John the
Baptist: the Gospel of John chapter 1
Good morning, Calvary. It’s good to be with you.
Let’s start with a word of prayer.
Our Lord, holy and true, we thank you for this day and
for this time to gather together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We’ve
come to feast on your Word, once again we need to be focused not on ourselves –
as that is the World’s way - but to be pointed back to you, we love you and we
seek your glory and your honor here today - be with us, comfort us in our need,
lift us up in our weakness and when we feel far away from you, draw us always back
to your presence, Lord - in the name of Christ Jesus – Amen.
Intro
–
If some of you don’t know me,
my name is "Reformed Baptist" and my wife and I have been attending Calvary
for about a year. Once a month I have the opportunity to teach a Bible study 2nd
service, also I host Calvary’s iTunes podcast online, and I was one of our
Volunteers who went down to Joplin (my hometown) after the devastating tornado
last summer…and I love this church.
Something my wife and I often
comment on that is true of Calvary but untrue of other churches is Calvary’s
focus on the Word of God. When we sing – we sing the Word, when we pray – we
pray the Word, when we are taught – we expect to be taught the Word of God. And
while I think the Elders have shown their fidelity to preaching and teaching my
concern is more for us, the individual pew-sitter. Are we likewise fulfilling
our call as repentant sinners to – live upright lives of holiness and pointing
other sinners back to Christ?
The great thing about the
Word of God is that no matter if you are a non-Christian, a new Christian or a
mature Christian, faithful preaching of the Word convicts us all of our sin and
inadequacy. For example we’re all familiar with Paul’s message to the early
Church where he says imitate me while I imitate Christ. Yet most of my life has
been an example of what not to do: selfishness, sin, fear of the opinions of
this fallen world, fear to evangelize, and lazy sanctification – but these are not
the things we are called to do.
On a personal note, several
years ago when I was in College I was required to take a speech class - which I
failed miserably by the way, mainly because I’m terrified of public speaking
and when I refused to give one of my speeches the professor failed me. And as
bad as that was, I’m not alone; despite 9/11 on a list of American fears Public
Speaking still ranks higher than terrorism or even death. Likewise when
it comes to personal evangelism or taking a biblical stance many of us are more
afraid of what the world might think of us, than we are appreciative of
what Christ has already done for us. So when Brian offered me the
opportunity to preach, I knew despite my own fear of public speaking that it
was an opportunity for me to grow in deeper trust and obedience to Christ.
Body
–
Please turn with me to the
opening chapter of John…John 1, as we’ll learn today about a man who did
love God more that this – fleeting world and someone who was not afraid to risk
his very life – to point sinners to the Savior – John the Baptist. Let’s get started in John 1: 6-13,
where we’re going to see both the introduction of John the Baptist and the
Gospel sandwiched together. Please give careful attention to the hearing of
God’s Word…
There was a man sent from God, whose name
was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might
believe through him. Now he was not the Light, but came to bear witness about
the Light.
The
true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. And He
was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not
know Him. He came to His own, and his own people (the Jews) did
not receive Him. (And this is us, Calvary) But to all who did receive him, who believed in His name, He
gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor
of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Now drop down to verses
25-34…25-34 please
And they (the Levites and Pharisees) asked John, “Then why are you baptizing,
if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered
them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even He
who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These
things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
And
the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and John said, “Behold, the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I
said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because He was before me.’ I
myself did not know Him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that
He might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit
descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know
Him, but God who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see
the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
And I have seen and have borne witness that this, this is the Son of
God.”
(Breathe)
Now, I know that is a lot of
ground to cover and I don’t have several weeks to flesh out all the rich
doctrine and theology bundled up in these few verses but lets focus today on
just 4 interrelated principles exemplified by John’s life and helpful for our
own sanctification.
Before we get into our four
points let me set some historical context for you: The last chapter of the last
book of the OT – Malachi 4 is a prophecy of a prophet who would come, like
Elijah, before the great and awesome day of the Lord’s coming and he would turn
the hearts of the children (that’s Israel) back to their Father (God). Also a
prior prophecy from Isaiah 40 likewise talks of Israel like a spiritually
barren wilderness that needed to have the “good news” preached to it to prepare
it for the coming of the Lord.
