Luke 3:7-18. Live as Christians because the Lord is coming! 13/12/09
(7) John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? {8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. {9} The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." {10} "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. {11} John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." {12} Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" {13} "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. {14} Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." {15} The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. {16} John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. {17} His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." {18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
This week John the Baptist continues his call to the people of God to be ready and prepared for the coming of their Saviour. Here he makes this call very much in style of the “Grim Reaper’ adds on TV of a number of years ago and the traffic accident adds of more recent times: The idea being to shock us out our apathy and complacency, and to make us change our thinking and lifestyles. The advertisements make the point if we think we can live free and easy lives sexually, or with regard to drinking and driving or driving when we are tired, without regard for anyone else but ourselves – then we are asking for trouble: The ‘Grim Reaper’ – the accident that kills - is just around the corner. Now those adds however are merely wanting us take precautions – to be careful; rather than seek a total change of lifestyle or for us to get back to living as we were created to.
Here however John hammers home a far more important message. For here, he is talking about eternal consequences for the way we live and act now. He reminds us that the judgement of God is coming down on all those who think that they can live and do as they please, without regard for the way God would have us live. And yes he is here speaking to those of us who think that because we are baptized and confirmed into the Church therefore we will be OK, so we can sit on the fence – without being totally committed and we will get away with it: we can live and do as we please and it doesn’t really matter. So yes, John is speaking a message that we all need to think long and hard about.
That being the case, just listen again as John speaks to us. “You congregation of snakes! Who told you that you could escape the punishment that God is about to send, by going through a few outward rituals? Instead, also do that which shows that you have turned away from your sins and that you believe in God. And don’t merely say amongst yourselves that you belong to a church and are a reasonably good person. The axe is ready to lop every tree which does not produce good fruit in accord with the new life in Christ.”
That is John’s message to you and me – that is God’s message for us today. Now that ought to make every one of us sit up and listen and take a good long look at ourselves. Because how often aren’t we, too, like snakes, trying to escape when the grass that shelters them is set on fire: trying to wriggle and slide our way out of trouble. By this I mean – we think we can live and do as we please: we can live in selfishness and sin; and then when things get a little hot, we can race off and get a dose of forgiveness.
Look, it is dangerous thinking to have the attitude that we can go through life living as if there is no God and at the same time come running to the Church when we need our consciences eased: thinking we can be hard-nosed and ruthless in our business dealings; difficult and cantankerous in our personal lives; mean and uncaring in our attitude toward others; and that it doesn’t matter; because at the end of the day we can run and get God’s forgiveness: he’ll accept us as long as we have made a reasonable effort.
“You brood of vipers” – says John. ‘With that sort of attitude you will not escape God’s wrath: ‘the Grim Reaper’ is ready – the axe is poised ready for the chop. God’s punishment will fall on those who wilfully and wantonly disregard his will and think that they can get away with it.
John then goes on to warn us not to start making our protests that we are baptized and confirmed in the Church, and therefore thinking we are OK. Just because you are baptized and have some connection with the church, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be in heaven. It is the one who is baptized and believes who will be saved. And believing in Jesus as Lord and saviour means that he and the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that he extends to us, and how he wants us to think and live, is most important for us.
It is no good merely taking precautions and being careful as the TV advertisements suggest, and then we will be alright: as long as we use a condom, take a power-nap and give the learner driver few more lessons, then we’ll be right. Sadly, society thinks there are quick-fixes and easy solutions to most of our problems, which will basically still allow us to go on living and doing as we please. And sadly, this same thinking has crept into the church: we don’t need to take it all too seriously. Here we are reminded that this is disastrous thinking.
Look we have been baptized into a new life. We have there been made a part of God’s family. So, we are now called to live as people who have a new chance at life: live as people who are a part of God’s family: and to live in light of the fact that the Lord is coming to thresh out the wheat from the chaff. So were is the sorrow for all that is wrong in our life, and the deep desire to live and be the kind of people God wants us to be.
Where is the desire to ‘do the things that show that we have turned from our sins.’ Here he means the fruits of faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ that are mentioned all the way through the Scriptures. If Jesus and his coming into our world, and the message of the cross has any importance in our lives, then it will upset us greatly that our lives are so evidently sinful. And if we believe that he died and rose again for us as individuals and as a whole, then we will want to change our lifestyle so that our lives are more in line with being a part of God’s family. And if we know and trust that Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us and give us the power to live as his people, then we will boldly step out to show evidence of it: we will be seeking to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love our neighbour as ourself.
Here remember, we have God himself come to us in Jesus Christ. He has rescued us from a certain eternity in Hell and has given us all that we need for this life and the next. So let us not be slack and selfish about our Christian life: apathetic and complacent in our living as God’s own people. Instead, let us repent: let us turn back to God and his ways; committing ourselves again to live in light of all that he has done for us. Motivated by the love he has shown toward us by coming into our world and dying on the cross for us: freeing us to now live as his people and living in a way that is good for us and others around us.
Yes, let us remember our baptism, every day; thereby daily dying to our sinful life and seeking to live the new life that we have been given: remembering that we have been joined into God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All the while knowing that he has given us the Holy Spirit to help and empower us with his gifts to be the people he wants us to be: At same time being aware that our Lord is coming again soon to be our Judge and Lord: and that like the ‘Grim Reaper’ he will take the axe to all who think they can live as they please and it doesn’t matter. He will sort out the wheat from the chaff.
