WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.880
 Amen. Jeff, I'm glad Christmas is not canceled.

00:00:15.980 --> 00:00:20.699
 You have to admit, though, sometimes the Christmas season can make me a little bit of a curmudgeon.

00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:26.339
 There's a song that I particularly find a little draining.

00:00:26.339 --> 00:00:30.859
 It's on my Amy Grant Christmas album from 1987 or something.

00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:35.820
 Many of those of you who were born then, so you haven't been subjected to this.

00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:39.560
 One of the songs she sings is, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

00:00:40.519 --> 00:00:48.659
 And I know it's supposed to be an uplifting song, make you happy as you're going to the mall shopping or doing whatever.

00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:57.159
 And I know there's a message of real joy at Christmas that these songs are supposed to be helping us take hold of.

00:00:57.739 --> 00:01:03.219
 But, gosh, sometimes it's just so saccharine and so glitzy and so light and tinsel.

00:01:03.879 --> 00:01:06.759
 And it seems to lack substance.

00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:14.719
 It feels like it promotes Christmas as the hallmark countdown to Christmas holiday season.

00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:16.620
 If you're not familiar with that, don't go there.

00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:19.800
 No, even there, like, there's hopefulness there.

00:01:19.960 --> 00:01:21.240
 Like, life can't turn out well.

00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:23.980
 But, you can't find love in your life.

00:01:24.100 --> 00:01:31.800
 But, the reality is that Christmas is, it just makes, leaves me feeling, having a hollow feeling.

00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:33.740
 Is this really what Christmas is about?

00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:36.920
 Is there anything more than this?

00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:42.199
 This leads us to our passage this morning.

00:01:42.339 --> 00:01:44.939
 We're continuing in our series on John the Baptist.

00:01:45.419 --> 00:01:50.859
 And it's going to be a good day to talk about John the Baptist because we're going to have a lot of baptisms in a few minutes.

00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:52.659
 And so, we're going to look at him.

00:01:53.039 --> 00:01:58.979
 And if you were here last week, we talked a little bit about John the Baptist, the person, and the context of his ministry.

00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:15.560
 That he was uniquely the last of the Old Testament prophets come to bridge into the New Testament by proclaiming that all the hopes and fears of the Old Testament people, God.

00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:17.539
 As they look forward to what God would do.

00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:26.759
 As they were longing and crying out for God to fulfill the promises of salvation and of restoration and of establishment of his kingdom.

00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:36.340
 John has come and said, I'm the last of the Old Testament prophets because what's going to come after me will be the fulfillment of all those things.

00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:42.140
 So, we looked at the context of who John the Baptist was last week.

00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:46.640
 And then this week, we're going to talk a little bit about the context of his message.

00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:48.960
 We're going to look at Luke chapter 3.

00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:52.840
 If you want to turn there, it's page 858 in your pew Bible.

00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:55.699
 Luke chapter 3.

00:02:55.780 --> 00:02:58.120
 We're going to be reading verses 1 through 18.

00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:04.020
 What we will see is that at the very core of John's message is this.

00:03:04.480 --> 00:03:05.099
 Get ready.

00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:07.680
 The Lord is coming.

00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:13.620
 This is a message that is both a warning and a message of hope.

00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:17.120
 And that's what we're going to see as we read this book together.

00:03:17.460 --> 00:03:25.319
 So, Luke chapter 3, verses 1 through 18.

00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:26.659
 Let's read that together.

00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:33.639
 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, being governor of Judea,

00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:40.859
 and Herod, being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip, tetrarch of the region of Turia and Trachonitis,

00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:47.819
 and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,

00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:52.599
 the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

00:03:52.599 --> 00:04:00.400
 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:05.400
 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:08.719
 the voice of one crying in the wilderness,

00:04:08.920 --> 00:04:12.340
 Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.

00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:17.639
 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:20.000
 and the crooked shall become straight,

00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:23.439
 and the rough places shall become level waves,

00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.040
 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.740
 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him,

00:04:34.300 --> 00:04:39.139
 You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

00:04:40.040 --> 00:04:42.319
 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance,

00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:45.819
 and do not begin to say to yourselves,

00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:48.000
 We have Abraham as our father.

00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:54.839
 For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:59.060
 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.

00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:05.399
 Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:08.220
 And the crowds asked him,

00:05:08.540 --> 00:05:10.060
 What then shall we do?

00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:12.019
 He answered them,

00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:15.079
 Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none,

00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.279
 and whoever has food is to do likewise.

