I. Introduction
Have ever noticed how politicians love to parse words, and how often they do it? They seldom just plainly lie. That is, they don’t usually say black is white or white is black. Well, some of them actually do. But most of them are quite accomplished at saying black is dark gray or white is light gray. They bend and they twist and they hide behind vague shades of meaning they hope you and I are not familiar with.

Many of these slick politicians are experts in being evasive and in not giving straight or simple answers to simple questions. Either they refuse to acknowledge, or they simply don’t care or even know, that words mean things. That’s so obvious we sometimes miss it. Words mean things. That’s what words do. That’s what words are. Every word in every human language exists to describe or to define something, doesn’t it?

It is this very fact that requires us to study our Bibles so that words written thousands of years ago in Hebrew or Greek can be rightly interpreted and accurately translated into English. Applying God’s truth is impossible if we don’t understand it. So the task before the preacher or teacher is to prayerfully and carefully lay it out and do so without adding his or her own preconceived ideas or personal bent to what the Scriptures say.

As you might suspect, that can be difficult. But regardless of the difficulty involved, preachers and teachers of the Word have such a great responsibility to God and to His people. May no one ever stand in this podium who takes that responsibility lightly.
James 3:1
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.

The Bible is God’s Word to us. There is only one true interpretation. Listen to the Apostle Peter.
*2 Peter 1:20-21
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Peter is saying that the words of Scripture came not from the mind of men, but from the mind of God. As such there cannot be multiple and conflicting interpretations. Again, there can be only one. Our task is to find it!
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II. Text
This morning’s text presents us with an English word that is often misunderstood.
But it’s critical that we understand it rightly because it relates directly to a correct inter-pretation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and consequently, to the salvation of our souls. That word is “repentance.” It means something!
*Luke 3:1-6 (Please stand with me in honor of God and His Word.)
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the LORD, make His paths straight,
5 ‘Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough roads smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Luke again demonstrates his commitment to detail and his strong sense of history, geo-graphy, and overall accuracy. He nails down the precise time when John the Baptist’s ministry reaches its peak. Luke wants us all to be very clear about His writings. This isn’t fiction. He isn’t telling a story. It isn’t, “Once upon a time a man preached repen-tance.” Luke’s writing is thoroughly researched and, when it is written, it is all fully and completely verifiable. (ca. 60 A.D.)

When John and Jesus were born, the Emperor of Rome was Caesar Augustus. He died in the year 14 A.D. and Tiberius became the Caesar. So the “fifteenth year” in Luke 3:1 makes this 29 A.D. The “Herod” mentioned here is not Herod the Great, who had died around 4 B.C., but one of his sons, Herod Antipas. It is this Herod who rules over Galilee and will, three years hence, help to condemn Jesus and oversee the crucifixion.

Caesar had appointed Pontius Pilate governor of the Roman province of Judea. His rule was centered in Jerusalem. The others mentioned by Luke – the tetrarchs Herod, his brother Philip, and Lysanias – ruled over Galilee, Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Abilene, respectively. “Tetrarch” means “rule by four,” as opposed to “monarch” meaning “rule by one.” That’s why kings or queens are referred to as monarchs.

Then in v. 2 Luke names two high priests. But why are there two? How could Annas and Caiaphas both be high priest? This apparently represents a popular understanding of the term, “high priest,” not the official one. Caiaphas was the high priest at the time. But Annas, whose term had ended in 15 A. D., still had great influence in the Sanhedrin.
Not only that but he was Caiaphas’ father-in-law. At that time people thought of them both as high priest. It was somewhat like the way we refer to all living former presidents as “Mr. President,” as though they still held the office and lived in the White House.

Those who would be in power in three years, and who would play a role in Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion, are introduced here. Pilate and Herod are Gentiles. Caiaphas is Jewish. Together they represent the whole human race, as well as both government and religion run amuck. They have one thing in common. They all reject God’s truth.

It’s in the second half of v. 2 that we meet John as an adult. Luke 1:80 had said that he would live “in the deserts until the day of his public appearance in Israel.” That day has now come.
*Luke 3:3
3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;

The desert from which John came would have been south and east of Jerusalem in the area around the Dead Sea. Ginny and I have not been to the Dead Sea, but we have spent time in Death Valley. It’s hard to imagine a more desolate and inhospitable place, but it seems that even Death Valley fails to compare to the area in which John had been living.

When he came into “the district around the Jordan” his preaching caused a stir because it was clear, bold, and forceful. If they did not repent they would not have their sins for-given. If they did not have their sins forgiven they would not be saved. In order to fully grasp John’s message and how he was received by the Jews, you need only to think of him as an OT character walking into NT times.

In point of fact, John was the last of the OT prophets. Just as they had pointed ahead to the Messiah, so too did he. John’s reception was the same, too. He would be put to death just as they had been.

That’s because John’s message was as welcome then as it is today. The world and its systems, whether political, social, or religious, do not want to hear anything that contra-dicts their philosophies. That, in a nutshell, is why the world does not want to hear God’s Word. This is never any truer than when His Word speaks of the judgment to come.

