The fruit of the Spirit in us shows up in our actions with people. He can change our character, precept by precept, into His Sons’. Greater is Holy Spirit in me than the evil that is in the world.
Only Jesus can place us into right standing with the Father. He sends Holy Spirit to teach us His ways!
Matthew 3:7–12
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think 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. 10 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. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The New King James Version
God loves us so! He gave us the inspired Word of God so that we could read and comprehend, with the guidance of Holy Spirit, His great love for His creation. It is sometimes hard for others, that do not share our beliefs, to understand us. In eternity we will know in full what we only now know in part. Every person who hopes in Him will not be disappointed. Jesus came to take away the sins of the world. He came to confront us with our sin especially the those who considered themselves self righteous, like the the Scribes and Pharisees. There is no one righteous… but One!
1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Those who believe in Jesus will be with Him for eternity. His love has covered a multitude of our sins. We need to always be ready for His coming.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The whole world is guilty before Him. We all fall short but we are being perfected, precept by precept, to have more of His character in our lives. It is only possible with the guidance of Holy Spirit. Jesus told us not to worry. If God so feeds and cares for the flowers of the field and the littlest of the birds He will certainly care for us. In all areas of our lives include Him and He will take care of the rest! Carla
These groups were opposed to each other but appear united in their opposition to John. Matthew highlights the Pharisees and Sadducees because of their importance and their later enmity toward Jesus.
Pharisee sand Sadducees were not merely coming to look; they were coming to participate. They might have thought that they were righteous enough to qualify for baptism without prior repentance. Alternatively, each group may have come to test John’s loyalties and to see whether he would baptize them; he didn’t, which angered them. Offspring of vipers could be a generic insult; it also might allude to the Jewish leaders’ cunning.
Who warned you to fell from the coming wrath question is ironic, since they did not consider themselves guilty or in need of repentance. John is asserting that their hypocrisy puts them in danger of judgment. Faithlife Study Bible
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two prominent groups in Judaism during the time of Christ. Both groups claimed to be true followers of Judaism, but their beliefs were considerably different.
The Pharisees were primarily associated with the laymen of Israel. In doctrine, they held not only to the Law of Moses and Scriptures, but also to a whole body of oral tradition. Their activities were centered in the synagogue.
On the other hand, the Sadducees were associated with the priestly caste, for whom worship was centered in the temple. Extremely conservative, they based their beliefs essentially on the Pentateuch—the books of Genesis through Deuteronomy.
John likened his ministry to God’s ax, clearing His orchard of dead wood—especially that which did not bear the fruit of repentance. John identified people with himself and his message of repentance by water baptism; the One coming after him was so much greater that He would unite people to Himself by means of the Holy Spirit. John knew that the kingdom to come would be characterized by a great display of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people. It would be the work of the Messiah to accomplish this, to baptize His people in the Spirit. But those who rejected Him the Messiah would baptize with fire, which is probably a figure for God’s judgment. In His first advent, Christ baptized in the Spirit. When He comes again, He will baptize with fire. The NKJV Study Bible
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 12:33–34 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
Luke 3:7–9 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…
John 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
“When the world feels like an emotional rollercoaster, steady yourself with simple rituals. Do the dishes. Fold the laundry. Water the plants. Simplicity attracts wisdom" (Source unknown)
Yes, and amen... pull some weeds... tend to your garden... count the clouds... read a book... enjoy sipping your morning coffee... listen to the birds...
The reassuring nourishment and replenishment in the daily rituals that remind us (and invite us) to simply, be here now. Sabbath Moments
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