Dear BAGBR Churches,  

Matthew 3: 8-9, 11 “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance…We have Abraham for our father…He who is coming…” 

Although John the Baptist had large crowds coming out to him for baptism, he was not impressed or distracted by the numbers because he kept his message simple, clear, and uncompromising.  Genuine repentance will reflect an appropriate fruit. It is more than an initial act of worship or dedication.  Many were wanting to be baptized, but once baptized they returned to their old life style and habits.  If our faith does not go beyond the waters of baptism then our baptism was nothing more than a religious act—not the evidence of a genuine work of grace by faith. Repentance is not a once and done response but a constant turning to God and turning from sin and hypocrisy.  John addresses the second faulty reasoning of the religious community.  Because they were descendants of Abraham, they thought they were automatically accepted as right with God. John reminds them that this was totally untrue.  It is not the physical birth that gives a right relationship with God, but the Spiritual birth that changes our heart, our spiritual DNA, and our life direction.  If the root is wrong, the fruit will be artificial. But when the root is right—the fruit will be a sign of repentance.  The third element of His preaching was to focus on the coming of the Messiah—and that “he was not” the Messiah—not even worthy to carry the Messiah’s sandals.  A faithful gospel preacher will serve with humility and exalt the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

In  Christ,
Tommy Middleton

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