But look again at John’s message. He is preaching of forgiveness, isn’t he? Why would that anger people? Why would the possibility of having our sins forgiven upset anyone? The answer should be crystal-clear. Since the fall of man we have fallen so far, we are so prideful and so arrogant, that if we were to believe we needed to have our sins forgiven, it would be a tacit admission that we are sinners. That does not feed pride, it destroys it!

The religious Jews knew full well they were sinners. They just wouldn’t admit it. After all, they were God’s chosen people. They were special. They obeyed the Mosaic Law… to the letter. But their pride blinded the eyes of their hearts to the truth.
So the Jews knew they were sinners, but they also knew of God’s promise of forgiveness.
In Exodus God told Moses…
Exodus 34:7
7 “(I am the God) who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin…”
Psalm 103:12
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgress-sions from us.

Then, referring directly to the Second Coming, Jeremiah quotes God saying…
Jeremiah 31:34
34 “…for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

They knew they were sinners. But just like people today, they didn’t want to hear it. So John’s message of forgiveness was, for the most part, not embraced, but rejected.

John’s water baptism of repentance is not Christian baptism, which symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Further, John’s water baptism didn’t produce the for-giveness of sins any more than Christian water baptism produces the salvation of souls.

Both baptisms are of a ceremonial nature. They are rituals. They are symbolic. Now to be sure, they are important because of what they symbolize, but in and of themselves, they have no power to change anything.

While there were ceremonial washings in Judaism, and Gentile converts to Judaism were baptized, there was no such thing as a water baptism prescribed for the Jews themselves. Therefore, the Jews who were voluntarily being baptized by John had been convicted by his preaching. They recognized that, while they were a part of God’s chosen nation, they were also sinners, just like the Gentiles.
Matthew 3:6
6 …they were being baptized by (John) in the Jordan River, as they con-fessed their sins.

You see, they knew, understood, and believed Isaiah’s words.
Isaiah 59:1-2
1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

Those who acknowledged their sin and turned to Jesus in faith were saved. So what was John saying? Was he an eloquent preacher regaling them with emotional stories? Was he an extraordinary wordsmith stunning them with his brilliance and intellect? What was he saying that got their attention? He was quoting the Word of God. What a concept!
*Luke 3:4-6
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the LORD, make His paths straight,
5 ‘Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough roads smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Why does Luke quote from Isaiah 40? First we need to remember that Luke wrote his gospel with a Greek (Gentile) audience in mind. So it’s not surprising that he would use a passage from the OT which speaks to the fact that God’s salvation is not limited to Jews, but is available to people of every tongue, tribe, and nation.

Second, Luke’s use of Isaiah 40:3 provides what was already seven-hundred-year-old evidence that John is the one of whom Isaiah spoke. He truly is the one who was preparing the way for the Lord.

Luke is preaching about a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins so we can assume the OT quotes speak to that. The symbolism in these verses is rich. What follows is the likely meaning of each symbol.
• John himself is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the “one crying in the wilder-ness.” (v. 4)
• “Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight,” seems to speak of genuine conversion. At conversion we make a straight path for the Lord to enter into our hearts. (v. 4)
• “Every ravine shall be filled up…” probably refers to the fact that false humility (the low spots) will be done away with. (v. 5)
• “…every mountain and hill shall be brought low,” seems to mean that personal pride (the high spots) will also be eliminated, that is to say, “smoothed out.” (v. 5)
• “…the crooked shall become straight…” Evil lifestyles and habits will be broken. (v. 5)
• “…the rough roads smooth…” This would seem to symbolize indifference toward God and His ways that will become a passion for Him and His ways. (v. 5)

Finally, we need to be very clear about the use of the words “all flesh” in v. 6. Luke is not teaching universal salvation as some like to claim he is. As always, we look to the context for the correct interpretation. In this context “all flesh” means “all peoples – every tongue, tribe, and nation.”

Let me quote John MacArthur from his commentary of the first five chapters of Luke’s gospel.
“The words of Isaiah’s prophecy also serve as an analogy of the repentance John preached. The wilderness pictures the sinful heart, and repentance involves bringing to light the deep, dark things of the heart, pictured by filling in the ravines, and humbling human pride, depicted in the imagery of bringing low the mountains and hills. The crooked, deceitful, devious perverse things must be made straight, and any other rough places of the heart, whether self-love, love of money, love of the world, the lust of the flesh, indifference, or unbelief, must be smoothed out. Only then will the truly repentant see the salvation of God.”

It is also perfectly possible that vv. 4-5 simply mean this: “By God’s grace we are to remove every obstacle that could stand in the way of Christ’s Spirit entering into our hearts.” But either way, the passage means essentially the same thing, doesn’t it? “Prepare your heart for the coming of the Lord!”

I began by talking about the importance of words and the fact that they mean something. But too often we fail to mean what we say and say what we mean. That’s largely due to the fact that there are times when we misuse a word. The word in question today is “repentance.” It’s the key to rightly understanding not only this entire passage and much of the doctrine taught in the Bible, but even the gospel itself.

