It's Time for Atheist Church

Thanks for joining me. I really appreciate you being here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU&feature=related

Today’s sermon is from Luke 3:8:

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

John the Baptist existed solely for Jesus Christ. He was his "forerunner." He said that he had to decrease and Jesus had to increase, and that certainly happened. John was hated because he stood for righteousness, and because he was outspoken for God, he was imprisoned and eventually murdered at the whim of the king. He wasn’t impressed with the heritage of the Jews and told the religious leaders that it meant nothing to God.

His message was one of repentance, an often misunderstood word, even though it is used regularly by the secular media. They say that a certain politician was "unrepentant," meaning that he wasn’t at all sorry for his actions, and he wasn’t going to change. Conversely, "repentance" involves "godly sorrow" (sorrow for sin) but it is more than a change of mind. It results in action--a change of ways.

Still there are many people who ignorantly think that repentance will save them from Hell. But think of a court of law. If a criminal admits to murder, says that he is sorry and that he won’t do it again, the judge isn’t going to let him go. Justice must be done.

Exactly the same applies with God. Saying you are sorry for your sins and vowing never to commit them again, won’t help you on Judgment Day. Justice must be done. And it was carried out at the cross of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. He came to suffer for the sin of the world so that (upon repentance from sin), God could dismiss our case. Our sins can be forgiven because the fine was paid by the Savior.

It was to that payment that John directed his hearers. He pointed forward, Christians point back. It was because of the death and resurrection of the Son of God, that we can freely live forever. If you refuse that payment, you have to make one yourself...and the Bible warns that there will be Hell to pay.

No collection.

No announcements.

Benediction. This week may you find everlasting life in Christ.

Pic. John the Baptist: Aleksandr Andreevic Ivanov (1806-1858)