So let us think long and hard on this message from John the Baptist. Then may God grant each of us great blessing again at the coming of our Lord Jesus this Christmas, and also at the end of our time here on earth. For he truly is our Lord and master; our Saviour and friend. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
(7) John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? {8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. {9} The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." {10} "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. {11} John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." {12} Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" {13} "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. {14} Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." {15} The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. {16} John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. {17} His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." {18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.
This week John the Baptist continues his call to the people of God to be ready and prepared for the coming of their Saviour. Here he makes this call very much in style of the “Grim Reaper’ adds on TV of a number of years ago and the traffic accident adds of more recent times: The idea being to shock us out our apathy and complacency, and to make us change our thinking and lifestyles. The advertisements make the point if we think we can live free and easy lives sexually, or with regard to drinking and driving or driving when we are tired, without regard for anyone else but ourselves – then we are asking for trouble: The ‘Grim Reaper’ – the accident that kills - is just around the corner. Now those adds however are merely wanting us take precautions – to be careful; rather than seek a total change of lifestyle or for us to get back to living as we were created to.
Here however John hammers home a far more important message. For here, he is talking about eternal consequences for the way we live and act now. He reminds us that the judgement of God is coming down on all those who think that they can live and do as they please, without regard for the way God would have us live. And yes he is here speaking to those of us who think that because we are baptized and confirmed into the Church therefore we will be OK, so we can sit on the fence – without being totally committed and we will get away with it: we can live and do as we please and it doesn’t really matter. So yes, John is speaking a message that we all need to think long and hard about.
That being the case, just listen again as John speaks to us. “You congregation of snakes! Who told you that you could escape the punishment that God is about to send, by going through a few outward rituals? Instead, also do that which shows that you have turned away from your sins and that you believe in God. And don’t merely say amongst yourselves that you belong to a church and are a reasonably good person. The axe is ready to lop every tree which does not produce good fruit in accord with the new life in Christ.”
That is John’s message to you and me – that is God’s message for us today. Now that ought to make every one of us sit up and listen and take a good long look at ourselves. Because how often aren’t we, too, like snakes, trying to escape when the grass that shelters them is set on fire: trying to wriggle and slide our way out of trouble. By this I mean – we think we can live and do as we please: we can live in selfishness and sin; and then when things get a little hot, we can race off and get a dose of forgiveness.
Look, it is dangerous thinking to have the attitude that we can go through life living as if there is no God and at the same time come running to the Church when we need our consciences eased: thinking we can be hard-nosed and ruthless in our business dealings; difficult and cantankerous in our personal lives; mean and uncaring in our attitude toward others; and that it doesn’t matter; because at the end of the day we can run and get God’s forgiveness: he’ll accept us as long as we have made a reasonable effort.
“You brood of vipers” – says John. ‘With that sort of attitude you will not escape God’s wrath: ‘the Grim Reaper’ is ready – the axe is poised ready for the chop. God’s punishment will fall on those who wilfully and wantonly disregard his will and think that they can get away with it.
John then goes on to warn us not to start making our protests that we are baptized and confirmed in the Church, and therefore thinking we are OK. Just because you are baptized and have some connection with the church, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be in heaven. It is the one who is baptized and believes who will be saved. And believing in Jesus as Lord and saviour means that he and the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that he extends to us, and how he wants us to think and live, is most important for us.
It is no good merely taking precautions and being careful as the TV advertisements suggest, and then we will be alright: as long as we use a condom, take a power-nap and give the learner driver few more lessons, then we’ll be right. Sadly, society thinks there are quick-fixes and easy solutions to most of our problems, which will basically still allow us to go on living and doing as we please. And sadly, this same thinking has crept into the church: we don’t need to take it all too seriously. Here we are reminded that this is disastrous thinking.
Look we have been baptized into a new life. We have there been made a part of God’s family. So, we are now called to live as people who have a new chance at life: live as people who are a part of God’s family: and to live in light of the fact that the Lord is coming to thresh out the wheat from the chaff. So were is the sorrow for all that is wrong in our life, and the deep desire to live and be the kind of people God wants us to be.
Where is the desire to ‘do the things that show that we have turned from our sins.’ Here he means the fruits of faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ that are mentioned all the way through the Scriptures. If Jesus and his coming into our world, and the message of the cross has any importance in our lives, then it will upset us greatly that our lives are so evidently sinful. And if we believe that he died and rose again for us as individuals and as a whole, then we will want to change our lifestyle so that our lives are more in line with being a part of God’s family. And if we know and trust that Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us and give us the power to live as his people, then we will boldly step out to show evidence of it: we will be seeking to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love our neighbour as ourself.
Here remember, we have God himself come to us in Jesus Christ. He has rescued us from a certain eternity in Hell and has given us all that we need for this life and the next. So let us not be slack and selfish about our Christian life: apathetic and complacent in our living as God’s own people. Instead, let us repent: let us turn back to God and his ways; committing ourselves again to live in light of all that he has done for us. Motivated by the love he has shown toward us by coming into our world and dying on the cross for us: freeing us to now live as his people and living in a way that is good for us and others around us.
Yes, let us remember our baptism, every day; thereby daily dying to our sinful life and seeking to live the new life that we have been given: remembering that we have been joined into God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All the while knowing that he has given us the Holy Spirit to help and empower us with his gifts to be the people he wants us to be: At same time being aware that our Lord is coming again soon to be our Judge and Lord: and that like the ‘Grim Reaper’ he will take the axe to all who think they can live as they please and it doesn’t matter. He will sort out the wheat from the chaff.
So let us think long and hard on this message from John the Baptist. Then may God grant each of us great blessing again at the coming of our Lord Jesus this Christmas, and also at the end of our time here on earth. For he truly is our Lord and master; our Saviour and friend. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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