00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:21.600
 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him,

00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:23.819
 Teacher, what shall we do?

00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:25.839
 And he said to them,

00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:29.079
 Collect no more than you are authorized to do.

00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:32.160
 The soldiers also asked him,

00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:35.060
 And what shall we do?

00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:36.939
 And he said to them,

00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:42.199
 Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation,

00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:44.100
 and be content with your wages.

00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:48.020
 As the people were filled with expectation,

00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:52.860
 and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John whether he might be the Christ,

00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:54.980
 John answered them all,

00:05:56.340 --> 00:05:57.500
 saying,

00:05:57.640 --> 00:05:59.320
 I baptize you with water,

00:05:59.700 --> 00:06:02.140
 but he who is mightier than I is coming,

00:06:02.280 --> 00:06:06.240
 the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.

00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.460
 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:13.180
 His winnowing fork is in his hands,

00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:15.060
 clear his brushing floor,

00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:17.300
 and gather the wheat into his barn,

00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:21.180
 but the chaff he will burn with unfunchable fire.

00:06:22.280 --> 00:06:24.079
 So with many other exhortations,

00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:27.019
 he preached good news to the people.

00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:29.339
 Let's pray together.

00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:37.219
 Lord, we come before you this morning,

00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:43.959
 yearning that the message of Christmas would have greater significance to us,

00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:47.180
 because of your word.

00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:51.620
 Lord, I pray this morning as we look into this passage,

00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:53.939
 Lord, that you would speak to us.

00:06:55.639 --> 00:07:00.360
 Lord, that you would prepare our hearts to receive the message that you have for us this morning.

00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:05.360
 God, I pray that I might speak your words faithfully,

00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:11.100
 and that your Holy Spirit would apply your word to our minds and to our hearts this morning.

00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:18.160
 Lord, help us this morning to hear your word,

00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:21.060
 and to listen to you, and to recite you.

00:07:21.540 --> 00:07:23.260
 We pray this in Jesus' name.

00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:24.180
 Amen.

00:07:33.700 --> 00:07:34.560
 Get ready.

00:07:35.320 --> 00:07:36.560
 The Lord is coming.

00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:41.160
 It's interesting when you look at verse 18,

00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:43.600
 how Luke kind of wraps up this section.

00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:45.040
 He says that the Lord was preaching,

00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:47.379
 or John the Baptist was preaching good news,

00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:53.000
 but did it strike you as a message of good news as you listen?

00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:56.779
 When you look particularly at verses 7 through 14,

00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:00.000
 does this sound like good news to you?

00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.079
 John's message has a warning in it.

00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:08.480
 That we all need to hear this warning.

00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:11.040
 And at its core, the message is this.

00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:13.800
 You are not okay with God.

00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.980
 And He is coming to settle accounts with you.

00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.680
 Do you notice the images that he used?

00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:26.220
 He talked about a wrath that is to come.

00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:30.639
 He talked about an axe being laid at the root of a tree.

00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:34.779
 A tree that would be evaluated for its fruit,

00:08:34.939 --> 00:08:37.600
 and if found lacking,

00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:39.860
 if found unworthy,

00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.799
 it would be chopped down.

00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.220
 John begins his message of good news by saying,

00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.960
 there is a problem here.

00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:51.840
 You are not okay with God,

00:08:51.939 --> 00:08:52.860
 and He is coming.

00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:57.180
 And He is coming to judge.

00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:02.820
 Now, judgment is not something we particularly like in our culture today.

00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:04.680
 It's not something that we...

00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:07.360
 And part of it, there's a proper recognition that

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.320
 when we as human beings take on the role of ultimate judge in the world,

00:09:11.680 --> 00:09:12.419
 we fail.

00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:14.060
 Because we are finite people,

00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:14.919
 and we are weak,

00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.840
 and we don't know all that we ought to.

00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:21.759
 And yet, it has made us squeamish about the idea

00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.820
 that there could be any judgment at all.

00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.060
 But instead, what we see in the Bible

00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:31.780
 is that judgment is actually inherent

00:09:31.780 --> 00:09:34.160
 in the overall message of the Bible,

00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:38.980
 and is key to the good news that it proclaims.

00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:40.320
 Let me explain that briefly.

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:43.740
 First of all, we see John has taken up this role

00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:45.780
 as the last Old Testament prophet.

