The Gospel of Luke (8 ) The Ministry of John the Baptist (1) 11/27/2022

Well let's be seated and now turn in our New Testament to Hebrews chapter 3. Pastor Jason will come and read. Here the writer is exhorting his Jewish Christian readers to persevere their faith in Jesus.

They were tempted because of the threat of persecution to abandon Jesus and go back into their Old Testament Jewish practice and belief, abandoning Jesus Christ. And the writer says that would be equal to the sin of the Israelites in the wilderness returning to Egypt, abandoning their liberty and forfeiting their entrance into the promised land.

And the writer is asserting that to forsake faith in Jesus is to abandon any hope of entering into.

Heaven or Canaan rest. And so Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews 3, therefore holy brothers you who share in a heavenly calling consider Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession who was faithful to him who appointed him just as Moses was also faithful in all God's house.

For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone but the builder of all things is God.

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant to testify to the things that were to be spoken later but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son and we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confession confidence and are boasting in our hope.

Therefore as the Holy Spirit says today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion on the day of testing in the wilderness where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for 40 years.

Therefore I was provoked with that generation and said they always go astray in their heart they have not known my ways as I swore in my wrath they shall not enter my rest. Take care brothers lest there be in any of you an evil unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the living God but exhort one another every day as long as it is called today that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin for we have come to share in Christ if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to its to the end.

As it is said today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For who were those who heard and yet rebelled was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses and with whom was he provoked for 40 years was it not with those who sinned whose bodies fell in the wilderness and to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest but to those who were disobedient.

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Let's pray heavenly father we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for his life for his death for his resurrection we thank you for the gift of the spirit that you've given to each one of us and lord we pray that we would not be deceived by sin.

We pray lord that we would recognize and see sin for what it truly is. Sin is a lie sin is a deceiver and with sin you never get what you think you're going to get. We pray lord that we would have the same view of sin that you have which is hatred so lord help us to put to death the deeds of our flesh help us put to death the sin in our life and help us to look to you Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

And lord as we open up your word and as we hear it proclaimed we ask that you would teach us what it has to say. We pray that we would be able to apply it to our lives. Help us lord to live this truth out every day to your praise glory and honor.

Thank you lord in Jesus name.

Amen. Well let's turn in our bibles once again to luke luke's gospel. And today we begin to address luke chapter three. This is the eighth lord's day that we've given to this study of luke and i suspect we'll be here for the next year or so more perhaps.

But today we arrive to luke chapter three verse one and following. I wanted to actually get further than we're going to be able to do. I wanted to get to verse 20 but we were only able to get through verse 14 today.

And so really this is the first of at least two sundays we'll give attention to the ministry of john the baptist with the opening of luke chapter 3 verse 1. The story advances about 18 years from the concluding verses of luke chapter 2.

And of course that's where we read of jesus as a 12 year old boy in the temple regions of jerusalem asking questions and responding to the jewish leaders in jerusalem. Well first upon the scene here in luke 3 is john the baptist the forerunner and preparer of the people for the soon public appearance of jesus christ.

And so today we'll consider this man his ministry and the multitudes to which he ministered. And the man's message to the multitudes. And so here are the first 14 verses of luke 3. Now in the 15th year of the reign of tiberius caesar Pontius Pilate being governor of judea herod being tetrarch of galilee his brother philip tetrarch of itteria and the region of traconitis and lucinius tetrarch of abilene.

While annas and caiaphas were high priests the word of god came to john the son of zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins as it is written in the book of the words of isaiah the prophet saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare the way of the lord make his path straight.

Every valley shall be filled every mountain and hill brought low the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth and all flesh shall see the salvation of god. And then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him brood of vipers who warned you to flee from the wrath to come.

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves we have abraham as our father. For i say to you that god is able to raise up children to abraham from these stones. And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So the people asked him saying what shall we do. Then he answered and said to them he who has two tunics let him give to him who has none and he who has food let him do.

Likewise then tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him teacher what shall we do. And he said to them collect no more than what is appointed for you. Likewise the soldiers asked him saying what shall we do.

