WHO WARNED YOU TO FLEE FROM THE COMING WRATH?
Shalom.
Blessed be the mighty name of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:5-10;”Then went out to him in Jerusalem, and all Judaea,and all the region round about Jordan,
And were Baptized of him in Jordan,confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism,he said unto them,O generation of vipers,who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
And think not to say within yourselves,We have Abraham to our father:for I say unto you,that God is able out of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,and cast into the fire.”
The words in verse 7 can as well be rephrased as,”You brood of vipers,who deceived (who warned) you that you will escape the coming judgment by the way you want?”
What way?By coming to be baptized while yet you still hold onto your evil ways.Who told you that by such means you shall be saved from God’s wrath?For you think it in your hearts that it’s enough to be baptized and evade the coming judgment..You deceive yourselves!BEAR FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE!!
Give up your evil ways and live a life that is worth your repentance.If you,in the past,lived as an adulterer,or a fornicator,or a drunkard,etc., repent as you mean to forsake all and begin to live in the newness of life.Seeking Baptism while you still live on in sin is but meaningless.
On hearing John’s message, the Pharisees were afraid but were unwilling to change.They thought by being baptized would exempt from the judgment that was to come.They intended to turn baptism into a mere religion;a new form of liturgy to be embraced.What they didn’t know was the place that baptism held in one’s life (its significance).This symbolic act had a deep meaning.It was meant for repentance of sins and a choice to live a life with God.
Even today,baptism should be thought of as a religion.Or a mark to make people think of God as one who is interested in those who are baptized, regardless of what they do.That baptism is a ticket for taking them to heaven.One’s baptism is only meaningful to God if they repent and choose to live righteously.But those who act otherwise are but mocking God.
Today,if you dared ask someone if they are born again, the answer is that they are baptized.Suppose you ask if they have the assurance of going to heaven,the response is the same.Baptism guarantees no one entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom,unless they have repented of their sins.The Pharisees went to John seeking baptism but their hearts were not to it.
God relented from sending calamity upon the Ninevites,since he saw what they did.As soon as Jonah sounded the warning,the people repented and turned from their evil ways.Their actions, and not what their lips could utter,moved heart God towards showing them mercy.Hence,they escaped the punishment God had threatened to bring upon them.
Jonah 3:10;”And God saw their works,that they turned from their evil ways and God relented from sending calamity that he had said he would do unto them;and he did it not.”
Let not you be as an offspring to the serpent,by seeking to fulfill God’s commands while you are ready to his will.Such are characters of the serpent according to the Bible.The Pharisees went to be baptized, disregarding repentance.They were hypocritical, attention seekers,proud, envious and hated others.
If you have made the choice to follow Jesus,be sure to carry your own cross.First,count the cost if you are indeed ready to turn and forsake what is of earth.Bid good bye to the world and turn your back against it.Then go ahead to seek baptism.By doing this,you will experience God’s unceasing love and see his power working in and through your life.He will greatly bless you.
God bless you.