00:09:45.779 --> 00:09:48.759
 And as you may have this impression in your mind,

00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:50.379
 oh, the Old Testament prophets,

00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:52.659
 they were the ones who always preached judgment,

00:09:53.059 --> 00:09:56.259
 who always talked about how everyone was doing everything wrong,

00:09:56.339 --> 00:09:58.980
 and how God was going to come and bring destruction.

00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:03.299
 But interestingly,

00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:05.360
 if you look at the New Testament,

00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:08.120
 if you read Jesus' words carefully

00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:09.839
 and with your eyes open,

00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.519
 you will see that

00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:15.019
 John is in a part of a tradition

00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:17.120
 that does stretch back through the Old Testament,

00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:18.199
 but stretches ahead

00:10:18.199 --> 00:10:20.199
 into the very words and teaching of Jesus

00:10:20.199 --> 00:10:22.419
 and the teaching of the Apostle Paul,

00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:25.720
 the Bible speaks from beginning to end

00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.179
 that judgment is coming.

00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:29.579
 But it not only says that,

00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:31.600
 but it says that this judgment is good.

00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.399
 I'll explain that to you

00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.539
 because you may be surprised when I say that.

00:10:37.340 --> 00:10:38.659
 Judgment is good

00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:41.459
 because it means that people will not be loved.

00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:44.559
 Judgment is good

00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:47.379
 because it means that wrongdoing

00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:49.559
 will not be overlooked.

00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:52.699
 We all have deep in us

00:10:52.699 --> 00:10:54.459
 a sense of right and wrong,

00:10:54.579 --> 00:10:55.539
 a sense of justice.

00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:57.219
 We may argue until we,

00:10:57.719 --> 00:10:59.379
 as long as the day is,

00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.879
 about what is wrong and what is right,

00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.000
 but we all know

00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.399
 that there is a right and wrong.

00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:06.939
 And we all long

00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:09.939
 for evil to stop.

00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:12.120
 We all long

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.500
 for wrongdoers

00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:16.179
 to face consequences,

00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:19.799
 to be punished,

00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:21.379
 or to be redeemed,

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:25.019
 but not for it to be simply overlooked.

00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:28.399
 And the message of judgment

00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.480
 in the scriptures

00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:32.059
 is an important one

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.299
 for us to recognize.

00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:36.059
 That it is not just there

00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:38.019
 consistently and conspicuously,

00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:40.220
 but it is actually

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.159
 a good message for us.

00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:45.379
 And so John comes and he says,

00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.720
 there is a judgment coming.

00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:50.399
 And here's the thing,

00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:52.559
 if we're an oppressed people,

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:55.559
 if we are on the receiving end

00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:57.539
 of wrongdoing or evil in the world,

00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:59.839
 we long for that, don't we?

00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:02.519
 We long for King Richard

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:07.000
 to return from his travels to England

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.859
 and cast out that nasty Prince John.

00:12:11.119 --> 00:12:12.500
 All of this is through Disney.

00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:13.479
 This is not history.

00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:15.219
 This is all through Disney.

00:12:15.699 --> 00:12:17.099
 Because that King Richard

00:12:17.099 --> 00:12:17.979
 will come back

00:12:17.979 --> 00:12:19.579
 and he will cast out Prince John

00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:21.419
 who's been taxing people to death

00:12:21.419 --> 00:12:22.719
 and putting people in prison

00:12:22.719 --> 00:12:25.279
 and oppressing the good citizens

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.919
 of England.

00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.099
 When we're on that end

00:12:30.099 --> 00:12:31.860
 of evil,

00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:34.259
 we long for this judgment to come.

00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:40.179
 But John also sees

00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.139
 that there are some

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:43.159
 who need to recognize

00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:45.120
 that you're actually

00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.259
 on the other side.

00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.179
 You are the one

00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:50.000
 who when God comes,

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.580
 he will find you wanting.

00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:53.320
 He will find you

00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:53.960
 to be one

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:55.240
 who is perpetrating

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:57.059
 evil in the world.

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:58.779
 He will find you

00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:00.419
 whose heart is not right

00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:01.879
 before God

00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:03.340
 and before your fellow

00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:05.100
 human beings.

00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.440
 This is what we see.

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.259
 Look with me again

00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:10.159
 in the scriptures.

00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:11.419
 This is what we see

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:13.000
 in verse 8 particularly.

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.759
 John says,

00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.439
 bear fruit

00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:18.779
 of repentance.

00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:20.000
 That is,

00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.319
 look to your life

00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:22.319
 to see what kind

00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:23.759
 of things it bears.