So he said to them do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely and be content with your wages. It's unfortunate we have to stop there. But this is as far as we're able to address. Given the time a significant transition occurs from the end of luke chapter 2 to the beginning of chapter 3.

The infancy narratives of the first two chapters conclude again with the story of the boy jesus in the temple. But then about 18 years transpired until the silence was broken by the messiah's forerunner john the baptist.

John here described as the son of zacharias who seemed to unsettle everyone with his presence his message of repentance and his right of baptism. The time would soon arrive when god would visit his people with salvation through his anointed one the promised king the son of david the messiah.

But the people were to be prepared for the arrival of their king. For in bringing salvation to people the lord must judge and remove from them that which defiles and destroys namely sin. All therefore who desire to experience his salvation must separate themselves from their sin must be cleansed of sin's defilement must put it away.

Or they would find themselves the object of god's judgment and condemnation rather than recipients of his salvation. And so it was john's mission to prepare the people for the arrival of the king by confronting people with their sin and their responsibility to turn away from living in sin.

In other words to repent of their sin. Let's first consider the troublous times at the onset of the promised kingdom of god. Verses one through verse 2a the first portion of verse 2 important events were about to occur and the significance of john's appearance and the soon arrival of the promised king is subtly impressed upon the reader.

For in verses one and two there's a detailed description of the time and the identification of the prominent political and religious leaders. The arrival of the promised christ was an epic event in history and so it set within the context of history.

And so again the opening words of this episode read now in the 15th year of the reign of tiberius caesar pontius pilate being governor judea herod being tetrarch of galilee his brother philip tetrarch of itteria and the region of traconitis lysanias lysanias tetrarch of abilene.

While annas and kaiaphas were high priests the word of god came to john the son of zacharias in the wilderness. These first two verses are written as if they were the opening words of luke's gospel. One could imagine luke's gospel beginning here without the infancy narratives of chapters one and two.

In fact these verses luke three verses one and two may have been the original opening of the gospel. The two chapters the infancy narratives were later added to the gospel which was written by luke. One notable commentator of luke wrote this.

Luke begins this part of the gospel with a long periodic sentence resembling that of the prologue. Remember the prologue back in luke 1 verses 1 through 4. These are the only two lengthy sentences in his writings that are so constructed though this instance is not so carefully constructed as the prologue.

Remember the very high literary greek that we pointed out of luke 1 verses 1 through 4. These verses do not convey that same literary quality. It clearly marks a fresh start in the story which the reader of the greek text could not fail to note.

It again suggests what has already been concluded on other grounds that the luke and infancy narrative was added to the gospel at a stage later than the rest. Of course it's the entire gospel of luke that's inspired by god and penned for us as the word of god.

We read that tiberius was reigning as caesar of the roman empire. This was not the caesar was not the caesar augustus mentioned back in 2 verse 1 who had reigned during the birth of jesus the messiah.

This was 18 years later or many 30 years later. Caesar augustus had been sympathetic toward the jews and had given the jewish people a measure of latitude and freedom. Tiberius was not that way. Tiberius was bitterly hostile toward the people of god and tiberius as caesar exhibited a callous disregard for their feelings and wishes.

His reign was a troublous time for the jewish people. Luke introduces pontius pilate as the governor of judea. Of course pilot will play a very important role later in luke's account of the trial and sentencing of jesus to be crucified prior to pilot roman governors of judea had somewhat respected the jewish religion.

But this was not so with pilot. Pilot seemed to do all that he could do to the province to move the province in an uproar. He was very cruel to the jewish people. He was always putting down defiant uprisings but uprisings which he himself had instigated through his oppression.

His governing was so blatantly unjust and troublesome. He was eventually removed from office by the emperor himself due to the riots and rebellions which characterized his district. He was a very poor governor of rome.

One of pilots cruel acts is described by jesus in luke chapter 13 verse 1. They were present at that season some who told jesus about the galileans whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices.

That suggests the cruelty injustice of pilot. And then there are three tetrarchs listed. All of these men would have been under pilots authority. A tetrarch technically was a governor of a fourth part of a province.

There are three tetrarchs mentioned here. A tetrarch would have been regarded and treated as a subordinate prince over a region. These three tetrarchs mentioned include herod of galilee who was referred by jesus as that fox here it's half brother philip tetrarch of it area and itis who was the son of herod the great and his mother cleopatra.

