The Renewal of Repentance
Matthew 3:1-2, 11-12
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, "Repent of your sins and turn to God for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
"I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire."
Intro: Matthew 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
- There Needs to be Repentance of Sin
- Matthew 3:2 "Repent of your sins"
- Romans 6:1-4 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
- There Needs to be a Turning to Christ
- Matthew 3:2 "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
- John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
- John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
- There Needs to be a Fresh Baptism
- Matthew 3:11 "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
- There Needs to be a Focus on the Lords Coming
- Matthew 3:2-3 "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord's coming! Clear the road for hiim!"
- Matthew 24:44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
- There Needs to be a Separation
- Matthew 3:12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire."
- Matthew 24:46-51 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to peices and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Conclusion:
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because i am a man of unclean lips
Joshua 3:5 Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you."
