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Luke 3:7-18 – The Candle of Holiness

by Gary Sims
12/10/03
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The Gospels
Luke 3:7-18 – The Candle of Holiness

Key Verses:(NRSV)
  • 7: “John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’” – John, in very plain language, is warning the crowd that salvation does not occur through mere ritualistic exercises.

  • 8: “Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to your selves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor…’” – Repentance means to turn our lives around, bear fruit, and show the world how we are transformed by God’s redeeming love.

  • 9: “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” – Confession of sins and a changed life go hand-in-hand. If a life in Christ does not result in an abundance of fruit then true repentance did not take place. Repentance must result in good works.

  • 10-14: “And the crowds asked him, ‘What should we do?’” – John teaches that our lives must change as a result of our faith. We will be able to see the results of faith through our willingness to share, in our fair treatment of others, and in our contentment with what we have.

  • 16: “John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” – Baptism in water signifies the cleansing of sins, purification by repentance, but a baptism with the fire of the Holy Spirit empowers the changing of lives that John is demanding of his listeners.

  • 17: “His winnowing fork is in His hand, to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His granary; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” – These are scary words from the “Wilderness Prophet.” He clearly enforces his point that God has little use of people not choosing to further His kingdom in the way they live their lives.
Points to Contemplate:
  • What motivates your faith? Are you fearful of the future? Are you worried by your past? Or do you desire to become a better person in a better world?2 John accuses the throng around him that they have come to him for the wrong reasons. In this season of Advent, should you evaluate your reasons for your faith in Christ? Are you attending Christmas Eve services, singing Christmas carols, and lighting the Advent candles simply out of tradition? Or are you truly celebrating the joy of Christ’s coming for you? Do you push through this season simply attempting to survive the busyness? Or do you look upon each day as a special opportunity to become more Christ-like in everything you do?

  • Has your life changed as a result of your relationship with Christ? John provides us with a strong conviction that a life of faith should mean something. That there should be tangible evidence within our lives of God’s forgiveness. Are you bearing fruit? Can those around you perceive this fruit? Are you being made more holy? Or have you simply accepted yourself as a sinner and no matter what you do you will always be a sinner? Is forgiveness the only gift you expect from God? Or can you allow His peace into your heart to truly transform you into the image of Christ? Is that not the goal of all Christians…to become Christ-like?

  • What should you do? You have professed your belief in Christ and repented of your sins…what is next? How do you go about being more holy? Can you share more of what you have with those in need? Can you treat all people fairly, regardless of the situation? Can you be content with what you have, setting aside your feelings of greed and avarice? Can you love your neighbor as yourself? Are you able to deny yourself in all situations, thinking first of God and then of others before you factor in your own self-righteousness? The lessons from John seem fairly straight forward…are you, like the crowd, still wondering what you should do?
Promises of the Gospel:

Holiness, Holiness is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, Holiness is what you want from me.
Holiness, Holiness is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, Holiness is what you want from me.

So take my heart and form it.
Take my mind, transform it.
Take my will, conform it
To yours, to yours, O Lord.

Holiness, Holiness is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, Holiness is what you want from me.
Holiness, Holiness is what I long for.
Holiness is what I need.
Holiness, Holiness is what you want from me.3

For this third week in Advent, we light the Candle of Holiness.

2“Life Application Bible,” notes verse 3:7, pp1748.
3”Take my Life” by Scott Underwood, 1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publications

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