And then there was licinius of abilene which was a region that contained parts of what's modern day lebanon and syria including perhaps the city of damascus. At that time herod had ruled as tetrarch until ad 39 when the roman emperor calligula deposed and exiled him for making his courtesy title an honorary title of king as if it were a real title with authority.

In other words he was usurping authority as far as the emperor was concerned and so he was deposed. And then in verse 2 we read of the jewish high priesthood it said to have had two high priests at that time annas and caiaphas.

The jews would have only had regard for one living high priest not two. And that there were two was another imposition of roman authority unjust roman authority. Annas was the older of the two. He served as high priest from ad6 until he was dismissed and replaced by roman authority.

And the jews greatly resented that the romans were appointing who was the jewish high priest and so he he ruled as high priest from ad6 until replaced in ad15. Then three other jewish men were appointed by rome to be high priest and then finally caiaphas was appointed who was the son-in-law to annas.

Caiaphas was probably appointed by the roman due to his willingness to serve the romans in that religious leadership position. The jews looked to caiaphas as a legitimate high priest but they would have also had high regard for his father-in-law annas.

And of course both of them were involved in the trial of the lord jesus moving to have him executed well. Based on the information of verse 1 the date can be fixed based on these rulers to be about ad26 ad27.

And we might say in summary the times were characterized by political oppression and religious corruption. It was at this time the word of the lord came to john the son of zacharias in the wilderness.

Jc ryle gave some encouraging words about john and the ministry of the word coming at such a difficult time. Let us learn never to despair about the cause of god's truth however black and unfavorable its prospects appear.

At the very time when things seem hopeless god may be preparing a mighty deliverance. At the very season when satan's kingdom seems to be triumphing. The little stone cut without hands that's an allusion to jesus may be on the point of crushing it to pieces.

The darkest hour of the night is often that which precedes the day. Let us beware slacking our hands from any work of god because of the wickedness of the times or the number and power of our adversaries.

He that observeth the wind shall not sow. He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Let us work on and believe that help will come from heaven when it is most needed. In the very hour when a roman emperor an ignorant priest seemed to have everything at their feet the lamb of god was about to come forth from nazareth and set up the beginning of his kingdom.

What he has done once he can do again in a moment he can turn his church's midnight into the blaze of noonday. Amen. We ought to be optimistic about the kingdom of god. It will increase. We may be assured of that.

Well after the setting forth of the account within a stage of history we read of john and his ministry in verse verses 2b. Through verse 6 at the end of verse 2 we have introduced to us god calling john the baptist.

We read the word of god came to john the son of zacharias in the wilderness. In typical old testament style the prophet receives his message from god. John was called in commission of god to declare his word god's message to his people.

And the form of these words set forth john to be one as one of the great prophets of the old testament. The language particularly can be associated with both isaiah and jeremiah. Luke emphasizes god calling john to his prophetic role and proclamation ministry.

John serves as a transitory role as a as an old covenant preparer and foreteller of the coming messiah. The messiah would of course usher in the messianic kingdom the kingdom of god. And although john announced that the promised kingdom of god was at hand john was not a citizen of that kingdom but serve god before its commencement.

Notice where it was that the where the current jewish leadership resided but rather in the wilderness desert region hill country where there's not a tree within miles barren place. And the idea present is that if god is going to be known and made known it would have to be outside the existing jewish institutions.

What is suggested is that the religion of judaism centered in jerusalem was corrupt and apostate. God would speak to his people but he would reveal himself through his word proclaim to them in the wilderness.

Some have suggested that john was possibly a resident of the essene community at qumran near the dead sea. That was the community that had preserved the dead sea scrolls. This was a community of devoted ascetic jews who had withdrawn from the established jewish religion in jerusalem believing that it was so corrupt and not capable of reformation.

And there they awaited a final battle at the end of history when they believed that a heavenly messiah would appear to give them victory over their enemies that is the romans. In the first century qumran was basically a priestly community believing that they were the ones who were representing the true jewish priesthood.

