous desert snake. “Brood” means “offspring.” So I believe there is an intended connection to their forefather, the original serpent, Satan himself. Jesus also referred to the religious leaders with the same terminology in the same context. “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell” (Mt. 23:33; cf. Mt. 12:34).

John’s words and Jesus’ words—“Flee(ing) from the wrath to come” and “escap(ing) the sentence of hell”—both mean the same thing. Like so many today, these men possibly only wanted “fire insurance.” Possibly they wanted deliverance without commitment. And as we know from last week that that does not add up in the biblical economy. For safety in God’s kingdom comes upon our willingness to repent. These men were unrepentant. John refused to baptize them because John was unwilling to give into such hypocrisy.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees saw themselves as a cut above the common folk. But regardless of the good works they piled up fueling a self-righteous attitude, the call to all of them is the same as the call to all of us. Even to the most religious people in the land, it is a call to renounce our self-sufficiency and cast ourselves fully upon the mercy of God and receive His gift of salvation through faith and repentance. That is why John said in verse 8, “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” It is not about piling up good works. It is about a repentant spirit. It is about an inward change of heart that desires to submit entirely to God’s will.

Let’s recap. Salvation is by grace alone. It is an undeserved gift that excludes all merit and privilege. We receive the gift by believing – Believing that Jesus died for my sins and by repenting – Believing that obeying Him is for my greatest good and for His greatest glory. God changes our heart and we get baptized – an external action to symbolize an internal change in our heart. This two-sided element of faith and repentance is how we enter the kingdom and remains as an ongoing heart desire to give (mainly ourselves) evidence that we are in the kingdom. So producing spiritual fruit by grace through the Holy Spirit is not only the reason for which we are saved, but also it is the natural byproduct of every person who claims to be a child of God.

Now imagine the religious leaders grasping this aspect of John’s teaching. “But wait John, we are more righteous than anyone. This is wonderful for others, but we deserve to be accepted by God. Look at all we’ve done. Look who we are. We are the chosen ones. We are children of Abraham. We are automatically guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom.”

It is almost as if John could read their minds when he said in verse 9, “And do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”

God will fulfill His promises to raise up children for Himself. And He does not need the physical descendents of Abraham to accomplish it. His plan is to save not just Jews but people on all racial frontiers, not through their own works, but through faith in His grand work in providing atonement for their sins in Christ’s work on the cross. God can raise up dead bones (Eze. 37:5). God can raise up spiritually lifeless people (Eph. 2:1). From stones, like pagan Gentiles without hope (Eph. 2:12), God can raise up a treasured possession to serve Him and honor Him through their repentant hearts. God will fulfill His promises not through unbelieving/unrepentant children of Abraham, but through “stones” that acknowledge their spiritual need and respond through faith and repentance. For these are the ones that will escape the wrath of God and the ones that will enjoy the eternal bliss of God’s presence in His heavenly barn.

To save the appropriate time for Communion we will conclude this message next week. But as we approach the elements for Communion, may we understand the extent of our salvation. For only when we comprehend the fate that awaited our lost soul, will we really appreciate God’s deliverance for us in Christ. Then the bread and the juice will be taken, not as part of a monthly routine, but as a spotlight that illuminates the love and mercy of God. They remind us of the price that needed to be paid to make us right with Him. They remind us that God is with us and He desires to enter a deep relationship with us. They remind us that we have been redeemed, set free to be all that God has for us in Christ.