THE PROCLAIMING OF REPENTANCE
Luke 3:1-6

Introduction:     For 400 years there was no prophet or authoritative voice from God until now. John burst on to the scene with a word from God and the central theme of this message was “repent ye.” The cry of repentance needs to be heard in America from the pulpit to the pew. There is a specific way that repentance is to be proclaimed. How is repentance to be proclaimed?

I.          IT IS TO BE PROCLAIMED FEARLESSLY (VV.1-2)
“Repent” = reversal of; to turn or change direction (or mind). Notice in John’s day:

A.        A Dark Time (v.1)
7 wicked men in leadership in that day. John came with God’s message of repentance, he demanded change, turning, “Turn or burn”; “you can’t stay the way you are and go to heaven”; “you can’t have your sin and Jesus too”; “Christ is coming and you need to make a choice!” That is the cry that needs to be proclaimed in this city today! (Illus: what should we do, say come to our church and remain in your sin?) John had no choice…

            B.         A Divine Summons (v.2)
Notice that the word of God didn’t go to the religious leaders. Only those that have repented can proclaim the message of repentance. The word of God didn’t come to the palace of the temple, but it came to a leather lunged preacher in the wilderness (the last place expected by many). (Illus: people looking for the truth in all the wrong places…just because there is a steeple on top of the building doesn’t mean God is there!)

God lit John’s fire and he exploded forth with the message of repentance; you must change; you must turn; you can’t live in sin and be right with God! (Illus: we’ll find later that he was thrown in jail and ultimately lost his life because the king was living in adultery and John said “Repent, you’re living in sin with another man’s wife; you can’t have your sin and Jesus too!) Repentance is to be proclaimed fearlessly.

II.         IT MUST BE PROCLAIMED CONSTANTLY (V.3)
Why do we repeat this over and over? Lost church members…how do I know? We have over 700 on the roll…how many are here today? People that are saved have turned and you can see evidence to that turning in their lives.

            A.        A Shared Message
The other Gospels tell us great crowds came to hear John preach. The Pharisees came because their crowds left them. (Illus: it’s the religious people that have trouble with preaching…they came to check him out.) Johns preached everywhere he went; (Illus: expound what may have happened as John would be asked to speak at various venues in his day) he had a word from God and that word was repent! This message is to be proclaimed constantly; it is the message of the church; the civic clubs in town aren’t going to proclaim it.

            B.         A Single Message
Repentance and forgiveness go hand in hand. (Illus: the coin of conversion…repentance & faith…turning from sin and turning to Jesus; this kind of repentance is seen in the parable of the prodigal son). This doesn’t teach baptismal regeneration. Here’s the order, to be forgiven first repent (turn from sin and to God) then, follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. (See 1 Thess.1:9)

III.       IT MUST BE PROCLAIMED EARNESTLY (V.4)
“The voice” = John was just the voice…the emphases is not on a man, but the message…John is the voice; Jesus is the word.

“Crying” = to cry out or proclaim with great feeling.

“Remission” = to send away to place where it cannot be found. What a message we have to proclaim! This message should be proclaimed earnestly with passion!

IV.       IT MUST BE PROCLAIMED VICTORIOUSLY (VV.4-6)
“Prepare ye the way…” = describes someone dispatched by the king to go before and insure the roads were in good repair. This was John’s ministry…to go before the Lord and make the paths straight; to preach repentance. Only repentance can prepare the heart to receive Christ. Look what this message will do for those who will believe.

            A.        The Valley of Indifference
These are people who just don’t care. You preach repentance and people have to ether get in or get out; they cannot stay in natural. That demolishes indifference…God demands you turn and you can’t remain in comfort with that message!

            B.         The Mountain Of Unbelief
For people who just don’t believe. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When we preach repentance suddenly that mountain begins to disintegrate because the Word of God breaks down unbelief. What should you tell an unbelieving friend? Repent (turn to Jesus and away from sin).

            C.        The Crookedness of Hypocrisy
Repentance removes the mask of hypocrisy.

            D.        The Rough Ways Of Disobedience
This is everything that stands in the way of God. Repentance removes every obstacle that stands between people and God. What shall we do? Turn…Change…Repent and get right with God.

Conclusion:       Everybody needs to repent (v.6). There is one road out of sin; one road out of damnation, judgment, and hell. There is one road to purpose, peace, and paradise and the only way to get on that road is to turn around (repent) because without Jesus you are going the wrong direction.