Luke 3:7-14  :

He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones! Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.”

The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”

He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”

He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”

Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”

He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”

Wow. How can a guy who calls his audience the "offspring of vipers" get so popular? God caused him to reach the moral conscience of his hearers so that they questioned their own readiness for the visitation of God. It was a good thing to do because they were being hypocritical and they were just about to be put to the test by the Messiah. It would be completely wrong for us to accuse the Jews, however. This kind of hypocrisy is still alive and well today and this message, is applicable to Christians in a very similar way as it was applicable to the Jews that John was speaking to. I like how John remarks about the cause for their behavior by saying that they weren't bringing "fourth fruits worthy of repentance." The way that the people were acting revealed that their hearts had not been changed, but they continued to act as if God wasn't going to come to them.

This is a major Biblical theme. God has already visited the earth in wrath and their are many who deny it. All around us we see evidence of a great flood that destroyed the ancient earth. There are water animal fossils on mountains and large water erosion formations the have severely cut into the landscape that speak of a terrible cataclysmic past. This was the last time that the wrath of God was made known to mankind as a whole.

Some recent articles posted on Amen Me! caused me to consider how much focus I had lost in recent years by simply forgetting about the return of Jesus to the earth. Jesus is coming for us soon, and even though that coming will not be "wrath" for us, it will bring a time of judgment in that our deeds here on earth will be judged as to how beneficial they really were to the kingdom of God.  Knowing and believing that Jesus really could return at any moment should have an affect on the way we live each moment of each day.

Wrath is not coming for us and that actually gives us a reason to look forward to Jesus return. Still, if we don't live in a way that is pleasing to Jesus today, Jesus' return won't be very desirable to us. If we are kind of wishing that Jesus doesn't return, we ought to question our repentance just like John says here.  We need to look at our behavior and make sure that we bring "fourth fruits worthy of repentance" too.

Luke 2:39-41  :

When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

Mary and Joseph were godly parents in that they gave God first place in how they lived day-by-day. The believed God and so they carefully did everything that was required of them, even though it meant that they had to travel. This lifestyle of faith is a good example to all parents. Our lives should demonstrate what we believe and our actions should go along with our words.

What a great thing it is for a child to grow up in a home in which God is given first place. In a home like that children get exposed to the kind of influences that will cause them to grow inside and out. I am sure that it was God who was helping Mary and Joseph as they relied on Him. That's how it is for us. We don't really know what to do sometimes as parents, but trusting in God is a good way to find out since He is the one who created all of us.

Specifically here, I like how Mary and Joseph took a "yearly vacation" to spend time with others who shared the same faith. That is very important for us today. Families should spend time together with each other in a setting of faith so that it can counteract the world and build up children and their parents. Just like today, Mary, Joseph and family lived in a culture that was antagonistic toward a godly lifestyle and doing this each year must have given their family a good set of memories that included God and His people interacting naturally with less inhibition and distraction.

It's good to note that Mary and Joseph had other children and they raised them quite well. Jesus own brother became an important leader after Jesus went up into heaven. It is obvious that this earthly family had troubles and made mistakes as we read later, but this involvement with things of God must have made it much more healthy than it would have been otherwise.

Galatians 6:13  :

For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

One thing that I've noticed about those who make a big deal about following rules at church is that they are very external. These rules are usually not in the Bible either, but they are able to use parts of the Bible that seem to support their actions when taken out of context. They are careful to select things to focus on that are highly visible but will not expose themselves as rule breakers.

If they were making some kind of a social club, it would be a little different, but these people call their rules "Christianity." Christianity is about Christ and He said for us to love each other as He loved us. That's a pretty big assignment as I have mentioned before. The kind of teacher that Paul is talking about here are aware of the true laws of God, but they insist on focusing on the external rules.

Paul says that these legalists were seeking to take pride in this external behavior that they helped produce in others. They were proud of their own false accomplishments as they controlled others instead of loving them.

We should never let a religious man control us. He should teach us the true word of God and let us submit to the Holy Spirit's control. Guilt over external rules is a major distraction and will not help us obey the Law of Christ.