And remember john was born of a priest zacharias he was in from a priestly family but it's never recorded that john ever sought to attain to the ministry of the priesthood. And interestingly the qumran community situated on the shores of the dead sea in the wilderness of judea had an old testament verse of scripture on which it based its identity.

The whole community at qumran saw themselves identified in isaiah 40 verse 1 which reads the voice of one crying in the wilderness make ready the way of the lord. The community thought that that was them.

But if john ever was a part of that community or influenced by its teachings it clearly never did represent them or never sought to transmit their way of life to others. And the passage which was embraced by the qumran community.

Isaiah 40 verse 1 is here in luke 3 ascribed to john individually he is the prophet foretold in isaiah 40. He is the voice of one crying out in the wilderness calling upon the people of god to prepare themselves for the soon arrival of the messiah their king.

This was the essence of john's ministry. He was a preparer of people. John's calling is set forth at the end of verse 2 but then his ministry is described in verse. Verses 3 through 6. He went into all the region around the jordan that'd be the jordan river preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins as it's written in the book of the words of isaiah the prophet saying.

And here's isaiah 40 verse 1 and following quoted the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the lord. Make his path straight. Every valley shall be filled every mountain and hill brought low.

The crooked places shall be made straight the rough ways smooth and all flesh shall see the salvation of god. Well in the ancient world world highways would be constructed by leveling hills filling valleys so as to enable a monarch a king to come and visit a region in order to establish order administer justice and exercise judgment.

The people of judea were to prepare the way for the coming king by preparing themselves through repentance and baptism. That was the highway construction the metaphor being used. John was preparing the highway for the messiah by preparing the people for the king of the jews who was about to visit his people as king as the promised king.

Now what about this matter of john's message in practice regarding a baptism or repentance for the of sins. A number of questions can be raised by christians. First how does john's baptism relate to christian baptism.

Second what about the role in nature of repentance that he emphasized. He wouldn't baptize anyone unless they gave forth fruit fitting or revealing true repentance. And third what about the expression for the remission of sins.

Does this not imply that salvation comes through works being baptized something which is clearly refuted elsewhere in scripture. How do we deal with that being baptized for the remission of your sins.

Well let's take each of these questions. In turn how does john's baptism relate to christian baptism. First we should understand there are clear differences between john's baptism and christian baptism that was instituted after the resurrection of jesus christ.

No person baptized by john nor john himself had an understanding or belief that his baptism symbolized the death barrel and resurrection of jesus christ. They were clueless about that. Rather the idea of washing or cleansing from sin was before the minds of these people with regard to their baptism by john it would have been viewed as washing from sin.

And yet as christians we would refuse to baptize anyone who did not see their baptism linked with their idea of union in christ death barrel and resurrection. That's why we as baptists emphasize the bible teaches immersion to picture the death barrel resurrection of christ.

John's baptism was not performed in the name of the holy trinity in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit as his christian baptism. And john's baptism was performed on people who were looking forward in faith to the coming of christ whereas christians are baptized as they look on to jesus as their lord and savior because of his life his death barrel and resurrection.

And yet as we read in the new testament the early disciples of john who later became jesus's disciples were not required to undergo a later baptism. And so the proper way to view john's baptism is that it was a precursor to christian baptism.

But upon the subsequent death of christ baptism was infused with new meaning greater meaning fuller meaning and christ himself commissioned his disciples to baptize his followers in the light of what he did on their behalf.

And so he commanded his disciples in matthew 28. Go therefore make disciples of all the nations baptizing them and notice the trinitarian formula baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and the holy spirit teaching them to observe or to do everything i've commanded you and lo i'm with you always even to the end of the age amen.

Thus that concludes the gospel of matthew. For jewish people to submit to the baptism of john it would have been quite a humble admission on their part. For although god had commanded and commissioned john to baptize baptism by immersion was not completely foreign to the jewish mind baptism was viewed as ceremonially washing that which was unclean or defiled needed to be cleansed thereby rendering that thing washed and cleansed and thereby regarded to be used in the service of god thereafter and the jews regarded all gentiles who became jewish proselytes to undergo baptism because they regarded gentiles as unclean and in need of being washed clean by god before they were accepted by him before they could become a true jewish people.

