“Do Likewise” (Luke 3:1-15)

“He answered and said unto them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.” (vs11)

The Lord teaches us to love one another as evidence of faith.  Israel had fallen astray and were under outside rule with two-high priests when God ordained only one.  Like you and I, they were devilish, controlled by envy, and worshipping God on their sinful terms, STEEPED in sin.  Suddenly, God appeared to them, faithful from everlasting and saved the people among them appointed by God.  Thus, when things are DARKEST, we see God ABLE and faithful still, glorifying Himself as Light - “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.  And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth;  And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’" (vs1-6)

The Son of God is prophesied the Savior of sinners. He doesn’t come when we’re not in need, but THROUGH repentance and faith, He gives us eternal life and calls us to express allegiance openly in baptism.  We are not to say that we are saved; we are to show it fruitfully by honoring Christ in every day areas - “Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones‘. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  (vs7-9)

Let him that stole, brutalized, and abused, do it no more. Let selfish people give, and let us all behave as inheritors of God.  How can we be saved FREELY and not give generously to others? How can we be saved by BLOOD earned mercy and be justified in self-service, manipulation, and sin?  The God of glory SAVES us to make us testifiers of His glory, and He does this by making the vile clean and keeping us LOW, so that we serve Him in humility and fear, reverencing God - “So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"  He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"  And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you."  Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages."  Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not,  John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (vs10-16)

Notice, He comes to save the sinner, and it is from this point that we get thankfulness and insight into Beauty, so that we serve NOT in legal fear and fleshly praise but in true thankfulness and joy.  Forgiveness leads to forgiving men.

Bless God!  He chose you and me from everlasting, like Abraham, to be saved by the grace of God purchasing and fulfilling covenant faithfulness to you.  Bless Him by your life.