Matt 3

The herald of the King appears! His baptism is for repentance (v.11), which is similar to the meaning of the name of Jesus (saving his people from their sins 1:21). A lot of people comes to him (v.5), but not everyone. The Pharisees and Sadducee (the religious leaders) comes to "where he was baptizing," which means they may not think they need the baptism. They only come to the place. Imagine if we have a confession meeting. Who do you think should come to confess their sins. Drinker? Adulterer? No, the pastor! John said they think they can flee from the coming wrath (v.7). They think they are prestige and have no need to repent. Therefore, they have no fruit of repentance. When the kingdom comes Jesus will choose and pick the real ones to enter the kingdom (v.11-12). Who can fool Him? (Audrey)

Comments

Anonymous said…
I think some Jews today still think they can go to heaven because they are Abraham's offsprings. But in v. 10 John told them that 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. So being Abraham's offsprings won't save them, they need to repent and bear good fruit. This leads me to think about another question. In John 15:2, it tells us God cuts off every branch in Jesus that bears no fruit, that means if we, christians, do not bear fruit, God will cut us away too. Pastor Chu, I don't quite understand what's the meaning of being cut away. Here since the branch is in Jesus, that means he should believe in Christ and be saved. But if he doesn't bear fruit, he will be cut off. So being cut off means cannot enter the Kingdom of God? But isn't it true that once we are saved, our place in heaven will not be removed?
December 10, 2008 at 9:01:00 PM CST
Mike Chu said…
"Being thrown into the fire" has several meanings in the Bible. What it means in John 15 should be determine by the context. First of all, abide in Jesus is not about salvation but about fellowship. So, cut away means cut away from fellowship not salvation. And the cut away branch is burned implies it is a useless branch. Because of the wood of vine is so soft, you can made nothing out of it. So, a fruitless branch is good for nothing.
You can see this imaginary in Eze 15:1-5
Eze 15:1-5 And the word of the LORD came to me: (2) "Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? (3) Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? (4) Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? (5) Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!
December 11, 2008 at 8:57:00 PM CST
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