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.059
 And then he goes on

00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:26.379
 and this seems to be

00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.000
 the very heart

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.620
 of his warning.

00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.419
 And interestingly,

00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.600
 when you look at the

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.379
 parallel passage

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.059
 in Matthew,

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.779
 Matthew identifies

00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:33.840
 that he's particularly

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.879
 saying these things

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:36.059
 to the religious leaders,

00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:37.319
 the Pharisees

00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:38.299
 and the Sadducees.

00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.740
 But it seems that here,

00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.480
 Luke chooses not to do that

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.480
 because it's a broader thing

00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.720
 that he's warning them of.

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.320
 Jews in the first century

00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.039
 might have felt

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.220
 very entitled.

00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.940
 I am a physical

00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:53.120
 descendant of Abraham.

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.720
 I am a citizen

00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.259
 of the nation of Israel.

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:59.240
 I am a regular partaker

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.440
 in the worship

00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:01.379
 in the temple

00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.539
 and the offering

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.340
 of sacrifices

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.440
 as I ought to.

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.300
 Therefore,

00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:07.560
 I must be okay with God.

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.039
 And religious identity.

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.980
 Know that you cannot

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:19.399
 be good with God

00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.840
 simply through

00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.840
 those things.

00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.940
 Those formal,

00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.320
 external things

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.620
 are never enough.

00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:29.220
 Your heritage

00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:31.080
 as a churchgoer,

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.100
 your self-identity

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:34.259
 as a good person

00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.539
 who does good things

00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.399
 to others,

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:39.159
 these are not sufficient.

00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:46.360
 John says,

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.500
 you need a life

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.639
 that's transformed.

00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:52.319
 He even looks at,

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:54.379
 when he talks to those

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.959
 in verses 10 through 14,

00:14:56.079 --> 00:14:57.579
 he has a whole list of people.

00:14:57.699 --> 00:14:58.399
 He has a crowd

00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.000
 and he has tax collectors

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.860
 who were hated collaborators

00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:03.139
 of the Roman oppressors

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.199
 and he has soldiers

00:15:04.199 --> 00:15:06.740
 who were the means

00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.039
 by which this oppression

00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.839
 has been laid out.

00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:10.819
 And they come to him

00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:11.139
 and they say,

00:15:11.199 --> 00:15:12.000
 what do we have to do?

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.459
 And he says,

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.000
 you have to change

00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.740
 the way you live.

00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:19.799
 You have to change

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.799
 how you wield your power,

00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:22.699
 whether it be

00:15:22.699 --> 00:15:24.079
 your material belongings,

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.480
 your position

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.620
 in government,

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.139
 or the raw physical power

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.699
 of a soldier.

00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:32.339
 You may no longer

00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:33.459
 use these things

00:15:33.459 --> 00:15:34.259
 to oppress,

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.259
 but you must use them

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.139
 righteously

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:39.179
 and to serve others.

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.240
 And the warning

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.519
 is that being religious

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.019
 does not save us.

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.059
 Being good

00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:51.500
 does not save us.

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:53.500
 We need something else.

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.240
 We need a change of heart

00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.620
 and we need a change

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.480
 of character.

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:01.759
 Friends,

00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:04.379
 this is bad news for us

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.759
 potentially as well.

00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:08.019
 You may be sitting here

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:08.559
 this morning

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:10.919
 because going to church

00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:12.019
 is something

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.899
 you've grown up with.

00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.279
 It's the right thing to do.

00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:17.039
 As one of the great

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.860
 70s theologians,

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.480
 Keith Green,

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.519
 that was a joke.

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.200
 If you don't know him,

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.980
 he's a popular singer.

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:25.759
 But going to church

00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.840
 doesn't make you Christian

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.379
 any more than going to McDonald's

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.220
 makes you a hamburger.

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:34.259
 attendance does not produce

00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:35.920
 what church

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:36.639
 is meant

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.759
 to produce.

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.680
 Simply being here,

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.340
 simply doing those,

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.740
 going through the motions

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.960
 is not enough

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:45.100
 for us.

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.519
 And even our

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.240
 good enough,

00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.120
 whether we're not,

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.860
 maybe we're not churchgoers,

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:50.860
 but we're here this morning

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.580
 because our friend

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.360
 is being baptized.

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:52.680
 baptized,

00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:56.240
 even your good enough

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.539
 by whatever standard

00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.399
 you have

00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.779
 is not going

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.080
 to be enough.