So here is a multiple choice question with three possible answers. The question is, “What is the definition of repentance?”
1. Is it turning around and going in a different direction?
2. Is it being sorry for what you have done?
3. Is it changing your mind?

All three of those answers are correct as far as they go, but one is “more right” than the others. One of those definitions is actually what the word itself means. The Greek word translated “repentance” in Luke 3:3 is “mĕtanŏia.” It means to change your mind. It is used no less than twenty-four times in the NT and every time it means the same thing.

Now someone may say, “But Pastor, you’ve often said that repentance is about turning around and going in a different direction, haven’t you?” Yes, I have. Someone else may say, “But I’ve always understood repentance was being sorry for my sin. Isn’t that right? Yes, it is.

First, true repentance includes turning from sin and turning to God. Turning from sin is certainly an out-working of repentance, but don’t you have to change your mind about sin before you will ever change your direction?

Second, true repentance is the result of godly sorrow for sin, but godly sorrow for sin is not repentance. Just being sorry you did something but having no intention of changing your ways is not repentance at all, is it? Think about it. If you get a speeding ticket and are sorrier you got caught than you are that you broke the law, well, that isn’t repentance.
You haven’t changed your mind about the law. You’re sorry, but you’re not repentant.
This may help. After the crucifixion there were two very sorry disciples. Judas’ sorrow led to suicide. Peter’s sorrow led to repentance. Paul speaks directly to that.
*2 Corinthians 7:10
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (Peter – Judas)

So the Bible teaches that true repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Godly sorrow is a part of that. And it is true repentance that leads to salvation. In fact, there is no other road.

When someone is genuinely saved they have remorse for their sin and they turn from their old life to the new one. They put their faith in Jesus Christ and in Him alone. True repentance and saving faith go together. The one doesn’t exist without the other. Think of them as two sides of the same coin.

And just as faith is not generated by the human heart, repentance is not a human work that leads to salvation. Paul makes it clear that our faith is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of your-selves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Jesus makes it clear that the conviction in our hearts that leads us to repentance is also from God, or more specifically, from the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8
8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment…”

After the Apostle Peter had learned that salvation in Jesus Christ was meant for the Gen-tiles as well as the Jews, many questioned him. But he said…
*Acts 11:17-18
17 “If God therefore gave to (the Gentiles) the same gift as He gave to us (the Holy Spirit) also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

So it is important for us to know that repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. This is a key difference between the theology that grew out of the Protestant Reformation and Roman Catholic doctrine. You and I can earn nothing in God’s sight.
Our so-called “good works” are worthless as a means to receive God’s grace. Isaiah said that our very best efforts are like dirty rags.
Isaiah 64:6
6 …all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

If God does not call us to Himself, we will not go to Him. It is commonly taught today that you are in control of your destiny, and that you can decide to repent, and that you can decide to get saved. But the Bible teaches something else. Left to its own devices the human heart will always turn away from Jesus, not towards Him.
Jeremiah 17:9
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”

That’s a rhetorical question, isn’t it? God understands the human heart and that is why Jesus taught that no one could ever find salvation through his or her own initiative or good deeds. Go to John 6.
*John 6:37, 44, 65
37 “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
65 “…I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

If God doesn’t call you, you won’t come. But if you hear His call, please don’t resist Him. Come to Him. Trust Him and He will save your eternal soul.

And you will find out that you were predestined to be one of His children.
Ephesians 1:5
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.

You’ll find that you are one of God’s elect, one whom He has chosen before time began.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation…

Furthermore, you’ll know that you have a glorious future in heaven.
*Romans 8:29-30
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

All of that is just a moment away if you will change your mind about Jesus – that is, if you’ll repent.
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III. Conclusion
I think the biggest problem today in the Church of Jesus Christ is that it is filled with people who think they are Christians but are not. Is it their fault? Well, in the sense that each of us is responsible for his or her own soul, the answer is, “Yes.” But in a broader sense, it isn’t their fault at all.

Many of them have heard and accepted a gospel that cannot save. That is because many churches are preaching a gospel that cannot save. Too often we hear, “Just believe in Jesus, and you will be saved.” So multiplied millions “believe.” (Jesus’ brother James tells us that Satan’s demons believe too [James 2:19]).

But what do these people believe in? In most cases their lives show little if any evidence of real change at all.
• That’s because most of them haven’t been told about genuine godly sorrow for their sin.
• Most of them haven’t been challenged to turn their lives around and head in a completely different direction.
• Most of them haven’t been told that they must change their minds about Christ and about this world.
• Few of them have been told they must repent and there is no salvation without repentance.

Luke 13:3
3 “I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ but just can’t seem to shake off the influence of the world? Ask the Lord to help you to develop a sense of sorrow for your sin. Ask Him to help you turn around. Ask Him to help you change your mind. Because, unless you repent…

~ Pray ~