WHAT SHALL WE DO?

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LUKE 3:1-14
Lesson #09
WHAT SHALL WE DO?

• Memory Verse: Luk 3:6
• Read Luk 3:1-6 The Ministry of John the Baptist
  • Dr. Luke, the author of this gospel, was a precise historian. He begins this chapter with historical references to governmental people in order to establish a time frame. (1-2)
    • =1= Tiberius Caesar: We have already seen that Caesar Augustus (63BC – 14AD) was emperor when Jesus was born (about the year 3-4AD), having made a decree to register everyone for taxes. But when John the Baptist began his ministry Tiberius Caesar (14AD – 37AD) was on the throne.
    • =2= Pontius Pilate (26AD – 36AD) was the appointed governor of the geographical area known as Judea, a part of the Roman Empire and under the authority of the emperor, Tiberius Caesar.
    • =3= Herod was the tetrarch (a puppet king) of the section of territory called Galilee under the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar.
    • =4= Philip , the brother of Herod, was the tetrarch (a puppet king under Tiberius) of the section of territory called Ituraea and Trachonitis.
    • =5= Lysanias, the tetrarch (a puppet king under Tiberius) of the section of territory called Abilene.
    • =6 & 7= Annas and Caiphas were the high priests of Jewish religious affairs in the temple.
      • There is something curious about these two men. Why were there two high priests when the Law of Moses made automatic provision for one high priest descended from Aaron?
        • However, according to the Law of Moses, the high priest must come from the family of Zadok.
        • Both Annas and Caiphas were not legitimate high priests from the family of Zadok. They purchased their positions from the Roman government.
      • The autonomy of the Jews over their religious and governmental affairs did not exist when the Roman Empire took control of Israel.
      • Annas:
        • Because the territory of Israel was under Roman domination, the Roman government took the authority to appoint religious leaders as well as governmental leaders in order to control uprisings.
        • Annas was appointed by the governor Quirinius in 7 AD. He was forced to resign with the death of Augustus Caesar in 14AD. However, even though he was not the “official” high priest, he maintained the power behind the position because the Jewish people liked him.
      • Caiaphas:
        • He was the son-in-law of Annas.
        • He held the official title of high priest from 18AD – 36AD.

Because of this family relationship between Caiaphas and Annas, and because Annas was the power behind the position, Caiaphas and Annas frequently worked together.

For this reason we see them in agreement against Jesus when Jesus was crucified.

• • John the Baptist breaks the mold of tradition.
    • The heritage of John the Baptist dictated that he would be a priest like his father, Zacharias.
    • However, John did not want to be part of a corrupt priesthood.
    • Instead his Nazarite vow took precedence in his life decisions and guided by God, he went to live in the wilderness where God spoke to him. (2)
    • John the Baptist was a priest by birth, but a prophet, called by God.
  • John’s message:
    • The baptism of repentance..:
      • Baptism by immersion was not new with John the Baptist.
      • Judaism had numerous ritualistic washings by water that were part of the Law of Moses.
      • For many years, a gentile that wanted to convert to the religion of Judaism was baptized into the faith.
    • …for the remission of sin:
      • Through the Old Testament sin was covered by the blood of animals.
        • Sacrifice of animals did not take away sin.
        • The Old Testament believer offered animal sacrifice by faith to cover sin until Christ came to remove it.
      • The remission of sin came through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.
        • Through Christ’s blood on the cross, sin from the time of Adam until the end of time is totally removed from the believer by faith in Christ.
        • Therefore, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the final sacrifice for sin.
    • John’s message was an important preparation for the coming of Christ.
      • Before man can receive eternal life with God, he must first recognize his sinful condition that separates him from God.
      • Recognition that all humans are sinners in need of salvation brings the believer to repentance.
        • The believer recognizes that his lifestyle has led him away from God into selfish interests.
        • The believer is sorry for his sin. But to be sorry is not enough. To be sorry is not repentance.
        • Repentance means a conscious decision to change the direction of your life to go in the opposite direction.
        • When the believer repents of sin, he changes his direction.

However, human nature is weak to provide the determination and strength to totally change the selfish patterns that have been long established in a person’s life.

The believer needs the help of the Holy Spirit based on the accomplishment of Christ on the cross to give him the power to change his life.

In this way, the ministry of John the Baptist was not sufficient in itself to cause change in man’s heart and life.

John’s message was to lead a person to Christ who would complete the spiritual transaction God planned:

The forgiveness of sin.

The new birth experience by the power of the Holy Spirit giving man a new spiritual nature.

The power and guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit to change a life from the inside out.