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:06.000
 John the Baptist says

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.759
 what you need

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.640
 is a baptism of repentance

00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.660
 for the forgiveness

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.579
 of sins.

00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.579
 That's what it says

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.200
 in verse 3.

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.079
 That was the core

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.920
 of his message.

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:18.980
 A baptism

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.600
 is a picture

00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.279
 of cleansing.

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.259
 You need to be

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.480
 cleansed of something

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:26.259
 that right now

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.700
 you are

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.880
 dirty with.

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.039
 And that dirt

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.779
 is sin.

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.199
 And that sin

00:17:34.199 --> 00:17:36.659
 is all the ways

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:37.819
 in which we fail

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.679
 to honor

00:17:38.679 --> 00:17:39.839
 and glorify God.

00:17:40.699 --> 00:17:41.059
 Tyler,

00:17:41.199 --> 00:17:42.319
 thank you for your prayer

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.919
 this morning.

00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:46.220
 That was a beautiful expression

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.299
 of our understanding

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.980
 of sin

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:50.199
 and how our selfishness

00:17:50.199 --> 00:17:51.179
 and our rejection

00:17:51.179 --> 00:17:52.079
 of God

00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.279
 and our desire

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:55.000
 to glorify ourselves

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.159
 and the ways

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:57.720
 that in so many

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.439
 petty ways

00:17:58.439 --> 00:17:59.539
 we hurt others

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.980
 and exalt ourselves.

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:04.460
 all the various ways

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.319
 in which we

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.439
 deny God

00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.359
 in our lives

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.259
 and put ourselves

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.000
 at the center.

00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.399
 All of these

00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.119
 are expressions

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:12.819
 of sin.

00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:15.059
 For the religious people

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:15.720
 it was putting

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:17.199
 their religious performance

00:18:17.199 --> 00:18:17.919
 and identity

00:18:17.919 --> 00:18:18.879
 before God

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:19.339
 in the middle

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.319
 of their lives.

00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:23.059
 And John says

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.480
 you must turn

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.599
 from these things.

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.699
 The warning

00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:28.119
 comes with an exhortation

00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:28.839
 to repent.

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:29.919
 And repentance

00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.379
 means to change

00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.119
 your mind.

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:33.299
 It means to change

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.719
 your mind

00:18:33.719 --> 00:18:34.339
 about something.

00:18:34.459 --> 00:18:35.679
 What I used to think

00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:36.679
 was most important.

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.919
 What I used to think

00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:39.079
 was most central.

00:18:39.219 --> 00:18:40.119
 What I used to think

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:41.500
 would make me okay

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.279
 with God

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.299
 and has failed.

00:18:45.439 --> 00:18:46.379
 What I used to think

00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:46.859
 would give me

00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.719
 a good life

00:18:47.719 --> 00:18:49.559
 but will put me

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.859
 at odds with God.

00:18:51.199 --> 00:18:52.439
 I have to turn

00:18:52.439 --> 00:18:53.719
 from those things.

00:18:53.959 --> 00:18:54.959
 I need to abandon

00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:55.559
 the belief

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.460
 that those things

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.480
 are right and good

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.059
 and what God

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.779
 wants for me

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.919
 and I must turn

00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:01.319
 to something else.

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:04.899
 This is what

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:06.279
 biblical repentance is.

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:09.119
 It is seeing things

00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.500
 the way God sees it

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.659
 and seeing what is wrong

00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:13.559
 and what is evil

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.619
 and what is sinful

00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:16.619
 and agreeing

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.519
 that those things

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.419
 are not good

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:20.019
 and turning from them

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.200
 to something else.

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.879
 And that something else

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:29.619
 is not simply

00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.679
 a right understanding

00:19:30.679 --> 00:19:31.440
 of God

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.519
 intellectually.

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.619
 Not simply

00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:35.220
 an uptick

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.099
 in our morality

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.079
 for this week

00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.099
 or this month

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:40.240
 but it's the forgiveness

00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.319
 of our sins.

00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:44.819
 Friends,

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.619
 this is the

00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:47.879
 good news

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.480
 that John

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.319
 wants to bring.

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.440
 Though there is

00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.259
 a great warning

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.399
 and though the king

00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.259
 is going to come

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.940
 and there will be

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.660
 a reckoning

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:57.980
 but there is

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.220
 a place to turn

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.519
 not only turn from

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.319
 but there is a place

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.359
 to turn to

00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:04.660
 and when we turn

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.579
 to him

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.460
 there is hope

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.420
 for us.