Much like our lives today
God’s timing is not our timing. God had remained silent and seemed distant from
His people for 400 years between the last OT prophet Malachi and John
the Baptist. 400 years - that’s longer than America has been a country and God
simply waits patiently. Then in Luke 1 we find out about Zachariah, a Levite
and a Temple priest and Elizabeth is barren wife. And we’re told about how God sent
an angel to bless not only Elizabeth but also Elizabeth’s kin Mary both with
boys – John the Baptist and Jesus. Now this may be no surprise for you but many
of the people God picks for service are not the ones that you would expect. If
any of the depictions of John are true, he was odd. John had been living wild
out in the wilderness, instead of wearing a nice tie and a beautiful velvet
blazer his clothes were made out of hair and tied off with a belt, just like
Elijah is described in 2 Kings 1:8. He probably looked like a hobo. His diet
was locusts and honey. He’s probably not someone you’d be likely to vote for,
for Eldership in the church.
But what can we learn from
John the Baptist?
1st – Our opening
passage starts with John was called
by God with a specific task to point people to the Light of Christ. Now not
only was John chosen by God, that’s true, but John was chosen before he was
even conceived. In a sense he was predestined to his role as God’s chosen
forerunner for Christ in fulfillment to the OT prophecies of Isaiah 40 and
Malachi 4. He was divinely equipped for ministry and possibly even converted
from his mother’s womb. Even his name was not given to him by his parents but
by God which literally means “the Lord is Gracious” as John was both a gracious
gift from God to his barren parents who had prayed for a child for years and
also as he was to proclaim the coming of the Gracious Lord incarnate – Christ
Jesus.
So what was the forerunner’s
calling? The first was to point out sin – like King Herod’s adultery with his
brother’s wife. Not calling out sin in a sense of superiority as if I were any
better but to confront sin and to call sinners back to repentance. The second
was preparation of the people’s heart for Christ’s coming. This was done with
the confession of sin and Baptism. And finally – most simply John pointed
people to Jesus.
There is a classic painting
from the 1500’s Matthias Grunewald’s depiction of the Crucifixion, where Jesus
is in the center on the cross and with a little artistic license Matthias has
John the Baptist just to his right holding a Bible and pointing to Jesus, with
a small lamb and a communion chalice at his feet. And while John was not at the
Crucifixion, having already been martyred, I’ve never seen a better picture of
what a God-honoring Christian should be like, not lounging on the couch but on
his feet, instead of a remote - a Bible in his hand, pointing others to Christ
– while remembering the sacrificial Lamb and the blood cost of our new
covenant.
Let me say this, not in a
desire to stack up unnecessary guilt on you but so that you are aware. Barna,
Pew and other research facilities have done polls among confessing Evangelical
Christians that showed that less than 50% of American Christians share the Good
News with even 1 person in a year. And while these stats are low keep in mind
that current CIA statistics says that 155,000 people – 155,000 people die
every single day.
How many do you suppose are actually
ready to stand before the Father and Christ in judgment? There is no greater
way to “love thy neighbor” than to point sinners to their only hope for
Salvation. This is as much our call today as it was John the Baptist’s then.
2nd - We’ve looked
at pointing people to Christ, now lets look at the Gospel.
From the sermons I hear and
the “Christian” books being published today I am afraid that much of the Church
in America - across all denominations - have put Christ up on the shelf and only
have time for “relevant” messages which means a de-emphases of Christ and an
emphases instead on self-help, self-esteem, self-actualization, self, self,
self. John on the other hand, John came
to bear witness not of himself and his personal testimony but to bear witness
about the Light.
While I am grateful for all
the talk today about what is the Gospel, the quickest way to recognize
heresy vs. orthodoxy is by asking who
is your Gospel. Despite what you may hear or read ultimately there are only
2 Gospels: you need to do and done for you. And there are only 2 religions: all
other religions are some program of you, your will and your good works and what
you need to do to save yourself and then there’s Christianity which teaches
about what God has done to save sinners and to draw unto himself a people for
His own possession.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his
name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God. The action that is
described here “receive” is passive. If I went out and worked hard, invested
well and saved wisely I could earn a million dollars. But what if my neighbor
earned the million dollars and broke into my house while I slept and left the
million dollars next to my wallet, when I woke up did I earn the million or did
I simply receive it passively?
