A Branch of Righteousness
I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose scandal strap I am not worthy to loose. - Luke 3:16
Nicholas was born of wealthy parents in A.D. 280 in a small town called Patara in Asia Minor. He lost his parents early by a pandemic, like covid-19, but not before they had inspired in him the gift of faith. Then little Nicholas went to Myra and lived there a life full of sacrifice and love and the spirit of Jesus. Nicholas became so Christlike that when the town needed a bishop he was elected. He was imprisoned for his faith by Emperor Diocletian and released later by Emperor Constantine. There have been many stories of his generosity and compassion: how he begged for food for the poor, and how he would give girls money so that they would have a dowry to get a husband. The story most often repeated was about how he would go out and give gifts to poor children. He gave away everything he had. And in the year 314, he died. His body was later moved to Italy where his remains are to this day.
But the story of Nicholas has spread around the world. There are more churches in the world named after St. Nicholas than any other person in all the history of the church. Oh, people have done strange things to him. The poet, Clement More, gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. And Thomas Nast, the illustrator, made him big and fat and gave him a red suit trimmed by coat. And others have given him names—Belsnickle, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus. But what's important about him is that he had the mind of Christ. Because of his gentle selfless love, he touched the whole world. He lived as a righteous man. He was inspired by the love of Jesus and His righteousness. And this same mind of Christ is to be in us.
John the Baptist's first and foremost preaching was repent and the kingdom of God is near. He preached the gospel of the righteous. Roman 14:17 says, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Each believer is instructed to hunger and thirst for righteousness by Jesus himself. Righteousness is transformed into right living through the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, let us meditate on the part of righteousness in life. Repentance, conviction, and responsibility are the part of the repentance life.
Repentance: a part of righteousness
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. - Luke 3:8a
The people of John’s day were in need of what he was preaching…repentance and living right. John knew their sins for they were obvious. Their need for God was also obvious and the prophet was there to point them to the remedy.
John’s message didn’t die when he did. His message spreads the timeline to today. Our world is still in need of turning from sin and receiving the gift of salvation.
John’s message was that Jesus was coming to cancel their spiritual debts and remove their sin obligations from the book of justice. Sin, placed on Jesus, would never be held against anyone who accepts Christ into their life. Why? It is because Jesus Christ died for us and paid the cost for our salvation.
The story is told of a young man who entered a bank in New York City attempting to get a loan from one of the bank officers. After completing all of the paperwork he was a bit surprised that it was taking so long for a reply. He anxiously observed that the loan officer kept going back and forth to his manager’s desk.
Finally the paperwork was completed. He was surprised when he turned to leave because he was met with the flashes of cameras going off in his face and people began to crowd around him. It struck him that he must have done something wrong and the fear was written on his face.
Quickly he was relieved to discover that instead of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he was in the right place at the right time. The manager of the bank handed his loan papers back to him and told him that he would not have to repay the loan! He was fortunate enough to have borrowed the money that included the one billionth dollar that the lending institution had ever loaned out. In honor of that fact, his debt would never be recorded in the books.
John the Baptist preached to the people around the Jordan and beyond that a redeemer was coming to cancel their debt of sin. The Messiah was coming to take their debts and remove their sin obligation from the books. At Christmas we rejoice in the knowledge that the Messiah is Jesus who entered this world to pay the price for our sin. The shadow of the cross always lies across the manger scene. The Bible says in Jeremiah 23:5, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. He is the branch of righteousness raised from the root of David. And He will rule the earth with righteousness.
Conviction: A part of righteousness.
So the people asked him, “What shall we do then?” - Luke 3:10
The message John preached penetrated the hearts and minds of his listeners. Conviction began to seep into their very souls as the light began to dawn on them.
Jesus himself said that, “And when He (Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” - John 16:8. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit as part of his “job description.” It produces within humanity a sense of guilt and condemnation of sin. As the Holy Spirit convicts; our role is to act upon it and allow God to change sinful actions and attitudes to thoughts and acts of righteousness.
Once a 70 year old man went to the Police Station and asked the police officer to arrest him. Everyone was surprised at the station. He said that when I was Christian junior high school at the age of 17, I took my classmate’s trophy and squeezed it and hid it in the ground because of my jealousy. Our assistant principal called the police and then the police officers came to the school campus and couldn't find who stole it. This morning when I was praying God convicted me of my sin. He simply said, I need punishment, can you give me punishment? Conviction rolled over him as God began to speak to his heart about what he did. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” - Acts 2:37
Dear brothers, and sisters in Christ! I believe that God convicts individuals of their sins to change their lives, but I also believe that God convinces Christians to be more compassionate, honest people, peace makers, justice seekers, integrity lovers, morally upright, and much more. The prodigal son came back to his father, and the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Luke 15:21.
When was the last time God convicted you? How did you respond? The conviction leads us into responding.
Responding: a part of righteousness (Luke 3:15-18).
Listening to John’s message and feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit — the people had a choice. They could either walk away and do nothing about it or, they could respond and act on the message. Many in the crowd left, but many responded to his call for change.
Acting on faith in Jesus is required before salvation becomes reality and change is initiated into our lifestyle.
Responding includes reconciliation. Humanity has been alienated from God because of sin. Paul spoke to that in Romans 5:6-11 in which he called unsaved people as “powerless,” “ungodly,” “sinners,” and “God’s enemies.” There is a remedy to removal of the enmity that stands between God and humanity. What is the remedy? Paul put it into perspective as he wrote “When we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son” much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10). He wrote to the Colossian church, Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior“He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:22).
Responding includes obedience. The bottom line for all believers is obedience. There is no option. Wendell Johnson observed that the predominant Hebrew word for obedience is sama and the New Testament words are akouo and hyakouo which means, “to hear intelligently and attentively and respond appropriately.”
Christians demonstrate to others that we belong to Christ when we believe in him, obey his word, and by loving others along with doing his holy will.
Responding includes worship. In the New Testament and throughout the history of the church we state, “Jesus is Lord.” Because he is Lord, and sovereign, he is to be worshiped (Luke 4:4-8). As such:
The focal preaching of the apostles was the Lordship of Jesus. It should be the focal point of today’s church. We must focus on Jesus.
The central subject of the church is the leadership of Jesus. The church’s actions are under the direct order of the Lord’s leadership to fulfill his directives to be compassionate, caring, socially concerned, but most of all, spiritually oriented leading people to a saving relationship.
The people of God have been justified by God’s grace and specifically incorporate the reckoning of the righteousness of Christ to the believer. It is pure faith in him. The other world religions base justification on human effort. Is it any wonder that we worship and praise the living God? The Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 2:24, He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Conclusion
Repentance, conviction and responding are the parts of the righteous act. Do you want to live as a righteous person this Christmas. “As a Christian, transform your righteous standing before God into righteous living for God through the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.” Amen.
