Repent

Matthew  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 views
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Main Passage

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
hIn those days iJohn the Baptist came preaching in jthe wilderness of Judea, k“Repent, for lthe kingdom of heaven is at hand.”1 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
n‘Prepare21 the way of the Lord;
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’ ”
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:1-6)
h For ver. 1–12, see ;
i ,
j ; []
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
k ch. 4:17;

In those days iJohn the Baptist came preaching in jthe wilderness of Judea, 2 k“Repent, for lthe kingdom of heaven is at hand.”1 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

m“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

n‘Prepare21 the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John wore oa garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was plocusts and qwild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, rconfessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of sthe Pharisees and tSadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, u“You brood of vvipers! Who warned you to flee from wthe wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit xin keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, y‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from zthese stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. aEvery tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 b“I baptize you with water cfor repentance, but dhe who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you ewith the Holy Spirit and ffire. 12 His gwinnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and hgather his wheat into the barn, ibut the chaff he will burn with junquenchable fire.”

l ch. 10:7; ; [ch. 6:10]
1 Or the kingdom of heaven has come near
m ; Cited from
make his paths straight.’ ”
n
21 Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness
o ; ; []
p
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins...
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (, )
“I baptize you with water cfor repentance, but dhe who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you ewith the Holy Spirit and ffire. 12 His gwinnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and hgather his wheat into the barn, ibut the chaff he will burn with junquenchable fire.”
c ;
d , ; , ;
e ;
f [; , ; ]
g
h ch. 13:30
q
i
j ,
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.
r
()
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

What is Repentance?

Hebrew: “return” or “turn around and go the opposite direction
Greek: “radically change your thinking”
It could be from bad thinking to good thinking or vice versa
Which paints Jesus in a funny light assuming everyone’s thinking is wrong
Of course Jesus’ message combined both thoughts
And so true repentance requires:
A change in mind
A change in action
Take Zacchaeus for example

We Are All in Need of Repentance

For we are not perfect
We are all “mayode tob” (very good)
The New Bible Dictionary explains that this word signifies, “primarily that which gratifies the senses and derivatively that which gives aesthetic or moral satisfaction.”
“primarily that which gratifies the senses and derivatively that which gives aesthetic or moral satisfaction.” (NBD)
You’re not born perfect
The Bible never calls you perfect.
A Taste of Jesus: Growing the Fruit of the Spirit A Taste of Jesus: Growing the Fruit of the Spirit

In the beginning God made it all and, “saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen 1:31). Note that God said it was very good and not perfect. The Hebrew word used here is tob which means pleasant, joyful, or agreeable. The New Bible Dictionary explains that this word signifies, “primarily that which gratifies the senses and derivatively that which gives aesthetic or moral satisfaction.”41 Again, God didn’t make the world and call it perfect, but rather implied that it was good in design and (as the double entendre implies) morally good.

And since we're good and not perfect, we often come flawed not just morally, but in ability too. As the brilliant biblical scholar, Michael S. Heiser points out,

humans have widely differing abilities. Some never see birth due to natural death or abortion. Others manifest in their bodies the effects of a world that isn’t Eden. Some human beings have severe mental and physical defects that impede or prevent representing God according to the original vision. And even if we’re blessed with what we consider normal health, we’re all subject to disease, injury, aging, and the weakness of a world subject to corruption.42

This is why I view Lady Gaga’s, "I was born this way” theology, as a false and worldly theology. We were made good, not perfect. And we are even more so imperfect now, because of the knowledge of good and evil we attained through Adam and Eve. Just because you are born a certain way does not necessarily imply divine intention—and it certainly doesn't imply perfection. That's pride at its finest. But that's the American mentality today: “I am who I am and who I am is perfect. I should never try to be anything different.”

It often feels like everyone is buying into this idea. In fact, a Barna OmniPoll found that 91% of US adults believe, "the best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself." This fact is hardly different for Christians, given that 76% of us agree as well!43 We're looking inward for answers instead of Godward!

Evolution and genetics are incredibly complex. I don’t think God's point was that every last scientific detail was perfect, but rather that life existed—that we existed. And seeing as how we do in fact exist and are made in God’s image and are to be morally good creatures, that right there is what we should be focused on. That is what we as Christians need to amplify in our lives.

The Bible tells us that we are to shed our flesh and put on the Spirit (Ro 8:1-11) and to grow fruit that is juxtaposed to the things our physical bodies actually desire (Gal 5:19-24). We are to become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) and be imagers of God (Ge 1:26), which is Jesus, himself (Jn 1:1-18).

Matthew Nelson Hill calls this pursuit of holiness, “the fine tuning of human evolution.”44 If we can recognize that we’re not perfect and that, scientifically-speaking, we’re a little off and probably even more so spiritually and morally, then we can pursue holiness together rather than what we feel on the inside. Sure, there is goodness in us, but God wants to take that goodness and increase it so that we can be all we were ever intended to be, filled with the fruit of the Spirit—fruit that far surpasses the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Ge 2:9).

What is Repentance?

Hebrew: “return” or “turn around and go the opposite direction
Greek: “radically change your thinking”
It could be from bad thinking to good thinking or vice versa
Which paints Jesus in a funny light assuming everyone’s thinking is wrong
Of course Jesus’ message combined both thoughts
A change in mind
A change in action
Take Zacchaeus for example

Jesus Had the Same Message as John

He comes out of fasting in the desert and jumps right in
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, z“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”1
z ch. 3:2
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ()
1 Or the kingdom of heaven has come near
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.
In the beginning God made it all and, “saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen 1:31). Note that God said it was very good and not perfect. The Hebrew word used here is tob which means pleasant, joyful, or agreeable. The New Bible Dictionary explains that this word signifies, “primarily that which gratifies the senses and derivatively that which gives aesthetic or moral satisfaction.”41 Again, God didn’t make the world and call it perfect, but rather implied that it was good in design and (as the double entendre implies) morally good.