Well when john commanded all jews to undergo baptism he was declaring that the jews were as unclean and and defiled as gentiles and that would have been apparent to all of them. Jews also need to be cleansed from their sin.

And that's what john. The heart of john's message was you people need to be forgiven of your sins. And just because you're jewish that does not bring you an exemption. What about the role of repentance.

The essence of john's preaching was repentance from sin in preparation for the coming of the king. Only repentant ones would receive salvation which would come through him the coming king. And so john's preaching had a forward look in anticipation of the forgiveness of sins which the messiah would bring.

Of course baptism itself does not convey the forgiveness of sins. Faith has always been the sole instrument that god employs to grant the forgiveness of sins. Their act of repentance from sin and submitting to baptism acknowledging their sin and need for god's forgiveness of them were acts and responses of faith in god's promise of salvation.

They were baptized because they believed what john was saying about the truth of god. Repentance was essential without which the forgiveness of sins would not granted by god. But repentance was an act in the response of faith in the messiah whom john declared would soon appear.

Baptism was performed on those who believed john's preaching and teaching. The preaching of repentance from sin was at the heart of john's proclamation and repentance from sin remains an essential element of new testament.

Gospel preaching today or at least it should be. For this in my opinion is one of the greatest errors and problems present among evangelicals today the absence of the call to repentance in gospel preaching.

William booth the founder of the salvation army in the 19th century he said in the century ahead the greatest danger to christendom is the offering of salvation without repentance. Boy he was prescient.

He understood what was coming down the road. Sadly in these days if one says the scriptures teach you must repent of sin and believe on christ for salvation. That voice is frequently disregarded as one who teaches salvation by works although he's not that he is denying salvation by grace alone through faith alone in jesus christ alone.

That is a false charge. For in preaching the gospel we're to command people to repent of their sins and believe on jesus christ alone for eternal salvation. Repent and believe. When we attempt to bring people to saving faith in christ we are to proclaim to them the necessity and the importance of repentance just as john did.

We're to instruct plead and even command sinners to repent of their sin. Turning in faith to jesus christ for salvation repentance is turning away from sin. Turning on to god through jesus christ. Faith in jesus christ.

We're to tell all people everywhere that if they refuse or they fail to repent of their sin that they will die in their sins and they'll be damned forever. John took the direct approach. Didn't he. He just didn't.

Point out some say you brood of vipers that apparently everybody who came out wanting to be baptized he called them brood of vipers. That's the direct approach. You can imagine how people responded. They would respond and react.

Probably like people do today. When you speak directly about sin and the need to repent of sin we are to press people with their responsibility to take action with respect to their own souls. They are responsible before the lord.

They are accountable to the lord. Consider the following verses. Which commands are given to people to respond to the gospel. We read in mark one our lord jesus called people to repent and believe the gospel of the kingdom of god.

Now after john was put in prison jesus came to galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of god. That's salvation. New testament salvation. And saying the time is fulfilled. The kingdom of god is at hand.

Repent and believe in the gospel. We later read our lord warned his hearers that unless they repented their sins they would perish implying they would die under the wrath of god. Luke 13 verses 1 to 5.

They were present at that season. Some who told him about the galileans whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices and jesus said answered and said to them. Do you suppose that these galileans were worse sinners than all other galileans because they suffered such things.

I tell you no that unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those 18 on whom the tower in siloam fell and killed them that would have been perceived as an act of god not a cruel act of pilot.

Do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelled in jerusalem. I tell you no. But unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Might apply it today. You think those people in the ukraine today being wiped out or more wicked or sinful than anybody else in the world.

Jesus would say i tell you unless you repent you'll also perish. This is the sentence of fallen man and salvation is only through jesus christ. Our lord made it very clear to his listeners. They were responsible to take action in turning away from their sins.

And here in we see in luke 3 they were they were to turn from their sins and contrition before god humility brokenness before god if they had true saving faith in christ. And they turn from their sin and submit to him as king as lord and as savior.

The apostle paul proclaimed on the day of pentecost that these jewish people must repent of their sins in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. Peter was preaching to jewish people on this day. Therefore let all the house of israel know assuredly that god has made this jesus whom you crucified both lord and christ.

