Greater Than John the Baptist (Luke 7:24-28)

“For I say unto you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (vs28).

If we're in the kingdom, then we have privileges that saints of old didn't have. We see the Lamb exalted, we know the freedom of redemption accomplished, and we see the fulfillment of God in Christ. We are not hoping to see Him, but we KNOW who He is. Therefore, the least believer who knows Christ is GREATER than the greatest believer who is looking for Him to come.

First, the Lord Jesus has privileged us immensely. We are greater than John the Baptist. Of all the nations and peoples, we have eternal life graced to us freely. We know HOW God saves sinners by His Son's blood, and we've seen the Lamb exalted in accomplishing redemption. John's word to us hasn't been vain, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). We know the Holy Spirit is ours by faith in Christ, and we know the character of God in the Son. We know who He is clearer and better than all the saints of old, because we see Him, the fulfillment of scripture. Peter said of the old prophets, “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things which angles desire to look into” (1 Pet 1:12). We may not have great faith, but we'd do the teaching, if David and Moses came to see us. We know what they couldn't know, and they'd sit in amazement, hearing of Him. Our privilege in knowing Christ is great.

Secondly, this is fruitful knowledge. We're “in the kingdom”. This makes you surely follow the Lamb and obey Him. You have seen the Pearl of Great Price and sold everything to get back everything. It reads, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, when and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matt 13:44-45). You see Christ's value, and you willingly obey Him. You're in the kingdom and you know Him as King, so you render to Him the honor of His name. His word is your rule, His honor is your ambition, and His kingdom is your desire, not your own. These are the words of those who've seen salvation in God, who know that we can't have everything that we want, but we can have His satisfying and saving will. We say, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). We are of another kingdom that exists right now, but this kingdom isn't fully seen. It is within you (Luke 17:21).

Thirdly, if we are privileged to know the Mystery and fellowship with God, then we have something to give. We're greater than John. We are amazing people, enlightened by the Spirit, and given knowledge of mysteries the world needs but can't understand, “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets... to me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”, so that God reveals the mystery, so we can save others (Eph 3:5-8). They need teaching, and we have the Spirit to help us. The One who revealed Christ to us now helps us reveal Christ to men. We are not orphans or left to ourselves.

Finally, are you in the kingdom of God? If so, you are great. If not, then you're rebelling.

This is My Son In Whom I’m Pleased (Matt 2:9-3:17)

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, & he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matt 3:16-17).”

IDENTIFICATION

God gives solid evidences that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The star the wise men saw is likened unto the scriptures, which unfold Christ to us – “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, unt6il the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (II Pet 1:19-21). He gave us the law and the prophets to know Him when He came, so that He reveals Himself to us in the scriptures for assurance, unfolding Himself in the types and shadows, fulfilling God’s word by the work of His Person. He is the Immanuel, the Nazarite, the Son called from Egypt, the Cause of great sorrow, and in all things, by the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, He is rich in mercy, an intercessor, and the One God anointed King.

John the Baptist sees Him, and now so does we. Yes, the SAME God gives us the SAME miraculous persuasion. It is no miracle to SEE a man saved because it happens inwardly, but the miracle is REVEALED in the man’s walk, which is SALVATION. God DOESN’T save a man’s “soul”, but He saves the WHOLE man, reviving him until the day of Jesus Christ and KEEPING him obeying God (I Thess 5:23-24) God’s gospel is both inward and outward, starting in the heart by revelation, then by obedience manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.

1. The scriptures speak of Christ, pointing us to Him, and unfolding the beauty of the Son of God’s glory in redemption – “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was” (Matt 2:9). The Christ is the One that saves having laid down His life to atone the sins of His people. He reconciles us to God, stands as the reason of every blessing, and rules over us in love, giving every grace needed to serve, being the cause of power.

Christ is who God says, and this revelation is given to WISE men made wise by Him humbling us of worldly wisdom, and causing us to confess the TRUTH of God to our own hurt (Ps 15:4).

2. The gold is the richness of His mercy, having mercy on whom He will and all that call upon Him (Rom 10:13). The frankincense is His praise and intercession for us, receiving what we need from God as the Mediator of the covenant (Numb 16:47-48). And, the MYRRH is His anointing by God to be Lord – “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt 2:11). Jesus is God’s King who God put on the throne because it pleased Him. In the between the SINNER and the blessing is Jesus Christ’s mercy, Jesus Christ’s salvation, & Jesus Christ who’s Lord of all.

Believing on Him, we have all that we need.