Repentance Covers a Multitude of Sins

And since we're good and not perfect, we often come flawed not just morally, but in ability too. As the brilliant biblical scholar, Michael S. Heiser points out,

20 zThen he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 a“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in bTyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 cBut I tell you, it will be more bearable on dthe day of judgment for bTyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, eCapernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to fHades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 cBut I tell you that git will be more tolerable on dthe day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! [CHOR-RAISIN] Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” ()
a For ver. 21–24, see
b ch. 15:21; ; [; ; , ]
c [, ]
d See
b [See ver. 21 above]
e Cited from
Jesus saw intense judgment on unrepentant hearts
f ch. 16:18 (Gk.); ;
c [See ver. 22 above]
g ch. 10:15
If Tyre and Sidon (who were prophesied against in the OT) would have seen Jesus’ miracles, they would have repented
d [See ver. 22 above]
If Sodom would have seen Jesus’ miracles their world would have continued
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.
In more cities get it better on the day of judgment
Nineveh was repentant to Jonah’s words and it’ll be better for them
The queen of Sheba came out to hear Solomon but the Pharisees wouldn’t listen to Jesus and he came to them and it’ll be better for her
humans have widely differing abilities. Some never see birth due to natural death or abortion. Others manifest in their bodies the effects of a world that isn’t Eden. Some human beings have severe mental and physical defects that impede or prevent representing God according to the original vision. And even if we’re blessed with what we consider normal health, we’re all subject to disease, injury, aging, and the weakness of a world subject to corruption.42

41 bThe men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ccondemn it, for dthey repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, esomething greater than Jonah is here. 42 fThe queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, esomething greater than Solomon is here.

This is why I view Lady Gaga’s, "I was born this way” theology, as a false and worldly theology. We were made good, not perfect. And we are even more so imperfect now, because of the knowledge of good and evil we attained through Adam and Eve. Just because you are born a certain way does not necessarily imply divine intention—and it certainly doesn't imply perfection. That's pride at its finest. But that's the American mentality today: “I am who I am and who I am is perfect. I should never try to be anything different.”

Repentance is for Christians

It often feels like everyone is buying into this idea. In fact, a Barna OmniPoll found that 91% of US adults believe, "the best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself." This fact is hardly different for Christians, given that 76% of us agree as well!43 We're looking inward for answers instead of Godward!
Evolution and genetics are incredibly complex. I don’t think God's point was that every last scientific detail was perfect, but rather that life existed—that we existed. And seeing as how we do in fact exist and are made in God’s image and are to be morally good creatures, that right there is what we should be focused on. That is what we as Christians need to amplify in our lives.
Churches are called to repent
The Bible tells us that we are to shed our flesh and put on the Spirit (Ro 8:1-11) and to grow fruit that is juxtaposed to the things our physical bodies actually desire (Gal 5:19-24). We are to become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) and be imagers of God (Ge 1:26), which is Jesus, himself (Jn 1:1-18).
Those who don’t repent are against God
It seems there’s an extension to repent well into Revelation 14

Then I saw another angel kflying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to lthose who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, m“Fear God and ngive him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and oworship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the psprings of water.”

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, tdid not repent of uthe works of their hands nor give up worshiping vdemons wand idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their xsorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Matthew Nelson Hill calls this pursuit of holiness, “the fine tuning of human evolution.”44 If we can recognize that we’re not perfect and that, scientifically-speaking, we’re a little off and probably even more so spiritually and morally, then we can pursue holiness together rather than what we feel on the inside. Sure, there is goodness in us, but God wants to take that goodness and increase it so that we can be all we were ever intended to be, filled with the fruit of the Spirit—fruit that far surpasses the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Ge 2:9).
41 Packer, J. I. “Good.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible Dictionary 1996, p. 423–424.

Repentance is for Christians

This is especially seen in Revelation where churches are called to repent
Churches are called to repent
Those who don’t repent in Revelation are pictured as God’s enemies
But God in his grace extends the invitation to repent well into Revelation 14
It seems there’s an extension to repent well into
Jesus gives spiritual Yelp reviews to seven churches
Ephesus is the church perhaps doing the best
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ()
“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but hhave tested those iwho call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up jfor my name’s sake, and you khave not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned lthe love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do mthe works you did at first. If not, nI will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of othe Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
h See

2 g“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but hhave tested those iwho call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up jfor my name’s sake, and you khave not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned lthe love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do mthe works you did at first. If not, nI will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of othe Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

i See
42 Heiser, Michael S. The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible. Bellingham, WA, Lexham Press, 2015, p. 59.
j
k [, ]
l
m ver. 2; []
n ch. 3:3, 19
o ver. 15
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.
Why does Ephesus need to repent?
43 Barna OmniPoll, August 2015. See Gabe Lyons' book Good Faith for more dialogue on this fact. See the section entitled "The New Code" in chapter 4.
Not because they’re not doing good things
44 Hill, Matthew Nelson. Evolution and Holiness: Sociobiology, Altruism, and the Quest for Wesleyan Perfection. Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press, 2016, p. 31.
Not because they don’t have fruit
Bradley, Jamin. A Taste of Jesus: Growing the Fruit of the Spirit. N. p. Print.
Not because they commit great sin like other churches
They just don’t love like they used to
Perhaps it’s how they love each other
Perhaps it’s how they love God
But I’d suggest it’s both, since the two are interconnected
It’s easy to do churchy things and forget about God
And if a church can do as good as Ephesus and need to repent, then we all need to
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more