The best thing to do is to leave these false teachers behind and seek good teachers that will teach you the Bible.  It may be difficult to find a good Bible teacher, but it will be worth it.

Galatians 5:11  :

But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

On our way to save ourselves, we trip over the cross. The cross is against our efforts and does not respect our desire to save ourselves. Because of this, it goes against our pride and our independent sinful nature. When we sinned in the garden (through Adam), we all gained a desire to be our own gods. When you are your own god you try to make everything for yourself and seek the help of no other. This is not how mankind was meant to operate. Listen to what Satan told Eve:

Genesis 3:4-5  :

The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Remember that this was also what perverted Satan:

Isaiah 14:13-14  :

You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!”

This issue of grace and law is a "watershed" issue. It cuts to the core of mankind's problem. It is no wonder that Paul was so upset.

It is also no wonder why those who preach the Gospel are persecuted. It is against the nature of mankind and against Satan who has decided to exalt himself. Even though there is persecution, God overcomes because He is more powerful than mankind and Satan. The faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ in order to overcome our inabilities is what defines the basis for Christianity. That is why Christianity can't fit with any other religion. It's not that Christians are closed minded, it's just that they are no longer being fooled by lies about the existence of the evil one and the basic evil desire of mankind.

Some think that the presence of persecution or even hard times like we have in many Christian homes today is only a result of doing evil. Actually, some Christians today are being persecuted for promoting the Gospel. If that is you, you should feel happy right now because it is evidence that you are standing up for the cross of Jesus! Paul actually used persecution as an evidence for correct preaching. It is inappropriate for anyone to say that because you are being persecuted, God is against you. That is saying the opposite of what we read from Paul here.

God uses persecution and problems against those who are doing wrong, but it is also a sign for those who are preaching what is right. God will make it clear to each of us why we are going through what we are going through. If you are humble before God and have confessed your sin, you are right with God. God may still be strengthening your character through hardship, but persecution can also be evidence that you are preaching the true Gospel.

Taking the morality that God has given to Christians and treating it like a good lesson for non-believers has become a major issue in the United States today.  Some pastors of churches are putting moral articles in famous magazines and appearing on news with moral lessons.  It is a very big error in Christianity to do this; one that I didn't notice until it was explained to me.

What's the problem with showing the world how to live in a moral way?  Well, the issue comes down to at least three things:

1. It confuses the message of the Gospel
2. It is actually suggesting an impossiblity
3. It is not our place to tell non-believers how to live

 It confuses the message of the Gospel

This is probably the most important issue.  God has one and only one message for non-believers.  That message is to believe in Jesus Christ (John 6:29).  The non-believer must first believe.  Without believing the morality doesn't matter anyway.  According to the Bible, it is quite possible to be a very good hell-bound person (Matthew 7:21-23, 2 Cor 11:14), but what good are we doing?

The Gospel is a narrow road.  You go in only through one door.  Wouldn't it be better to allow natural jealousy rather than to act as if we don't care?  Everyone is invited, but they must come in through the door.

It's actually suggesting an impossibility

Asking a non-believer to act like a believer is to expect too much.  God has called believers to live a miraculous life here on earth.  This is a life in which we will be persecuted and come up against humanly impossible odds.  God has given us the Holy Spirit to make it possible to overcome the odds.  Our three main enemies are:

1. The World (1 John 2:15-16)
2. Our Flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)
3. Satan (1 Peter 5:8)

With these kinds of enemies, who can win?  The answer is, "No one."  Only God can win this battle and the only way we can win is if it is God working in us.  To overcome we must have divine help and a be a new creature.

 It is not our place to tell non-believers how to live

God did not give us the job of becoming moral teachers.  He did say for us to make disciples; however (Matthew 28:19).  When we start becoming preachers of morality, not only do we confuse the Gospel and suggest an impossibility, we step out-of-line with what God says we are to be doing.  Let's stay on track and edify the brothers by making disciples and preach the Gospel to the unsaved while there's still a chance to help them.