ON THE ROAD TO THE CROSS - PART 1
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: Repent & Turn to God
Main Scripture: Luke 3:1-18
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Easter is quickly coming upon us so Pastor Ryan started a series to help us prepare our hearts to remember the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Our series began with the announcement of the coming of Christ, the Kingdom, and the good news through John the baptist. The key themes in this scripture and message today were turning back to God or repenting and preparing the way for people to receive Jesus. What’s interesting is, we are now on the other side of Easter, and the same message is needed. Now we come to Christ by repenting of our sins and believing in His work on the cross to forgive us. We still ought to be water baptized to symbolize our salvation and we should still prove our repentance by living a Godly and holy life. Pastor Ryan showed us how as Christians we need to demonstrate genuine repentance before God and walk in repentance. We also were encouraged to be like John in our own community, clearing the way for those God is going to convict and repent on their own. And also be like John in our community by saying, “come back to God, while there is still time!”
Notes:
Luke 3:1-6
The person and role of John the Baptist.
John’s appearance would be interesting if he was here today. We would think he is a homeless man coming out of the woods to preach. He wore clothes woven from coarse camel hair, a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey.
His calling was to prepare the way, be the forerunner for Christ, help people get ready for the arrival, the rule, and reign of God’s kingdom through Christ. John resembled Elijah. The cue was when you see Elijah then you know the Messiah is coming. He was humble and pointed to Jesus - Luke 3:15-16
The message and call
Matt. 3:2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
This was a message from God according to Luke 3:2.
John the Baptist doesn’t waste any time getting people ready for the coming of Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven. John doesn’t do a 20 part series to soften hearts, he doesn’t tiptoe on eggshells, John is the prophet from God who’s supposed to cut right to the chase and rattle any false security they may have. The beginning of Christ’s ministry is announced and begins with this message from John the Baptist, repent or turn from your evil ways and turn to God for the forgiveness of sins.
What is repentance? A change of mind and way of life. Stop living the wrong way and live the right way. “Repentance” (Gk. metanoia) is a compound word meaning “to change one’s mind” or “to alter one’s understanding.” It combines both rational decision and willful act as opposed to emotive feeling alone. Edwards, J. R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 108). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
True repentance is restitution, to make things right as far as it can be made. Repentance in this culture would teach, “Injury must be repaired, and pardon sought and forgiven. The true penitent is he who has the opportunity to do the same sin again, in the same circumstances, but does not do it.” That’s true repentance.
What does “clear the road mean?” When a visiting king would come into town, messengers would go-ahead to announce his coming and to clear the roads of any barriers or even fill ruts to make paths straight. Spiritually, John was saying, “People should give up their selfish way of living, renounce their sins, seek God’s forgiveness, and establish a relationship with God by believing and obeying His Word.” -Study Bible
Luke 3:7-9
“Brood of vipers or snakes, who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath?” With this scripture is this picture of a field or brush pile on fire and so the animals are scurrying on the ground to getaway. There may have been this assumption that if they get baptized in water if they go through the ritual they are safe, but this would be challenged by John when he said, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins. The proof is in the fruit.
Proof of repentance needs to be seen and their bloodline as a descendant of Abraham did not promise them a pass from facing God’s judgment. Abraham’s favor and righteousness do not pass on because of who they are. This was their false security. They had time to make a personal decision, while the axe rests against the tree and has not been swung.
Luke 3:10-14
As bold as John was, it worked. His warning invokes a good response and what every pastor would love to hear: “What should we do?”
John responds by addressing the different people in the crowd and giving them examples of how to show they truly repent. To the everyday person in the crowd, he mentions, generosity and giving to those in need. To the corrupt tax collectors, be honest. To soldiers, be just and content.
I love how John focuses on the “do’s” not just the “don’ts”
Luke 3:15-16
John is not Jesus, but this reveals they are aware of the coming Messiah. John clarifies the two by the different baptisms. Spirit-baptism would be Jesus’ mark on the church and still is. Water baptism was a sign of repentance and forgiveness of sins as John said.