Again it doesn’t matter if
it’s the 8 fold path of Buddhism, the 5 pillars of Islam, or the 9 good works
of Mormonism your either going to be told a Gospel about you and what you need
to do to save yourself or about Christ and what he’s done.
Let’s think back to the
Gospels. God incarnate – that’s Christ, not you. Lived a perfect life, did
everything, said everything the Father wanted him to – that’s Christ, not you.
Died on a cross as a substitute in your place for your sin – again that was
Christ, not you. Raised from the dead – Christ, not you. Ascended into heaven,
seated at the right hand of God the Father, constantly making intersection on
your behalf before the Father – that’s Christ, not you. It is by the Father’s
grace that we have received a right standing before God through Christ
when all we deserved was God’s righteous wrath and judgment.
Compare this to 4 of today’s
most popular false teachers and their gospels…and think about who is
being glorified by these messages?
The good news is you, you can
have your best life now; cause everyday’s a Friday, yeah! - Is
this the Gospel?
The good news is you, you are
the Gospel, now get out there and live like it.
The good news is good
people can live self-sacrificially to show bad people that there’s a
better way to live.
The good news is you, if you
just love God enough and love your neighbor enough God will overlook your sins –
it’s not like God expects you to be perfect, just try your best.
It should be easy to
recognize but the same thing is missing from all those other gospels – there
are Christ-less. Who, who is focus of the Gospel you are clinging to? Who, who
is the content that the Gospel proclaims you or Christ?
3rd – Behold the Lamb of God... If it’s true
that the Gospel is not our will and our work to save ourselves but God’s work
in saving sinners then, what does he do?
Classically, Salvation is
explained involving all 3 members of the Triune Godhead: the Father Elects, the
Son redeems, and the Spirit applies these first 2 truths through regeneration.
But the primary work of God
is Christ – God in flesh dwelt among us, tempted by sin but sinless – spotless,
the perfect sacrificial Lamb who atones for the sin of God’s people. Did you
know before Christ that twice a day – temple priests had to sacrifice a lamb as
a guilt offering for the sin of God’s people for that day and that night - day
after day after day? Did you know that these same priests had to slay the
Passover Lamb as a substitute for the people’s sin - year after year after
year? But Hebrews 9 & 10 tells us that Christ being a more perfect
sacrifice atoned for sin once and for all. He is the Lamb of God who alone
atones for sin in a way that the blood of bulls and goats never could. He is
the final scapegoat that our sin was placed upon and cast out - that all our
sin could be taken away.
Our faith in the power of the
Gospel shows our faith in the sacrifice of this Lamb of God – if you
remember the Exodus story, it says that God’s people were saved from Divine
Judgment only under the blood of the sacrificed Lamb and the angel of death
only Passed over there homes if the Lamb’s blood had been smeared around there
door frames, Abraham says in Genesis 22 that God will provide for Himself the
Lamb as a substitute, in that context, for Isaac’s death, Isaiah says that this
Lamb of God is slaughtered because of our transgressions and that the many were
accounted righteous because of Him, Revelation says the blood of the Lamb has
ransomed a people for God from ever tongue, tribe, people and nation on Earth.
And John calls us to trust in Jesus - the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World.
This is our motivation in
missions that this Lamb of God who was once slaughtered is now the sovereign
King on the throne of Heaven. Remember that the Great Commission doesn’t start
with Go! The Great Commission starts with Jesus – saying since “all authority
in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me” – because of this go. When
encouraging pastors and missionaries to trust in the ability of the Gospel to
save, Spurgeon said that the Gospel could not fail. By his reasoning
since the Lamb had already redeemed for himself a people from every tongue,
tribe, people and nation therefore the Gospel could be preached with resulting
repentance and faith in every nation on Earth. We do not say, let’s not bother
with Iran since it’s mainly Muslim, or Nepal since its Hindu, or Canada since
its primarily atheistic, with confidence the Gospel can go into all those
places and even throughout Lenexa since true Gospel proclamation is the means
that God uses by which He draws his people unto Himself.