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:10.220
 Because many people

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.500
 flocked from Jerusalem.

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.420
 They were leaving

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.879
 behind the temple.

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.640
 They were leaving

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.559
 behind the city

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.400
 where God was

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.339
 meant to dwell

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:18.500
 with his people.

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.680
 They knew

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.900
 that it was empty

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.560
 and they were

00:20:22.560 --> 00:20:23.240
 looking for

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.240
 something more.

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.720
 And they wondered,

00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.960
 John, are you the one?

00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:28.880
 Are you the one

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.560
 who's going to bring

00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:30.539
 the fulfillment

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.519
 of all the promises?

00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:32.900
 John says,

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.120
 no, it's not me.

00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:36.120
 There's one coming

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.840
 after me.

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.539
 One who is so much

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.440
 greater than I

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.519
 that I am even

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.220
 unworthy

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.480
 to untie

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.360
 his sandals.

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.120
 And remember,

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.420
 untying his sandals

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.580
 is not an act

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.539
 of honor

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:51.619
 or a display

00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:52.740
 of great respect.

00:20:53.699 --> 00:20:54.859
 It was a work

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:56.240
 of a servant.

00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.000
 It was a dirty work.

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.519
 It was taking off

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.299
 the shoes

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.579
 after you've lived,

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.699
 after you've walked

00:21:03.699 --> 00:21:04.279
 around

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.960
 the dusty,

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:06.799
 dirty,

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.399
 and I mean

00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:08.240
 stinky dirty,

00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:09.500
 streets

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.099
 of Palestine.

00:21:13.419 --> 00:21:14.799
 It was not an honor

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.119
 to untie their shoes.

00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:18.559
 It was drudge work.

00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.419
 And John says,

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.379
 I'm not even worthy

00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:22.359
 to do that

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:25.299
 because of the greatness

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.239
 of the one

00:21:26.239 --> 00:21:27.419
 who comes

00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:28.319
 after me.

00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:29.859
 He is coming.

00:21:29.979 --> 00:21:30.759
 He is going to be

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.379
 the one

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:33.899
 that when you see him

00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.479
 you will see

00:21:34.479 --> 00:21:35.239
 the salvation

00:21:35.239 --> 00:21:36.079
 of God

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.319
 mentioned in verse 6.

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.339
 He is going to be

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:38.899
 the one

00:21:38.899 --> 00:21:39.899
 who's going to come

00:21:39.899 --> 00:21:40.879
 and bring a greater

00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:41.500
 baptism

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.919
 than I do

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:44.000
 because the baptism

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.879
 that I do

00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:45.880
 is water

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.440
 and it's going

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.680
 to clean your skin

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.700
 but the baptism

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.460
 that he's going

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:49.900
 to bring

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.400
 is going to be

00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.660
 done with the Holy Spirit

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.300
 and it's going

00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:53.820
 to clean your soul

00:21:53.820 --> 00:21:56.840
 and it's going

00:21:56.840 --> 00:21:57.220
 to be able

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.580
 to change your heart

00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.600
 and it's going

00:21:59.600 --> 00:21:59.960
 to be able

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.900
 to transform

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.460
 your life.

00:22:06.380 --> 00:22:06.920
 A turning

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.880
 to this one

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.320
 who comes

00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:08.920
 after me

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.620
 will be turning

00:22:09.620 --> 00:22:10.180
 to

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.340
 what you've

00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.240
 really always

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.140
 longed for.

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:18.720
 And in fact

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.480
 it's not just

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.080
 you turning

00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:20.700
 to him

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.000
 but it's him

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.540
 coming for you.

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.860
 Did you see it

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.380
 in verses

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:31.080
 16 and 17

00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:33.420
 which John

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:33.980
 is talking

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.420
 about

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.259
 this one

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.740
 who's coming

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.520
 after him.

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.820
 Verse 17

00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.920
 is such a powerful

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.420
 verse.

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.860
 His winnowing fork

00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:41.560
 is in his hand

00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:42.259
 to clear his

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.060
 threshing floor

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.700
 and to gather

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.240
 the wheat

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.179
 into his barn

00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:46.679
 but the chaff

00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.240
 he will burn

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.220
 with the unquenchable

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.679
 fire.

