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Elder Bryce Lowrance

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Redeemer & Judge

10 May 2014

"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable." (Luke 3:16-17)

John makes a very bold statement about the Messiah in these verses. He is declaring that the Messiah is both Redeemer and Judge. He is saying that the coming will be God Himself!

John, upon observing a spirit of repentance in some, baptized them seeing their confession as evidence of the work of God in their hearts. When some unbelieving Pharisees came to him, John refused to baptize them because they were impenitent. Their belief that they had no sin was evidence to John that God had not worked in their lives.

John now addresses the entire congregation gathered in the wilderness of Jordan. He states that when the Messiah comes, all truth will come to the surface. John could only judge outward actions as evidence of the Spirit but Christ will judge the hearts of men! He compares this to a man with a winnowing fan as he separates the good wheat from the weeds and other chaff.

Even today there may be some who make a profession publicly but are lying. John says, "You may have lied to me when I baptized you, but God knows your heart." Jesus tells about these in His ministry as well.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)

These are those who seek their own promotion not the benefit of others.

Having said that, we must not forget the overall focus of John's preaching must be one of "Comfort ye my people." Therefore, I do not believe that judgment was a major focus of John's preaching. I think the major focus in these verses should not be on the surety of judgment but the surety of redemption.

Remember that, before John speaks of judgment, John says the Christ will "gather the wheat into his garner." This means when the Messiah comes He will not just try to redeem. He will redeem His people from their sins!

« The Message of John the Baptist | Kinsman Redeemer »

Tags: grace, harmony_of_the_gospels, john_the_baptist, repent

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.