New Testament Vistas

Jews were heirs of OT promises

Abraham Genesis 15:5-6 NIV He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Jews were heirs of OT promises

Isaiah

AbrahamIsaiah 40:3-5 NIV A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.“

Jews were heirs of OT promises

Malachi

Isaiah

Abraham Malachi 4:5-6 NIV "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.“

Jews were heirs of OT promises

400 year silence

Malachi

Isaiah

Abraham

The End of God’s SilenceMatthew 3:1-6

John the Baptist

Desert preacherIsaiah 40:3-5 NIV A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.“

Matthew 3:1-3 NIV In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea … This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

John the Baptist

Desert preacher

Fulfills Malachi

Malachi 4:5 NIV "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

Matthew 3:4 NIV John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

2 Kings 1:8 NIV They replied, "He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite.“

John the Baptist

Desert preacher

Fulfills Malachi

Fulfills Isaiah

Matthew 3:3 NIV84 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

John the Baptist

Desert preacher

Fulfills Malachi

Fulfills Isaiah

Unimaginable excitement!

Mark 1:5 NIV84 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Luke 3:15 NIV The people werewaiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.

God’s Unexpected Demands

Repentance

God’s Unexpected Demands

Repentance Baptism

Good Enough is Not Good Enough!Matthew 3:7-10

God Requires Genuine Repentance!

I don’t believe you!

God Requires Genuine Repentance!

I don’t believe you!

You don’t understand true

repentance!

God Requires Genuine Repentance!

I don’t believe you!

You don’t understand true

repentance!

The nature of true repentance

God Requires Genuine Repentance!

I don’t believe you!

You don’t understand true

repentance!

The nature of true repentance

Real repentance stops sinning!

“I am Only Preparing the Way”Matthew 3:11-12

There are Two Kinds of People

Those who know they have nothing to offer God

There are Two Kinds of People

Those who know they have nothing to offer God

Those who think they have something to offer God

There are Two Kinds of People

Those who know they have nothing to offer God

Those who think they have something to offer God

There is no third option

To Which Group Do You Belong?