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.579
 This is a picture

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.259
 from if you've

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:51.700
 never seen

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.679
 a threshing floor

00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:53.579
 it's basically

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.419
 this platform

00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:55.579
 that the harvested

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.559
 grain would be

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.500
 poured out upon

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.460
 and the grain

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.299
 had an inner

00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.599
 meat of it

00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.240
 that was good

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:02.539
 and an outer husk

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.619
 that was hard

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.279
 and dry

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:05.059
 and inedible

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.019
 and in order

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.200
 to separate them out

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.680
 the threshers

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.460
 would take a shovel

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.100
 and throw it

00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.740
 up in the air

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.259
 and the wind

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.100
 would blow

00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:13.240
 the hard

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.000
 chaff

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.920
 that was inedible

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.480
 away

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.600
 and the good

00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:17.120
 grain would

00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.799
 fall back

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.259
 to the

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.440
 to the floor

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.840
 and then it

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.539
 would be gathered

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:20.940
 up

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.740
 and it was

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.380
 how grain

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.080
 was harvested

00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:24.319
 and gathered

00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:26.559
 and part of

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:26.960
 what John

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.420
 is saying

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.819
 is that

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.779
 when Jesus

00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:29.440
 comes

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.960
 he will gather

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.700
 his own

00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:34.460
 there is wheat

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:38.799
 and he will

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.480
 gather it

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:41.799
 there is also

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.360
 chaff

00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.039
 there are those

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.539
 who are going

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.259
 through the motions

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.819
 there are those

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.400
 who are trusting

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.059
 in themselves

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.900
 there are those

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.319
 who are doing

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.200
 all these things

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:50.680
 and they will

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.559
 be blown away

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:53.059
 and they will

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.819
 find themselves

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.500
 on the wrong

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.400
 side of judgment

00:23:55.400 --> 00:24:01.559
 how does

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.039
 Jesus do this

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.000
 how do we know

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.500
 what Jesus

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.400
 is going to do

00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.980
 what is it

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.759
 what is John

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.220
 saying

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.880
 well he doesn't

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.660
 say here

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:12.819
 but Luke knows

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.759
 Luke wrote the

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.579
 gospel to say

00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.240
 read the rest

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.980
 of the story

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:17.279
 read all the way

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.440
 through chapter 24

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.079
 for that matter

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.619
 read the whole

00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.140
 other book

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:21.180
 book of Acts

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.519
 and I'm going

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:21.839
 to write

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.819
 about how this

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.480
 will change

00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.940
 the world

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.460
 and change

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.039
 your life

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:28.779
 but Luke

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.980
 as he lays

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.579
 out this

00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.440
 he says

00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.140
 this Jesus

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.680
 that John

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.559
 is proclaiming

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.500
 he will come

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.399
 and live

00:24:35.399 --> 00:24:35.940
 the perfect

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.659
 life that we

00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.079
 ought to

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.859
 but can't

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:39.440
 he will offer

00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.419
 himself in our

00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:40.940
 place

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.460
 taking upon

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.059
 himself

00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.599
 the wrath

00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.240
 of God

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.119
 against our

00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.659
 sin

00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:48.899
 he will be

00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:50.059
 cut off

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.299
 the axe

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.019
 will be laid

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.700
 to his

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.099
 root

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.000
 he will be

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.639
 cut off

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.119
 from God

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.619
 the father

00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.480
 so that we

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.559
 won't be

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.359
 cut off

00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.500
 from God

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:02.119
 he will take

00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:02.679
 the judgment

00:25:02.679 --> 00:25:03.599
 upon himself

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.959
 as he dies

00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:05.699
 on the cross

00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:06.339
 on Good

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.719
 Friday

00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:08.240
 but he will

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.099
 rise again

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.819
 as well

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:11.319
 he will rise

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.259
 victorious over

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.139
 sin and death

00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.779
 and the grave

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.979
 and he is able

00:25:14.979 --> 00:25:15.919
 then to be a

00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.500
 savior who

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:18.079
 offers to all

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:18.599
 who believe

00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.539
 and trust in him

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:21.339
 not in their

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.419
 religious actions

00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:23.500
 not in their

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:23.859
 goodness

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:25.419
 but who trust

00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:25.959
 in him

00:25:25.959 --> 00:25:26.559
 alone

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:29.139
 he comes

00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:29.819
 to them

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.519
 as their

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.059
 savior

00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:33.479
 and he offers