Fire can imply the purification of the Holy Spirit when He comes into us upon believing and sets us apart as holy or it can mean the coming judgment of God. Both would be applicable, but it appears it may be the latter, the judgment in this context.
Luke 3:17-18
Jesus is ready to separate the chaff, those who do not believe, do not repent, and do not bear fruit from the wheat which is those who do all those things.
The winnowing fork is a pitchfork that they used to toss the wheat into the air. The kernels of wheat would fall to the ground and be gathered up to be stored for use while the chaff would be separated, often by the wind, and then burned by fire.
When proclaiming the good news, there were warnings of the judgment to come. Not exactly how you picture good news being explained but the good news is: there is still time and we find God forgives when we truly repent.
Jesus preached the same message of repentance - Matthew 4:17
The 1st-century church and the church today has the same message - Acts 2:38; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Acts 2:37-38 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Application for Today. How can we apply this in our lives as believers and unbelievers?
For Christians/believers: Christians, do we need to repent of anything?
Remember the definition and expression of repentance: True repentance is a change of heart and mind but also doing what is right. There are times when restitution could be shown, to go make things right as far as it can be made. “Injury must be repaired, and pardon sought and forgiven. The true penitent is he who has the opportunity to do the same sin again, in the same circumstances, but does not do it.” Author Unknown.
Walking in repentance is how we show God we are truly sorry for our sin. Making things right with someone we’ve sinned against also communicates our genuine repentance.
Examples of believers repenting:
When I was around 8 years old I went on a stealing spree until God convicted me…
After our sermon on serving and giving a brother reached out about giving committing to tithe to the church. That’s repentance.
A young lady who moved to another state reached out to me because God had convicted her of sin and her lack of relationship with God. She realized she wasn’t living right. She moved out of her boyfriend's house and started seeking God. She has been reading her Bible every day.
We can turn away from a sin that became a habit or pattern. Or we start doing what God’s Word says to do instead of neglecting it.
We can make amends with a brother or sister in Christ by apologizing or forgiving for a conflict. Reconcile with friends, spouses, or neighbors.
For unbelievers and unsaved:
We stand on the other side of the cross and the resurrection but the call of repentance remains the same. We turn away from sin, turn to God for the forgiveness of sin, put our faith in Christ’s righteousness that cleanses us because our works cannot achieve it. Jesus is our righteousness and by trusting in what He did for us on the cross we are made new and in right standing with God. Then we prove our faith and repentance by living a changed life.
Everyone has to make a personal decision of whether or not to trust Christ. We don’t rely on the faith of others for salvation. Repent, turn away from unbelief, and believe in Jesus Christ for your salvation from sin and eternal life. Repent, turn away from wicked living, living for yourself instead of living to glorify and please God, following your own ways instead of the Word of God, repent from these things…Go and show you’ve repented by doing what is right, often hard, but consistent and worthy of who you truly are.
To everyone hear the heart of God in…
Ezekiel 33 NLT God’s heart for all people!
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart. And saves such as have a contrite spirit. The word contrite means remorse.
Lastly, we can be like John, Peter, and Paul by preparing people for Jesus’ second coming. We can prepare the road by sharing who Christ is, why He died on the cross for us and how he rose again to give eternal life. We can clear up and correct any misconceptions that people have about faith and following Jesus. We can be an ambassador like Paul who says, “Come back to God.” We can be ready to show the love and grace of God to those who return on their own.
Discussion
After reading Luke 3:1-18, how would we receive John the Baptist in our society, today?
What stuck out to you from this scripture?
What is genuine repentance and what does it look like?
What’s the encouraging side of Luke 3:1-18 that we could miss in all the doom and gloom? What does it communicate?
How can we encourage others to repent without sounding condemning or judgmental?
What stuck out to you from this sermon?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!