Personal acquaintance there had been none; or if there had, it did not contribute to the Baptist's recognition of his Messiah. They are, they have done, they are doing, all that we can desire them to be or do. It was only after a remonstrance on the part of the Saviour, and after he had pointed out to John the propriety of the course, that the Baptist yielded. When we know who we are — sinners saved by grace — and know whose we are — children of God created to glorify God — then life can never be the same. Repentance alone, especially of the legal kind referred to, could not merit the remission of sins; neither could baptism, nor yet the combination of both together: the real meritorious cause was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God - the Lamb slain; while faith, that faith from which true evangelical repentance is never separate, was the link of union between the soul of the penitent and his Saviour. On the other hand, we read of the Lamb as the Sin-bearer, and salvation as the blessedness secured; in other words, we have the blessed truth first uttered by the Baptist's lips, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" What he tells these private citizens, soldiers, and tax collectors is that opportunities to bear fruit appear right in front of them every day. This itself is good news. The commission of the Baptist embraced three functions: 1. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? IV. Of this we have tolerably plain proof in the words of St. Paul (Acts 19:4), "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus." THE PRESENCE OF THE TRINITY. It was thus with the type, while, in the case of the Antitype, the figure was realized in the fact; the sign gave place to the thing signified. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 3. Help us to act on our faith by daily choices we make for reconciliation, for justice, for sharing, for joy. Today’s gospel identifies John’s gruff and blunt demands as good news. Every individual life belongs to the great whole — the solemn ever-rolling stream of human being. 3. This video is unavailable. (4) It shows that grace does not run through families, but is the special gift of God to individuals. A glance at these generations which have passed away, naturally suggests a variety of reflections — plaintive, humble, and instructive. With whom do you need to reconcile before the feast of Christmas comes? What opportunities for metanoia appear right in front of us now? Again, observe THE PEDIGREE ITSELF. His speaking style is gruff and blunt, even insulting. CHANGE IN THE BAPTIST'S PREACHING. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was, Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times,". 1. A Hindu candidate for Christian baptism was asked … We have only to accept the salvation He has wrought, and which stands waiting for us and urging itself upon us. EVEN THE MOST PERPLEXING FACTS OF OUR INWARD EXPERIENCE GROW A LITTLE MORE CLEAR TO US. Again this acknowledgment of the Father puts honor on the Divine Word, for, from the three leading divisions of it - the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms - that acknowledgment is taken. The double genealogies of Christ as the Son of David. St. Matthew gives the legal descent through a line of kings descended from Solomon — the jus successionis; St. Luke the natural descent — the jus sanguinis. It is often thus with the spiritual seed of the Messiah, yet there has ever been a seed to serve Him, and a remnant to uphold the honour of His name. He does not demand the extraordinary, such as his own relocation to the wilderness. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? “…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.” The Jews believed that the Israelites were the chosen people of God.
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