Church Sermon - December 7, 2003

Rev. Bernt P. Tweit

Epistle Lesson; Philippians 1:3-11
Old Testament Lesson; Malachi 3:1-4
Sermon Text; Luke 3:1-6

In our text this morning, Luke chapter 3, verses 1 –2, we note that they are very technical in nature and yet are very important for us today. Certainly, they are important, since they are God’s Word. And, as we look at these two verses, we can see that they can be cross-referenced with other world history books and detail a very specific point of time. Verses 3 – 6 share with us the message of the Advent Theme that we have for today.

The Gospel writer Luke gives us a detailed description of when the Word of God came to John the Baptist. It was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Luke was led to write those first two verses, sharing with us the exact time at which the Word of God came to John the Baptist. He notes that the Word of God came to John, ‘in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.’ We know from history books that Tiberius Caesar’s fifteenth year of reign happened in the year 28 or 29 A.D.

Luke also tells us that the Word of God came to John when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. He was the same Pontius Pilate who condemned Jesus to death.

It was in that year that Herod, Philip, and Lysanias were tetrarchs. The title ‘tetrarch’ originally meant the governor of one fourth, or one of the four divisions, of a province. But later on, the title tetrarch was assigned to somebody who was a petty prince, or a puppet king.

Luke also mentions who was high priest, that year. Technically it was Caiaphas, but his father-in-law Annas continued to exert great influence on temple matters.

In these first two verses, we see not only the political setting, but also we see the religious setting of when the Word of God came to John the Baptist. It was this religious and political setting, in which John the Baptist and Jesus had their public ministries.

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the Lord, preparing the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. 30 years before his public ministry began, we hear John’s father, Zechariah, say that his son "will go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins." Luke 1:76-77

So, as John came, preaching in the desert, he called people to repentance, and to prepare themselves for the Messiah’s arrival. And so, how did the people prepare for the Messiah’s coming? And now today, we can ask ourselves, "How do we prepare for the Savior’s Second Coming?"

As we look at today’s text, Luke Chapter 3, verses 3 – 6, we listen to the Advent Voice of John the Baptist. Let’s listen to three things that John’s voice was heard to say. The first thing that John declares is God’s Law. The second thing that he proclaims is God’s Gospel. And, the third thing that John declares prepares the way for the Lord.

Our text for today says that, "He (John) went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance…"

Then thinking about the words of Isaiah, the prophet, he says that John will "make straight paths…every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth."

Four counselors once met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one of them said, "People come to us and pour out their hearts, confess certain sins and deeds. Let’s do the same. Confession is good for the soul."

In due time, all agreed to do that. The first one confessed his secret sin. He confessed that he like to gamble. The second confessed his struggle with lust and the third one confessed to materialism. When it came to the fourth one to confess his secret sin, he wouldn’t confess.

The others pressed him saying, "Come on, we confessed ours. It’s time for you to share yours. What is your secret sin?"

Finally he answered, "My secret sin is gossiping."

After a long pause he said, "And, I can hardly wait to get out of here."

Now it is true, isn’t it, that we all have sins in our lives. Sometimes, we don’t want to even admit our sin, but it is there. Sometimes, it may appear as though we don’t have any sin, and yet sin is the root of our very nature. Everyday we need to be reminded of our sinfulness. Even if we think we live good, honest lives, we still are sinners.

Sin is a lot like ‘Creeping Charlie’. ‘Creeping Charlie’ is a weed that can grow in our yard. We can pull that vine and it may appear as though the ‘Creeping Charlie’ is gone. But, the root is still there. As long as that root of ‘Creeping Charlie’ remains in the ground, it can sprout new growth at any moment. It is hard to get rid of.

Like the ‘Creeping Charlie’ vines, you can remove the acts of sin from your life, but the root continues to remain. And so, it may appear as if our life does not have any sin, yet that root of sin is at our very nature. It is hard to get rid of.

John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of repentance, preparing people for the coming of the Messiah. He was preaching that people everywhere should repent of their sin. And, repentance begins with confessing our sin. It is good, and proper, and right for us to confess our sin, before God, every day. When we confess, it means that we agree with God that we have sin. We may not think that we have a sinful act to confess, but we have sinful natures that we must bring before God, every day. Only God can keep the root of sin dormant.

Repentance also means turning away from sin. When John the Baptist was out in the desert, preaching his baptism of repentance, the Pharisees came out to see what it was that he was preaching and teaching. John the Baptist was very pointed with the Pharisees, condemning their sin and their life. When he addressed the Pharisees, who were coming to hear him, he condemned them for being hypocrites. You see it was the Pharisees who thought that they were better than other people, because of their discipline. They talked a lot about the Law of Moses. They would fast and they prayed three times every day. But they were guilty of spiritual pride. They thought that their spiritual life was good and pleasing to God, when in fact their spiritual life meant nothing to God. Jesus said they prayed and fasted to impress people, so their spiritual discipline meant nothing to God.

