Matthew Chapter 3
1/5/16
#5: John calls people to repent from their sins and turn to God but what does that really mean? The word repent here means to radically turn from our sin. We should literally identify our sin, confess it, and turn completely away from it. If sinning is like walking north then repenting would be like turning completely around and RUNNING to the south. We are called to repent and turn toward the Lord and if we do this we will begin to manifest the fruit of righteousness.
#4: In verse 8 we see John address some Pharisees who are in the area, he calls out to them and says
" Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say We are safe...". This is a message that can be directed at many modern day Christians. When you look at most Christians (myself included) we do not live like we have repented and turned to God. In most cases we are the perfect church going Christain on Sunday and Wednesday but we live like everyone else for the rest of the week. News flash going to church and knowing the Bible does not save us from the "ax of God's judgment" (V10). When we repent from our sins and turn to the Lord, people should be able to tell. We should be different and we should start to bear fruit. The people of the world should look at us and say "man there is something different about that guy". We should live a life that directs others to the Lord. The Pharisees did not do this because they felt the were saved because they were descendants of God's chosen people. They knew all the laws and rules but they did not follow them and they fell very short of God's standard. We too will fall short of God's standard if we assume that we are saved by doing the minimum and not committing our full selves to Christ.
#3: Verse 11 talks about three types of baptism, the first type is done with water to symbolize repentance. John uses water to symbolize cleansing. The second type is done with the Holy Spirit. All believers in Christ are Spirit baptized (1 Co12:13). The third type is done with fire. Fire is used because it symbolizes the idea of judgment on those who have not repented.
#2: In verse 15 we see that Jesus makes an appearance and asks John to baptize Him in the water. This act is rich in meaning. For starters, Christ is doing this to identify himself with sinners. He will eventually bear the sins of each and every sinner. He is setting the perfect example for His followers and His people. His baptism was also his first act of ministry and it showed the world that he was the real Messiah. If you didn't believe it before now, the heavens themselves open up and give him praise.
#1: One of the coolest parts of this passage occurs in verses 16 and 17 when all three members of the Blessed Trinity make an appearance. You see Jesus being baptized, God commanding us to hear His Son, and the Holy Spirit is there empowering Jesus. This was a really cool moment and it came at the start of Jesus' ministry. Clearly we see just who Jesus is in this section and we can see just how great He really is.
#3: Verse 11 talks about three types of baptism, the first type is done with water to symbolize repentance. John uses water to symbolize cleansing. The second type is done with the Holy Spirit. All believers in Christ are Spirit baptized (1 Co12:13). The third type is done with fire. Fire is used because it symbolizes the idea of judgment on those who have not repented.
#2: In verse 15 we see that Jesus makes an appearance and asks John to baptize Him in the water. This act is rich in meaning. For starters, Christ is doing this to identify himself with sinners. He will eventually bear the sins of each and every sinner. He is setting the perfect example for His followers and His people. His baptism was also his first act of ministry and it showed the world that he was the real Messiah. If you didn't believe it before now, the heavens themselves open up and give him praise.
#1: One of the coolest parts of this passage occurs in verses 16 and 17 when all three members of the Blessed Trinity make an appearance. You see Jesus being baptized, God commanding us to hear His Son, and the Holy Spirit is there empowering Jesus. This was a really cool moment and it came at the start of Jesus' ministry. Clearly we see just who Jesus is in this section and we can see just how great He really is.
No comments
Post a Comment