Luke 3:15-20
"And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the lachet 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. And many other things in his exhortations preached he unto the people. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison," Luke 3:15-20.
The preaching of John the Baptist was viewed differently for different people. For those who loved the Lord and looked for His first advent, the preaching of John the Baptist was refreshing. As a result of the religious system of John's day there was a famine of true preaching in the land. This is another reason so many people came to John while he preached near the Jordan river. John's preaching was a cistern in a dry and thirsty land. There were those who wanted to hear the truth, though they were few.
A result of a famine of the Word of God in a land is a misunderstanding of Scripture. People begin to do what seems right in their own eyes, and they have knee jerk reactions from what goes on in the world around them. These people began to have a skewed view of the Christ. Christ is not Jesus's last name, it is a title of what He is. "Christ" in this verse is the Greek word "Christos" and means the Messiah. The Messiah is the Redeemer, the Saviour. The people were looking for a Saviour, but because of the lack of truth being proclaimed, they were looking for a political messiah. Some were willing to settle for any kind of messiah. When they heard the preaching of John they reasoned in their hearts if he were the Christ or not.
The excitement that was in the air during that day is that the people were looking with anticipation for someone to rise up and defeat Rome. They were looking for a political saviour. As we mentioned last time, at this point John could have really lifted up himself and received a large following. It would have been real easy for John to look around at all the people that were coming to him and say within himself, look what I have done; look how popular I am; I am really something. John could have done this at any time, but he didn't forget who he was. He knew he was not the Christ, and he knew he was a voice crying in the wilderness. You and I must not forget who we are not, and who we are. We are not the Saviour, but we are the redeemed, and we have the gospel message to proclaim in a dry and thirsty land.
In Luke 3:16 John plainly tells the people there is One coming Who is the Christ. John humbly proclaims that he is not even worthy to unloose the shoes of the coming Christ. John points the people back to what he had been preaching, the baptism of repentance. They would come to John and confess their sinfulness, and as a result of this confession they would be openly baptized in the Jordan river. The baptism of John proclaims something, but the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the baptism with fire does something. At the moment of salvation the Holy Ghost takes up residence inside of us, and we are also baptized with the Holy Ghost. We must remember what baptized means. It means to take that which is being baptized and cover it with what it is being baptized with. To be baptized with the Holy Ghost simply means to be covered by the Holy Ghost. This baptism does something; what does it do? When the Holy Ghost covers us at the moment of salvation we become a new creation in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17). We begin to understand the truths of Scripture (I Corinthians 2). He gives us gifts to be used in and through the local church (I Corinthians 12). He empowers us for Christian service (Acts 1:8). His seal is placed upon us (Ephesians 4:30). He guides us by the truth (John 16:13-14). Obviously we could spend much time doing a study on the Holy Spirit, but what we want to point out here is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit does something in us, to us, and for us. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a second blessing after the Lord saves us. We cannot live the Christian life without the Holy Ghost. Christ promised He would send the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18, 26, 16:7).
Notice that the coming Christ will also baptize with fire. Again, we must remember what the word baptize means; it means to cover, immerse. There is a difference in being baptized with the Holy Ghost or with fire. The differences are eternity's apart. Those who are baptized with the Holy Ghost will spend eternity in heaven with their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. These will enjoy the bliss of heaven. Those who are baptized with fire will spend eternity in hell. In Luke 3:17, John tells us that Christ will separate the wheat from the chaff and will place the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with "unquenchable" fire. It is obvious this refers to the lake of fire; a literal hell (Matthew 25:41, 46). Hell is the place of literal torment. Hell is where all who are not saved by Jesus Christ will spend eternity suffering the wrath of God for their sins. Hell is a real place, and real people go there every day. Turn to Revelation 20:14-15, 21:8. Turn also to Luke 16:19-31. Christ has the authority and power to baptize with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
In Luke 3:18 we read that John continued preaching to all people. He didn't change the message for the crowd, nor for those who had political power. In order to preach repentance he must also preach against sin. He must call sin what it is, and call those who commit sin what they are. This kind of preaching can land the preacher in trouble with the people, and even cost him his life. We read in Luke 3:19-20 that John did not shirk his calling. Adultery is sin, fornication is sin; sexual sins are sin no matter who commits them. Politicians may be above the law of the land, but they will never be above the law of God. There are no exceptions to God's rule.
Why preach against sin? We are commanded by God to preach against sin. Preaching against sin also means we will preach on how to be delivered from sin, which means we will proclaim the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news come down from heaven. Though you deserve God's wrath for eternity because of sin, God has made One Way to be delivered from His wrath, and that is through the perfect life and sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ (II Cor. 5:21). Have you trusted Christ alone for salvation? I beg you to turn from your sins, and turn to Christ. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 637.
Send questions to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