Sin can be very subtle. We can puff ourselves up, thinking that we too, like the Pharisees, don’t have sin in our lives.

A cattle farmer once likened the subtly of sin, to a cow, who was grazing in a pasture. Occasionally, a cow will wander off and get lost. The farmer described how it happens, this way:

The cow starts nibbling on a spot of green grass. When it finishes in that spot, it looks ahead to the next spot of green grass and starts nibbling on that one. Again, it finishes in that spot and moves on to the next, and the next. Finally, it moves on to a spot of grass right next to a hole in the fence. It nibbles on that spot of grass, until it then sees another spot of green grass on the other side of the fence. It moves to the other side of the fence and nibbles on that spot of grass, and then goes on to another. The next thing you know, the cow has nibbled itself into being lost.

If we do not confess our sinful nature everyday, we will find ourselves ‘nibbling our way’ away from God. Until it comes to the point, when we will wake up one day and ask, "How did I every get here?"

The Advent Voice of John the Baptist was to proclaim God’s Law, pointing out sin, so that we confess our sin before God and turn our life of sin.

But then the Advent Voice of John the Baptist declared God’s gracious forgiveness, through God’s Gospel.

In our text for today it tells us what that baptism of repentance was for. It was for the forgiveness of sins, so that all mankind may see God’s salvation. John the Baptist said in verses 3 and 6, the baptism of repentance was "for the forgiveness of sins"... "and all mankind will see God’s salvation."

We have a deep need to know that we are forgiven.

A man once carried the burden of a secret sin he had committed many years before. He had repented, but still had no peace, no sense of God’s forgiveness. He carried that burden throughout his life. Finally, he went and visited with his pastor and asked if God still remembered his sin. The pastor truthfully replied, "God doesn’t remember your sin." What God forgives, He forgets.

It is true that God forgives our sin, but oh how the devil likes to use that sin in our life to give us a guilty conscious. The problem with forgiveness is that while God may forget our sin, we won’t let our sin be forgotten. We allow the thought of the sin to haunt us and bring false guilty upon us.

In a dream, Martin Luther found himself being attacked by Satan. The devil unrolled a long scroll containing a list of Luther’s sins, and held it before him. He read through the whole list of his sins. On reaching the end of the scroll Luther asked the devil, "Is that all?"

"No," came the reply, and a second scroll was brought out in front of him. Then, after a second came a third. But now the devil had no more.

"You’ve forgotten something," Luther exclaimed triumphantly. "On the bottom of each of those scrolls it says,

When the Holy Spirit works faith in your heart and you believe Jesus to be your Savior and Redeemer, all your sins are forgiven and forgotten.

The Advent Voice of John the Baptist not only proclaimed God’s Law, but also He declared God’s Gospel, the gracious forgiveness of our sins, through the perfect life and death of our Savior. And that is what prepares our hearts for the coming of the Savior.

On May 19^th, 1780 the sky of Hartford, Connecticut darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Dismissing a shout for immediate adjournment, Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that the candles be brought."

As we are in this Advent Season, one of the themes that we look at is the Second Coming of Christ. The skies may be ominous and black and yet we have nothing to fear. Jesus calls us to be lights and not to be afraid at Jesus’ Coming, but found doing our duty, when He comes. Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful until Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we’re to be lights as we watch and wait.

We are now halfway through the Season of Advent – the season of Christ’s Coming. Are you preparing for Jesus to come? Are you preparing for Him to come as a baby at Christmas? Are you preparing for Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time? Let us listen to the Advent Voice of John the Baptist, as he proclaims God’s Law, pointing us to repentance, asking us to confess our sins and turn from our sinful ways. May we listen to the Advent Voice of John the Baptist, as he proclaims God’s Gospel, the gracious forgiveness of all of our sins, through our Savior’s perfect life, suffering and death on the cross. May we listen to the Advent Voice of John the Baptist as he prepares our hearts, makes straight that which was crooked, knocks down the mountains, and straightens the roads of our life of sin to prepare us for the salvation of God, through the forgiveness of our sin found only in Jesus, our Savior.

Let us bow our heads before God, confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness, as we prepare for the Savior’s coming.

Lord Jesus,

There are things we can do to prepare for your coming. Give us a deep desire to spend time with you each day in prayer, Bible study and service. Move us to love and have compassion for those you bring into our lives. Let us be channels of your love, to all whom we cross paths.

Amen.

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