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to peter and the rest of the apostles men and brethren what shall we do. How did peter answer them. What shall we do. Peter said repent. Let every one of you be baptized in the name of jesus christ for the remission of sins.

And you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit who will enable you to live a life before god. And in act 17 paul before the gentiles in athens commanded all people everywhere to repent. He declared to them that god would no longer tolerate their idolatry.

He'd put up with the nonsense long enough he declared truly these times of ignorance. God overlooked describing times before the coming of jesus christ. But now god commands all men everywhere to repent.

Why. Because he is appointed today on which he would judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained. And he's given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead. Repentance is necessary.

And in second corinthians 5 the apostle paul wrote of pleading with people to be reconciled with god. Verse 20. Now then we are ambassadors for christ as though god were pleading through us we implore you on christ's behalf be reconciled to god.

People need to be reconciled to god. And that can only take place through faith in christ. And that faith is shown in turning from sin and turning onto him repentance. And so yes we're commanded to believe.

But that faith must be demonstrated shown forth in repentance. We are to obey the gospel turn from sin onto christ. And so as a manifestation of true faith repentance is necessary in order to receive salvation.

Not all faith is saving faith. Only that faith that leads to repentance from sin and turning to god in obedience to jesus christ. The lord is saving faith just because somebody says they believe on christ.

Well that's fine. That's good. But demons do that much. They know who jesus christ is. And and the scriptures say. And with respect to demons they tremble at the thought you know. And he was indicating you know you people you know you say you believe.

But you don't tremble. Look you're not. You haven't arisen to the level of demons yet you know true saving faith is seen in turning from sin submitting to jesus christ the lord the savior. And so repentance is is necessary.

And this is what john the baptist declared in luke 3. He said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him brood of vipers who warned you to flee from the wrath that come. Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.

And don't begin to say to yourselves we have abraham our father just because you're jewish. That doesn't make you exempt from the judgment of god is what john was telling them. For i say to you god is able to raise up children to abraham from these stones.

And even now the axe it presents god as a as a lumberjack. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. There's individual accountability individual responsibility.

You can't say because i'm a group in the in the right group i'm in the right christian church i'm in the right christian family that somehow i'm safe. Now every individual is accountable before god. Unless a man woman child repents of sin turning to the lord jesus christ in faith he'll not inherit salvation but god will judge him cut him down as a man cuts down a fruitless tree with an axe consigning him to everlasting punishment.

These are hard words. I understand they're direct words. But we need to be direct. Some of us can be so subtle that we can feel like we're talking truth to somebody. But they don't have a clue as to what we're really saying.

That wasn't john's way. He was direct. And really it would be unloving to do differently. Wouldn't it. Certainly it would. Well let's consider the multitudes to which john the baptist ministered top of page seven.

In your notes these jewish people were like many who today profess to be christians. They were ill prepared for the coming king. They were ignorant of the great danger they were under before god. They were totally unaware.

They're standing before god. They thought they were safe. One of the indicators of the impending judgment of god is presumption. Presuming you're okay. When there's no biblical basis to conclude that when people believe themselves to be okay but are not concerned about their souls or their responsibility and accountability before god they are in danger of damnation.

These people to whom john preached were presumptuous thinking that they had salvation because they were jewish people. Abraham the old testament patriarch was their ancestor their father. And so they were in need of being aroused from indifference and to be awakened to the true nature of salvation through jesus christ.

And so john purposed by his dress his boldness his dress as a prophet his boldness his message to shake them from their lethargy. And that's what we see in verse 7. John's hearers did not see that how they lived was important or essential in order to have a saving relationship with god.

John commanded them bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance. They thought they were safe because abraham was their ancestor their father. They thought they were immune to god's judgment that god was going to deal with us according to a different standard.

Oh yeah he's going to get on those gentiles. They deserve it. But we're exempt because we're jewish. And we have abraham our father. They were living as though there were no accountability as though they wouldn't have to answer for how they lived.

And john perhaps purpose to dispel this notion. Every tree that brings forth not doesn't bring forth fruit. Good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And so this was a man's message to the multitudes.