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Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness
of Judea,
Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make
His paths straight.’ ”
Matthew 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt
around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan
went out to him
Matthew 3:6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to
his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from
the wrath to come?
Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
Matthew 3:9 And do not think 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.
God is God so He does not need anything from us and He does not need us
for anything.
Matthew 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son
of God, command that these stones become bread.”
A. W. Tozer, said, ” Were every person on earth to become an atheist, it would
not affect God in any way. ”
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I. HERE COME THE SEPARATISTS AND THE SECULARISTS.
Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to
his baptism,…”
2 Timothy 3:5 (NLT) They will act religious, but they will reject the power that
could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
F.F. Bruce notes, ” A Sadducee could not become a Christian without abandoning
the distinctive theological position of his party.”
Acts 23:8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection–and no angel or spirit;
but the Pharisees confess both.
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in
your sins!
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing
the Scriptures nor the power of God.
II. PREACHING TO SNAKES.
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming
to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! …”
Acts 28:3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire,
a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?
Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation
of hell?
III. A WARNING OF THE WRATH TO COME.
Matthew 3:7 “… Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
accursed…
Psalm 7:11 God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
IV. THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE: A CHANGED LIFE.
Matthew 3:8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Luke 3:10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
Luke 3:11 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.”
Luke 3:12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher,
what shall we do?”
Luke 3:13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
Luke 3:14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content
with your wages.”
Salvation is always present tense.
It’s not past tense —-
It’s not about something we once did that has no bearing upon what we do now.
V. THE ROCK SHOW: RAISING UP CHILDREN FROM STONES.
Matthew 3:9 And do not think 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.
There was an old song “Hearts of stone.”
Hearts made of stone
Will never break,
And the love you give,
It just won’t take.
Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
