Life Of John The Baptist-3

We continue the Bible study on John The Baptist with his methods and message. His purpose was to replace religion with the direct relationship of the living, loving God.

Life Of John The Baptist-3

Continued from Life Of John The Baptist-2

3. Message: Mt 3:7-12 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?..The ax 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…He will…(gather) His wheat into the barn."

a. Against Religion: John called the religious leaders a brood of vipers because they were leading people away from God. Religion says, "I've arrived! I'm better than you. I am perfected." The apostle John wrote, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." He was writing to Christians! Apparently, the problem we have now, started way back then. Religious people, having been saved by the grace of God, decide that they saved themselves and are better than others. I remember when I went through a time like that. Marsha and I would be coming home from someone's house and I'd start talking about how smart we were to do differently than them. How they had missed it. I was missing it! We're all nothing except that Jesus chose to make us something through His power. No effort of ours can earn this, it is given by God freely to anyone who is willing to believe in Him.

Some people are so filled with themselves spiritually, they begin to set up church traditions that keep the rest out. I call this the draw-bridge principle. Once the King, out of his generosity, allows them into the castle, they hurry up and raise the drawbridge so no one else can get in. We've seen people seeking God who were excluded and ridiculed because they smoked, or drank, had an abortion, watched too much TV, danced, gambled, rode a skateboard or just voted the wrong way. Please, if someone has excluded or ridiculed you because of anything like this, I ask for your forgiveness. What they did wasn't from God. He loves you and wants you to love Him. Jesus said for us to remove the log from our own eye before we can remove the sawdust from someone else's. Even if you did things that the Bible describes as sin, you haven't done anything worse than I have. No one deserves His love more than you. I want you to know you are welcome at Web-Chuech. Regardless of what you have done or are doing, if you're seeking God, you're welcome here. I don't apologize to traditional churches who exclude the very people who know they need God's help. The Bible is clear in it's condemnation of this religious behavior! It's against religion.

b. For Relationship: John's ministry was for relationship as much as it was against religion. He prepared the world for Jesus, saying, 'He would gather His wheat into the barn'. Jesus was called Emanuel (God with us). He said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." The message of John the Baptist and of Jesus is…you can have a relationship with God.

The purpose was not to threaten judgment or to create a new religion. John's sole purpose was to let people know God is coming, a God you can be in relationship with. He was offering love and hope to people who were born in hopelessness, born apart from God.

…Like we were. Maybe you're reading this and you realized you were one of those religious people. Just ask God to free you in His love and to forgive you. Only forgiven people have the power to forgive. Maybe you've been hurt by people like that and you still have trouble getting over it. Ask God to help you let it go, to forgive you for nursing that grudge so long, and to forgive the people who hurt you. Maybe as we were talking about sin, you realized you hadn't been forgiven and you need God in your life. Just ask Him now. He will heal you.

The Lord bless you and keep you in loving relationship with Him and each other.

Life Of John The Baptist-3

I'm honored that you've allowed me to be a part of your Christian life. Please return often for fellowship, study and prayer. Thank you very much for visiting.

Love & Hugs,
Glen

We continue the Bible study on John The Baptist with his methods and message. His purpose was to replace religion with the direct relationship of the living, loving God.