00:25:33.479 --> 00:25:34.000
 them

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.599
 a new

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.139
 life

00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:37.619
 and that

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.159
 new life

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.799
 is characterized

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.839
 by repentance

00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:40.379
 and turning

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:41.039
 from sin

00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.259
 and taking

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.919
 hold of

00:25:42.919 --> 00:25:43.879
 this new

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.559
 life that God

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.059
 has given us

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.639
 it transforms

00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.419
 our hearts

00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:47.019
 and enables

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.619
 us to be

00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:48.740
 those who

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.379
 love and

00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:50.279
 serve others

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.939
 the way God

00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:52.359
 has called

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.859
 us to

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:56.059
 so Jesus

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.679
 comes

00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:58.299
 Jesus

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.199
 comes as a

00:25:59.199 --> 00:25:59.559
 savior

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.479
 and as a

00:26:01.479 --> 00:26:01.839
 judge

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.000
 and the

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.679
 question that

00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:04.039
 John the

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.619
 Baptist put

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.019
 to his

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.459
 hearers

00:26:05.459 --> 00:26:06.219
 is the

00:26:06.219 --> 00:26:06.579
 question

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.159
 that I

00:26:07.159 --> 00:26:07.519
 want to

00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:07.839
 leave you

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.419
 with today

00:26:08.419 --> 00:26:08.979
 are you

00:26:08.979 --> 00:26:09.339
 ready

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:11.000
 are you

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.479
 ready for

00:26:11.479 --> 00:26:11.919
 Christmas

00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:13.759
 are you

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.259
 ready for

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.039
 this Jesus

00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.819
 to come

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:18.079
 he will

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.619
 come

00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:19.399
 and to

00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:19.959
 all who

00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:20.419
 turn to

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:20.899
 him in

00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:21.319
 repentance

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.119
 and faith

00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.679
 who know

00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:24.259
 the depth

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.599
 of their

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.019
 sin

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.139
 he will

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:26.559
 welcome

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.359
 but to

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:30.839
 those of

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.359
 us who

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.919
 want to

00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:32.319
 stand

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.099
 obstinately

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.599
 outside

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:35.119
 who want

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.599
 to trust

00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.259
 in ourselves

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.739
 and make

00:26:36.739 --> 00:26:37.159
 our own

00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:37.399
 way

00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:37.719
 and be

00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:38.099
 our own

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.519
 God

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.479
 he will

00:26:39.479 --> 00:26:39.859
 come

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.199
 as a

00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:40.579
 judge

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:45.039
 do you

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.539
 hear the

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:45.859
 warning

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.299
 and do you

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:47.679
 hear the

00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:47.979
 hope

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:51.539
 this is

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:51.700
 what

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.039
 Christmas

00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.200
 is about

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.480
 let's

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.680
 pray

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.120
 together

00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:57.519
 Jesus

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.079
 we love

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.339
 you

00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:58.940
 and we

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.400
 thank you

00:26:59.400 --> 00:26:59.860
 for

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:01.740
 this season

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.200
 where we

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.099
 remember the

00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:04.180
 incredible gift

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.539
 of your

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:04.980
 incarnation

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.860
 that you

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.240
 came

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.940
 to be

00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.680
 our savior

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.539
 by identifying

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.299
 with us

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.779
 and dying

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.500
 for us

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.700
 Lord I

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.279
 pray this

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.599
 morning

00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:14.259
 that as we

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.140
 walk through

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.759
 this season

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.140
 that you

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.579
 will help

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:16.900
 us

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:18.539
 Lord that

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:18.819
 you will

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.220
 help us

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:21.119
 to consider

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:22.339
 the significance

00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.240
 and the

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.759
 depth of

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.180
 what we

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.660
 celebrate

00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.099
 when we

00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.559
 celebrate

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.019
 Christmas

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.559
 and Lord I

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.160
 pray for

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.720
 many this

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.119
 morning

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:30.240
 I pray

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.759
 that the

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.319
 joy

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.759
 of the

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.339
 hope of

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.839
 salvation

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.539
 in Christ

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.140
 would fill

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:35.740
 our hearts

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.920
 that we

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.839
 would turn

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.319
 from the

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:38.660
 empty

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.259
 things

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.920
 of this

00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.339
 world

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.440
 from the

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:42.799
 empty

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.680
 religiosity

00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.160
 and the

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.559
 empty

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.180
 works

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.259
 that we

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.019
 would turn

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.799
 to him

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:50.860
 and find

00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.220
 hope

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:53.200
 we pray

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.660
 these things

00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.039
 in Jesus

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.420
 name

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.480
 amen