John the Baptist preached a message of repentance. A message that probably would not have been well received today. John spoke the truth and did not soften the message for the hearer, as many seeker friendly pastors do. Verses 7-9, “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.' ” Our society, including the churches, is teaching tolerance and acceptance and adjusting the lines of right and wrong in order to make people feel better about themselves while they continue in their sin.
True repentance, however, is a complete change in direction. It is not just saying you're sorry because you don't like the consequences you are currently suffering as a result of continuing in your sin. If you are truly sorry, than you need to bear fruits worthy of repentance. II Corinthians 7:10-11, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
Repentance was a message that wasn't well received back in John's day either. Verses 19-20, “But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.” Herod will eventually order John's beheading, all because he did not want to repent and didn't like to hear the truth when rebuked. Matthew 14:6-8, “But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, 'Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.' ” That is a pretty extreme measure to hold onto your sin to the point of someone else's death. When you think about it, sin is often selfish in that it affects those around you even when you think it doesn't...especially since we are the body of Christ.
Verses 21-22, “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.' ” The Pharisees and Sadducees that came to the baptism were called a brood of vipers by John. They didn't really want to repent or acknowledge their sin. They thought their heritage entitled them to good standing with God. Romans 2:5-11, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.” If God will cut off His chosen people, we have no assurance of salvation unless we continue in our obedience to Him.
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