In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” [Matthew 3.1-3]
John's message prepared people for the message of Jesus.
We should understand that John's message prepares people for the message of Jesus even today.
The main reason for the "cheap grace" message so popular in the Church today is that people are trying to get to Paul's message of grace without first going through John the Baptist's message of repentance. The message of Jesus requires preparation! That preparation is repentance.
Jesus confirmed this at the onset of, and throughout, His ministry:
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]
Never has grace come without repentance. There is a lot of "name-it-claim-it" grace out there, but it simply does not pass the "Jesus test." The Jesus test is Jesus' example. What did Jesus do?
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. [Matthew 3.13-15]
Here we must remember that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. Yes, what John said in Matthew 3.13-15 was actually correct, but Jesus stayed true His mission to show us the Way. We must carry out all that God requires! It was only after this time that Jesus began to do many powerful miracles (keep that in mind...).
Get a deep breath... we're diving in here...
If we are required to repent, shouldn't we be absolutely sure what we are repenting of? Yes, we should!
Most of us spend our time repenting (if we even get that far) for manward sins. Those manward sins are defined in the last six of the Ten Commandments:
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus 20.12-17]
What most of us don't spend time repenting for is our violation of the first three of the Ten Commandments:
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]
The reason most don't really spend time repenting for the first three Commandments is because we don't really think we have violated any of them. Oh, but are we wrong! We may think we are good on the subject of idols, but are we? Idols are identified much the same as ducks: if it walks like a duck, and if it quacks like a duck... it's a duck!
Idols are man-made. If it walks and quacks like a duck...
Idols are costly. If it walks and quacks like a duck...
Idols allege to meet a need God said He would provide for. If it walks and quacks like a duck...
Idols allow all manner of sin (usually involving illicit sex). If it walks and quacks like a duck...
This author is and has been for some time, undeniably pointing out that man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology all walk and quack like a duck when it comes to matching the descriptions of idols.
The very meaning of the word repent is to "turn away." Over and again, the Bible speaks of repentance and turning away when it comes to idols - things that replace God.
Let's just argue for a minute that God uses finance, insurance, medicine and technology, shall we?
Are these industries not all man-made?
Are these industries not all costly?
Are these industries not all attempting to do for man what God said He would do?
Are these industries not all utilizing sexual attraction, self attention, and godless lifestyles to attract their "customers?"
IF IT WALKS AND TALKS LIKE A DUCK...!
So, once we realize that idols are actually idols, we should immediately understand what the 3rd Commandment is all about:
“You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.7]
If we are defending man-made idols by saying they are from God, we are blatantly misusing God's name just to defend our idolatry. So, there.
Now, we are getting to the core of what we need to repent for! But, if repent means to "turn away" that means we have to effectively "give up" our idols - man's way of doing for himself what God said He would do. Jesus, Who also specifically said we must repent (Matthew 4.17), also said:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]
Reader, the indictment made here is serious. It's not serious because I say it's serious, but because the Word of God says it's serious. Repenting for the last six Commandments without repenting for the first three Commandments is akin to picking apples off a tree expecting the tree to die. Every manward sin is the result of selfishness. Selfishness is the root of every idol. Selfishness trusts itself over God in direct violation of the first two Commandments and is, in fact, the original sin committed in the Garden of Eden.
One might argue, "What your are saying is just too hard! That can't be right!"
First off, "I" didn't say it - I am merely pointing out what the Bible says. And, secondly, where do we get off thinking it should be "easy?" Jesus Himself said:
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]
Furthermore, it must be understood that I have only mentioned heretofore nine of the Ten Commandments. What I have not yet discussed in the 4th Commandment:
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. [Exodus 20.8-11]
Tucked neatly between the first three Godward Commandments and the last six manward Commandments is the 4th Commandment - the one about the Sabbath - the one that somehow connects the two... As much as religious people want the Sabbath to strictly be about a day, it actually serves a much higher purpose: Jesus addressed it:
Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” [Matthew 12.3-8]
Jesus clearly indicated that the Sabbath is for man's benefit. What benefits man more than Jesus? (Answer: nothing!)
Giving up our own way then (as Jesus commanded in Matthew 16.24) is resting entirely in Jesus, the Sabbath to be kept holy (untouched and unadulterated by human influence) - not our idol industries of finance for our provision, not our idol industries of insurance for our protection, not our idol industries of medicine for our healing, and not our idol industries of technology for our knowledge.
To clear the road for Jesus (as John the Baptist quoted Isaiah in Matthew 3.1-3 above) is to turn away from idols and clear them from our lives so that the power of the Holy Spirit imparted by Jesus might have room to work in and through us. It won't be easy, and "cheap grace" won't make a bit of difference.
Grace is indeed God's undeserved call to man...
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.14]
...But the chosen are distinguished from the called as those who respond in faith - not abstract faith, but Jesus-like faith.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [John 15.16]
As Paul prayed for the Thessalonian Christians, we can see there is an undeserved call of grace to be lived up to in faith:
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. [2 Thessalonians 1.11-12]
The call to be lived up to is the call of grace to powerful faith that accomplishes good things thus honoring the Sabbath Rest Who is Jesus, living in His way (miracles) and not our own (idolatry). No, it's not easy, but we have His promise to be with us and we testify to that promise by taking up our own cross and following Him. Death be-damned!
Whew! There much to digest here, but it is all in God's Word. What will we do with it?
Father, Your Word amazes me more every day. But, I must say, Your Word shows me myself more every day and every day I see more my need for Jesus - only Jesus - and, by faith in Him to come to You. It really does come down to me giving up my own way (which is hard), taking up my cross (which is hard), and following Jesus (which really is easy once I genuinely commit). May Your truth only become more clear! So be it.