• • The confirmation by the words of Isaiah:
    • Isa 40:3-6
    • The meaning of Isaiah’s words:
      • “…Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isa 40:3)
        • John the Baptist’s ministry of preparation for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
        • John the Baptist’s call to live in the desert.
        • “A highway for our God” refers to God’s plan through time to make a way for man to restore what was lost with Adam’s fall into sin.
      • “Every valley shall be exalted…” (Isa 40:4)
        • Because all mankind is debased by sin and in a low condition from what God wanted for man, Christ will come to lift man higher than the angels.
        • Through humility and repentance, Christ will lift us up.
      • “… and every mountain and hill shall be made low…” (Isa 40:4)
        • Man’s pride is his mountain or hill.
        • When man stands before God in judgment, prideful people will discover that their own good works will not bring them into a relationship with God or into eternal life.
      • “…and the crooked shall be made straight…” (Isa 40:4)
        • The hypocrisy and religious corruption of the Jewish leadership will be dealt with by Christ who called them “hypocrites”.
        • Christ would show them the straight path to a relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
      • “…and the rough places plain:” (Isa 40:4)
        • The way to God is easy and plain. Jesus spoke about it and demonstrated it. It is man that makes it difficult.
        • In the Old Testament from the tabernacle in the wilderness to the specific animal sacrifices, tell us how we must come to God in humility and repentance.
    • “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luk 3:6)
      • Through Jesus Christ all men can see or discover the way of salvation…the way to have an eternal relationship with God. Rom 1 and 2 tell us that all people know in their hearts that they are sinners in need of salvation.
      • Of course, all people will not be saved. There will be many people that will not take advantage of God’s free gift, His son Jesus Christ.
        • Many people will not repent and turn to God.
        • Rom 1:20 tells us that man will discover in the judgment that he is without excuse.
      • Notice that this verse does not say that all will be saved…only that all will see the way of salvation in Christ.
• Read Luk 3:7-9 Stones and Fruit Trees
  • John’s rhetorical question:
    • “…who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luk 3:7)
    • John the Baptist warned the people of the coming judgment if they did not repent and turn to Christ that was coming. This was a constant message of all the Old Testament prophets of which John was the last.
  • John’s argument regarding Abraham:
    • The Jews of those days believed that because they were physically descended from Abraham, they were saved.
    • John the Baptist wants them to understand that it is not human genealogy, the color of your skin, the ancestry of your parents, or the religion of your parents that gives a person salvation or the assurance of salvation.
    • ”…God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (8)
      • When the Israelites entered the Promised Land with Joshua, God told them to put stones in the Jordan River.
      • Those stones were to remind the Israelites of the covenant promise that He would be their God and they would be His people. God was faithful but the Israelites were not.
      • John the Baptist reminds the people that God is able to lift up a new people who will be faithful to Him. The new people are the born again believers of the New Testament age.
      • Read Gal 3:29
    • “…every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (9)
      • The Old Testament of Judaism is finished because it did not produce fruit for God.
      • Therefore, John the Baptist is announcing a new period of grace with a new covenant in the blood of Christ to replace the period of law under the covenant of Moses.
• Read Luk 3:10-14 What shall we do?
  • “What shall we do?” (10, 12, 14)
    • Three times people asked John the Baptist this question.
    • Each time he told them to do something to keep the Law of Moses.
      • Give to the poor. (11)
      • Be honest. (13)
      • Don’t be violent, but be content. (14)
    • Why did John the Baptist tell them to keep the Law?
      • The Law of Moses was to make man aware of sin so that he would realize he cannot keep the Law in his own strength. (Gal 3:24)
      • Realizing one’s inability to save himself by his own good works is the beginning of repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as your savior.
      • Jesus did the same thing with the rich young ruler that came and asked what he must do to be saved. (Luk 18:18-24)
    • John the Baptist had already told them to repent. Now they want to know what they must do in their own strength and good works to inherit eternal life.
      • The Bible is clear that there is nothing man can do to earn or merit eternal life.
      • For this reason Christ came to earth to purchase our redemption for us. We inherit eternal life because Jesus Christ paid the price for us, and God gives it to us freely if we repent and receive Christ into our hearts.
• Summary and application:
  • Repentance is the message of John the Baptist. This message has lost its impact in today’s world. Man does not want to give up his worldly lifestyle. He only wants to add an eternal fire insurance policy to what he already has.
  • However, the New Testament gospel message of salvation is one of repentance. Remember our definition of repentance is to turn in the opposite direction. Let’s break that down into its component parts:
    • =1= You must turn from something to turn to Christ. When you turn away from the glitter and glamour of the world, then you are repenting.
    • =2= But once you turn away from what the world offers, you must turn to something. As you turn to Christ you are forgiven from the sins of the past.
    • =3= When you turn to Christ, you accept Him into your life to be your Lord and master. He is now your owner, having bought you with the price of His blood. He is your model for your new life. You have exchanged your old life for Christ’s life. (Gal 2:20)

Homework
Luke 3:15-22

• Application of Luk 3:1-14
  • If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, answer this trick question: What did you do to inherit eternal life?
  • If you do not see this as a trick question, you need to study this lesson again. If you still do not see this as a trick question, you need to contact me: joyceschmedel@hotmail.com
• Preparation for Luk 3:15-22
  • Read Luk 3:15-22
    • What did John the Baptist means when he said Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit?
    • Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
• Memory verse: Rom 6:4