Matthew 3 presents John the Baptiser, Jesus coming with God’s reign and rule, and reveals what it means to truly repent. True repentance:

• Involves acknowledging that Jesus is God’s king. If we think of Jesus merely as our teacher we’re living in unbelief. We must walk with him as Lord because he is King, he is God.
• Always involves baptism. We acknowledge our need to ‘come clean’ with sin in a completely open, public and unashamed way.
• Is as much required of sincerely religious peoples as any. Whether we rely on our past Christian zeal, our spiritual upbringing or our visible service in ministry, an axe and a fire of judgment await anyone deceived by their religiosity.
• Brings real change. It’s not enough for us to only seek to leave our sins behind. If we are merely sorrowful for our sins we haven’t known the freedom of him who not only died for sins but lived and was raised for our life.
• Always leads to joy with God. Repentance is a response to his invitation to enter the joy of the triune God.
• Is a gift that comes from God. We can’t generate it. Others can talk about it, point to it, but only Jesus can bring true change.
• Is not just a once off. It’s a way of life. We have the daily gift of coming back under the reign and rule of Jesus the King.

Digest by Uni Fellowship graduate Joe Towns. Original sermon can be downloaded here.