John the Baptist-1 “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4
1. Prepare
a. “Prepare”: Get your mind heart and emotions ready
I. Mind: God’s word is always right especially when I don’t understand it. True Biblical faith is accepting, believing and obeying God’s word regardless of the circumstances and regardless of my own thoughts, emotions or desires.
II. Will: God’s way is always best and always produces the best results. This world, our flesh and devils tell us to look at short-term and immediate results and chose them even when they bring long-term disaster. God’s word tells us to look at the long-term, and especially at the eternal spiritual results for deciding what to do and how to do it. Obeying this method of making decisions will give us God’s will in our life.
III. Emotions: “not my will, but thine, be done” Luke 22:42
IV. Many of God’s people, in the time of the Gospels, were not saved, were not blessed but were cursed. This is because they did not “prepare”. When Jesus preached a message which opposed their religious traditions, they rejected His message because they did not first prepare their mind, will and emotions to use God’s way to determine what was true. If we do not prepare ourselves then we will follow traditions which lead to error and damnation.
b. “Lord”
I. The role of God involved in all laws and judgment. We will be judged for our level of obedience and our attitude of obedience. Therefore, we must keep eternal judgment in mind.
II. “The Lord” tells us how to serve God by giving us exact commandments which God expects us to obey exactly.
III. First of Ten Commandments: “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3). Praying to Mary and “saints” is placing them “before” God. Letting anyone tell you that God’s word means anything other than what it literally says is placing them “before” God.
IV. If we do not recognize the difference in authority between God’s word and what religious traditions tell us, we will reject the law of the Lord just like the Jews did. We will also reap destruction. The biggest fight between Jesus and the religious leaders was over authority. They demanded that he be crucified because He insisted that the “word of the Lord” was always right. If we do not prepare ourselves with this attitude then we will be led into error and destruction.
c. “the way”
I. The word ”the” means ‘there is only one and here it is’. The Bible tells us God’s “way”. It is not ‘one of many ways’.
II. The word ”way” means ‘how you get from one place to another’. The only ”way” to get from receiving the consequences of sin to receiving God’s forgiveness and blessing is God’s ”way”.
III. Religion tells us that there are many “ways”. However, our reference tells us that there is only one “way”. Jesus said that the miracles He did proved that His doctrine came from God. We can know that we are following God’s “way” when we see the power of God come down after we obey.
IV. People who do not follow God’s “way” will not see the power of God in their life and ministry and may even receive punishment which can be anything up to and including an early death.
d. “ye”: This is something that each and every person must personally do if they want to avoid the punishment from God and want to receive God’s presence and blessings in their personal life. In John 10:39-42 we read that Jesus left the place and people who disputed with Him and went to the place where the people had accepted the message from John the Baptist. Those people who did “prepare”, as commanded, received the presence and blessing of Jesus. Those people who refused to “prepare”, as commanded, lost the presence of Jesus and were condemned by God.
e. “make his paths straight”: This means to 'Get rid of doctrinal error, religious practices and anything else that would hinder you personally (ye) going straight to the Lord'. This is why John the Baptist started with the message to repent. That is: 'turn away from anything else and turn towards God with a willingness to obey without reservation'.
2. Repent towards the Lord
a. ‘turn from sin’
I. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1John 3:4). We can not avoid “transgressing the law” if we don’t know it. We must be taught what is sin according to the word of God.
II. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1John 3:8) If a particular sin remains in our life then we are not letting Jesus destroy it in our life.
III. Avoid the situations which tempt us to sin. In many cases, sin is social and we need to avoid those friends who encourage us to sin. For example, a drunk needs to avoid places where people drink.
b. ‘turn towards the Lord God’
I. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1). We are to turn away from the belief that our “works” earn us God’s salvation or God’s grace and turn in “faith toward God”. This means obeying what the Bible tells us to do in order to receive the promises of God and believe that God will keep His promise in His time and His way.
II. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21). This is the last part of Paul’s summary of his ministry when he met with the elders of the church at Ephesus for the last time. Paul went on to say “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.” If we do not “testify about faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” then we will not also be able to make this claim at the end of our life.
III. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Acts 5:30-32). This was the testimony of Peter and John to the religious leaders after they were arrested. Please notice the “and forgiveness of sins” which means that “forgiveness of sins” is added after true “repentance”. Nest notice that or reference says “so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him”. People who make a profession but never “obey God” are not promised “the Holy Ghost”. However, people who truly receive “the Holy Ghost” also receive the internal witness, from “the Holy Ghost”, that they are truly saved as they “obey God”. Turning towards God in obedience is required for true assurance of salvation.
c. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8.
I. John the Baptist refused to accept the profession of religious people who claimed to “repent” but had no “fruits” as evidence of true Biblical “repentance”.
II. “Fruit” is new life of a similar nature to the parent life. The fruit of a mango tree is a mango. The fruit of a cat is a kitten. The fruit of a woman is a baby. Truly saved receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. The “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22) and “in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Ephesians 5:9). In addition, Ephesians 5:8-10 says: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” In Galatians 4:11 Paul wrote “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”
III. People who truly receive God’s Holy Spirit will show evidence of God’s influence in their life. It may not be immediately as it takes time to grow a tree from a seed. However, at some time in their life they will show the influence of God’s Holy Spirit if they truly received Him.
3. Receive the Holy Ghost
a. There is a secret in America which many pastors don’t like to talk about. That is that many people doubt their salvation even after making a profession and being shown Bible verses provide assurance of salvation. This is because there is a difference between what the Bible says to do and what Baptist religious traditions say to do.
b. “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” (Acts 19:1-6).
I. They had Biblically “repented” but had not personally (“ye”) “received the Holy Ghost”. However, “the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (had evidence of true salvation) after “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”. That is: they were ‘identified with’ (“baptized”) ‘the power and authority’ (“in the name of”) “the Lord Jesus”. They had to accept “the Lord Jesus” as their personal “Lord” before they personally “received the Holy Ghost”.
c. The Bible does not say to ask Jesus to be your savior but tells us to “call upon the name of the Lord” to be saved.
I. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
II. “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” (Acts 15:11)
III. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
IV. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
d. The Biblical difference between “Lord” and “Jesus”:
I. “Jesus” is the name of a literal physical man and is used for Joshua of the Old Testament and for Justus as well as for ‘God in human flesh’.
II. Any time that we see the Bible use “Jesus” for ‘God in human flesh’ it is telling us about the doctrine of the humanity of the Son of God. He is our example of how to live in this flesh using the power of the Holy Ghost.
III. The Bible uses “Lord” for anything to do with laws, government and judgment.
IV. When God “Blotts out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us” (Colossians 2:14), He is changing the legal record, which is done in His role as “Lord”.
V. When God “adopts” us and His children (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5), He is doing a legal act.
VI. When people ‘ask Jesus to be their savior’, many feel that they can continue to live in disobedience and that He has to continuously pay for their sins and remove the consequences of their sins.
VII. When people “call on the name of the Lord” they are trusting in His power and authority as “Lord”. They are agreeing to obey His laws and accept His judgment of their obedience or disobedience just like someone swearing an oath to obey the laws of the government in order to become a citizen of a country. When we get saved we change our spiritual citizenship from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God.
e. True Biblical assurance: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” (1John 3:18-19)
I. This literally says that “we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him” if we do “not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth”. Our assurance is NOT based upon a profession but is based upon “deed and truth”. The Bible tells us that “truth” is defined by the Bible and is personified in Jesus Christ who is pictured by the Bible. This means that we must do the “deed” that the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ did if we want “assurance” of our salvation.
II. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” (Isaiah 32:17). Here we are literally told that “assurance for ever” is “the effect of righteousness”. We can only do “righteousness” by obeying God in our personal life. We can only have “assurance for ever” by personally obeying out “Lord”.
III. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” (1Thessalonians 1:5). Our living what we claim and preach gives “assurance” to others. In turn, their “assurance” will reassure us.
IV. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:10-12). Lots of people quote the first sentence of this reference and leave out the next sentence. However, our reference tells us that we must “shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” and we must personally “be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”. Our being “diligent” as we “follow of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”, by doing the same things as they did, gives us the “full assurance” that we also will “inherit the promises”. However, if we are not “diligent” and do not do the same things as they did then “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) will take away our “assurance” of the promises, including our “assurance” of our eternal salvation.