3. The scriptures speak of Christ, when we don’t think they speak of Christ – “When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matt 2:14-15). If He fulfills it, then it speaks of Him. If it CAN apply to Him, it applies to Him, no matter whoever else it may apply to.

We are God’s elect, and so is He. We are His children, even being called His son, and so is He. In all things, even the scriptures, Christ has the preeminence as the Subject of all. The Scriptures aren’t Christ centered so much as they SPEAK of Him. They are not about Him here and there, but God’s gospel is all, or else we have law; it is Christ or death (I Tim 1:8-11).

4. God will kill people to identify the Son, even as He sends men to hell to save the elect, to drive us to His Beloved – “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under… Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” (vs16-18). The world and the world of worlds is not enough to outweigh the glory of God who alone does right. The sinner made from dirt can strive with the sinner made from dirt, but let us keep our mouths at God (Is 45:9). Rather than argue with holiness that gave Christ to die and raised Him again, bow to the fact that if billions had to die to get you the gospel and if 100000 worlds had to be damned for you to believe, then it is no price too big. Regardless of whatever we think, God exalted Christ to the DESTRUCTION of all else. But, understand this, just as some have mourned, many have been comforted by the revelation. God’s goodness through MAN’S badness ends in showing Christ to us, even here. He controls all.

5. Christ dwells with sinners – “But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee” (Matt 2:22). When men pushed Him from them, He dwelt among the Gentiles and was a light in the dark as promised (Matt 4:15-16). Man’s sin didn’t stop His ministry, but He saves the BROKEN in heart. The sinner is no affront to the Savior; it is the proud that He abhors, but He dwells among those that believe Him (Is 57:2). They have failures, and yet trusting Him before God, these NOBODIES who blush to be praised, are the people that He reveals Himself unto. Be not afraid, Salvation has come to sinners like you and me.

6. You and I must believe the truth to be baptized. He says, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy for repentance” (Matt 3:7-9). John forbade no one who wanted to confess, but he made clear what the confession must be, which is FAITH in Christ, who would come.

We can’t serve God on our terms. He saves with His salvation, and believing is CONFESSING that His SALVATION is yours.

7. We have either Christ or death, but no middle ground exist – “he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt 3:10-12). Either He must save, or He must damn. Man cannot stand neutral, and He doesn’t either. He is either all to you, or all of Him is against you.

In wrath, God punishes unbelievers forever.

8. Hearing from Christ, we obey God – “Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. but John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Matt 3:13-15). John refused Christ’s command, but when Christ unfolded His mystery, John obeyed. The invincible word of God puts obedience in us, and that is the hope as He’s exalted in the word, that He speaks and BRINGS obedience with Him.

He doesn’t wait on us to be gracious, but by His word, grace makes us bow to His pleasure. He does us good by speaking to us Himself and giving FAITH.

Save His People From Their Sins (Matt 1:18-21)

“And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall saves his people from their sins (vs21).”

Salvation is by the Son of God’s blood and power alone. He saves, not because we help Him, but according to His love. Everything in salvation honors the Son for His love, rather than men.

His genealogy says, “He saves sinners”, for out of bad stock came the Son of God to redeem people who could only be saved by grace miraculous (Matt 1:1-17).

He saves by His Spirit revealing salvation to us, even as the Spirit instructed Joseph, the just. He justifies us, makes us holy, and gives us love. He made Joseph just, which is merciful and willing to help, even as He helped us by taking away our sins, so He could marry us in love. He did it without help, and now He gives the inheritance to us.

First, the Spirit produces Christianity in full, even as He brought the miracle of Jesus into the world – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 1:18). He declares who God is and forms God in us by power unknown. He creates what was not before, and He helps us all the way through, guiding and protecting us, even as He cared for Mary, marrying her to Joseph. He has His glory, which includes our good. But, our life is not our own. We are His to dwell in and rule in love, and we, by revelation, delight in His will, which is salvation.

Secondly, just men are merciful – “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily (Matt 1:19).” We honor God by being like Him who is Just and the Justifier of believers, whose sins are washed in blood. God is holy and plots grace, and so do we. We ask Him for grace to love, grow, and transform into His character. Forgiving is a joy, kindness is no burden, and love is peace to us.

Thirdly, God reveals His Son to us, or we’d never know the glory of His love, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20).” Just as Joseph could not believe, by revelation, he will.

All instruction comes to us from God who assures that we learn, so all knowledge redounds to glorify the Lord who gave. Our debt is love (Rom 1:14).