Biblical Faithfulness: Its Source and Demands: Gospel of Luke #10
This is an exposition of Luke 3:15-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 24, 2016.
Intro:
We were on vacation. Bouncing along a rugged gravel road toward the boat dock for an afternoon out on the lake. It was Saturday. Our kids were small and they asked what every preacher’s kid wants to know when on vacation, “Do we have to go to church tomorrow?” I said, “No. We don’t have to – we get to!” I then asked them a question. “Who’s the best preacher you’ve ever heard?” Jessie immediately shouted, “Papa!” Zac, without a moment’s hesitation said, “Of course we haven’t heard very many.” We’ve all got our favorite preachers. There are those we love to listen to. The ones we can’t seem to get enough of and then there are those we don’t care for. He was quite a preacher. People came from great distances to hear him. They traveled from the city into the wilderness to hear him declare the word of the Lord. His unorthodox manner, his prophetic dress, his fiery delivery all added to the allure but the great draw was the anointing of God. After 400 years of silence the voice of the prophet was heard in the Land. One crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” He was gaining national fame. He was the talk of the town and the source of messianic speculation. Such things could easily turn a man’s head not to mention his heart. Yet John the Baptizer was a man on a mission. A man devoted to the task assigned and thus a model for ministry. Our text this morning is found in the 3rd chapter of Luke’s Gospel.
Text: Luke 3:15-22
Dr. Luke has quickly taken us through the birth narrative.
We’ve been given insight into the birth of the Messiah and his forerunner.
Both the result of the special work of God.
We have witnessed the birth of the Savior and the unusual events surrounding it.
We have heard the testimonies of Simeon and Anna in the temple compound.
We’ve looked at the lone snapshot of our Lord’s childhood.
Last time we witnessed the dramatic rise of John’s ministry rooted in the Word of God, calling for repentance and exalting the Lord Jesus.
This morning we are going to back up and look again at John and then witness the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. We begin with Luke 3:15 of Luke 3.
[Read Text]
As we think about the task assigned to us, as the church and as individual believers, there is a goal we must keep ever before us. Faithfulness. Faithful to God. Faithful to Scripture. Faithful to the assignment. Faithful to one another. Faithful to biblical standards. Faithfulness isn’t easy. The Old Testament is in large part a record of Israel’s unfaithfulness. An honest look at our own lives reveal the same failings. Yet faithfulness is the goal.
Thesis: As we work our way through Luke’s narrative of John’s ministry and the baptism of the Lord Jesus we discover two demands of biblical faithfulness and its source.
- Biblical faithfulness demands a Christ-centered, Christ-exalting ministry. (3:15-17)
- Biblical faithfulness demands faithfulness no matter what the cost. (3:18-20)
- Biblical faithfulness begins with a sold grasp on the person of the Lord Jesus. (3:21-22)
Conclusion:
Why does this matter? What is the point? Why is it in the text? How does it relate to our faithfulness? Jesus of Nazareth is the unique, one and only, beloved Son of the living God. He is an obedient Son who is the joy and delight of His Father. Here at the beginning there is the acknowledgement that he is to be numbered with transgressors. He is agreeing to the Father’s plan to redeem sinful, fallen men and women. How does this connect to our faithfulness? When you come to trust in the Lord Jesus. When you repent of your sin and trust in Christ alone. You are united with Christ. His righteousness becomes your righteousness. When the Father looks at you he sees the perfect righteousness of his Son the Lord Jesus. Thus, you are my beloved son, you are my beloved daughter and with you I am well pleased.
Accepted and beloved of the Father because of the Son.
My life of faithfulness is one of gratitude and devotion to the One who so loves me.
This is glorious, life altering truth.
This is Gospel truth.
It demands our lives, our souls, our all.