Introduction

• Malachi 4:4-5

Luke 3 – John’s message

• Luke 3:1-15 – 15th year of Tiberius Caesar (14-37 AD)
• Luke 3:2-3 – John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4).
• John was about to disrupt the Jewish culture in Judea like had never been seen in centuries.
• It is a tremendous mistake to tell people you won’t have to do much to become a Christian.
• You will have to change everything about how you think and see the world around you (continuous).
• How much of my time/talent/money do I give to God?
• Rather, how much of God’s stuff should I keep?

You must disrupt your comfort zone

Following Jesus will totally disrupt your view of personal accountability.

• These people were clearly and powerfully told that their old Jewish life was of little value in their new walk with Jesus (like many good people today).
• Luke 18:9-14 – The Pharisees and tax collector.
• The gospel will completely blow up your view of a “good person.”
• I Peter 4:12-19 – Judgment will begin with us.
• Ezekiel 18:4, 30-32 – I am the way I am because of how I was raised. “I will judge each man according to his works.”
• It doesn’t matter who your parents were.
• It doesn’t matter how you were mistreated or wronged in your life.
• Stop blaming your current mistakes on past events.

Righteousness works from the inside out, not outside in.

• Following Jesus cannot be just a religious ritual, or an old habit. You cannot defeat the devil with that alone (Luke 18:14).

Stop thinking that going to church occasionally will get you to heaven. That is outward, not inward.

• Galatians 2:20; 5:24 – Conversion to Christ is called being crucified.
• II Corinthians 4:16-5:24 – “The love of Christ controls us.”
• Romans 7:9-8:18 – Only following Jesus Christ can disrupt my life in a way that has value to Jesus Christ.
• Romans 8:31-39 – The end.