Finally, if you have the
right theology regarding these first 3 issues then this last will be their
natural outworking, Right Worship. In
churches today due to the rise of popular contemporary Christian music when
people hear the word “worship” they tend to think you mean singing or playing
in a band and worship can include singing but isn’t limited to singing.
According to the classic Baptist Confession of 1689, all of the Christian life
is worship. Listen to what it says – since God has lordship and sovereignty
over all, its just, good and proper to fear God, to love God, to praise God, to
attend church, to call upon Him in prayer, to read and learn the Scriptures, to
trust in Him and to serve God - all of these are worship.
Spurgeon once quipped that he
could smoke a cigar to the glory of God. When a newspaper reporter asked him
about the remark he said I don’t like the image it paints (as he wasn’t trying
to convert his congregation to smoke) but he said in the way he meant it - it’s
true. Whatever you do should be done to the glory of the Lord: work, Sabbath
rest, chores, parenting, study…and if it can’t be done for the glory of the
Lord then it shouldn’t be done.
In John 1 and 3 we see the
Baptist’s habit of humbling himself in order to exalt Christ – John says: He must
increase and I must decrease, removing His sandals - a task meant for the
lowliest of house-slaves is too good for me in His kingdom, I need to be
baptized by you, after me comes one who ranks before me, the best man takes his
pleasure in the joy of the Bride and Groom’s union.
When thinking about humbling
ourselves in order to honor Christ, I think of the 2 things the Church is
ordained to do: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Are these 2 more good works that
we do that earn our Salvation – God forbid! Doesn’t Scripture make it
clear – So then it depends not on human will or works, but on God, who
has the mercy. That’s Romans 9. So what else can Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
be? Instead of self-worship, it’s the death of self and passive reception of His
blood and body – of His life, death and resurrection in place of our
own.
If we, like John, point
sinners to Christ, if Christ and not ourselves is the message of our Gospel, if
we see His work as our Lamb as the ground of our Salvation, how can we not humble
ourselves and honor Him, not just in song, but with every part of our
lives?
Application
–
So if you’re here and you’re
already a believer you merely need to be reminded of these 4 truths from the
life of John the Baptist: Point sinners to the Savior, Christ is the Gospel, He
is our sacrificial Lamb, and therefore continue in Right Worship.
Now if you’re here and you’re
not yet trusting in Christ and in His work to save you – if you still think
that you can pull off “good enough” or think I’m trying my best, that’s all God
can be expect of me, then the bad news of Christianity is much, much worst than
your ever going to hear from Joel Osteen and the good news is much, much better
than any health and wealth prosperity peddler understands.
The bad news is that Yahweh
requires of all people everywhere absolute perfect obedience to God’s
moral Law (that’s Matthew 5:48) and you aren’t perfect but the old axiom
is true – that “to err is human; but to forgive, divine” and the good news is
this is how God forgives you of your sin, your rebellion and your
self-righteousness by repentance – the rejection of your sin and your own dead
works that you thought might save you and trust instead in Christ (God in human
flesh) who did for you what you could not do for yourself. Much like this
message, I can do no better for you and your doubts and your fears that to tell
you to listen to John the Baptist,
John 3: 34-36, For He whom God has sent (that’s Christ
Jesus) He utters the words of God, for He
gives the Spirit without measure. And the Father loves the Son and has given
all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has Eternal life but
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, and the Wrath of God remains
on him.
Congregation please hear
these words: In the end all men will Eternally Glorify God: either as a
humbled believer, which will be a picture of God’s Eternal Grace and Mercy or
as a hardened unbeliever which will be a picture of God’s Eternal Wrath and
Justice. Believe on Him.
Closing –
Let’s close in prayer –
Father, may my poor attempt to do your will be the instrument that You use to
exhort and encourage Your children and Lord allow my fallible words be Your
seed in the hearts of any unbelievers here today. Spirit guide us to live lives
that honor You and that do not hinder the Gospel. God if there is need or hurt
in our congregation let us become aware of it, allow us to love and minister
faithfully to Your sheep while we have time in this life to do so…in the name
of the risen king Jesus Christ, Amen.
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