Who Hath Warned You?

“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7)

A viper is a poisonous snake, but the term as used here means, “cunning, malignant, wicked men” (Thayer’s). It is an interesting term to use for those who came to be Baptized, don’t you think?

But isn’t that question by John rather interesting? Why do you suppose He wanted to know, “who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Knowing the who gives understanding of the why.

Also notice how he phrased the question. He didn’t ask why have you come to be Baptized. His question is focused on the impending wrath, not the promise of grace and salvation. There is a big difference between running from something and running to something.

Why were you baptized? Who perpetuated it? Did a prosperity preacher convince you of gaining material wealth and possessions through Jesus? Did a mystic promise you would possess supernatural healing and prophetic powers? Did a modern-day Pharisee preach the law of good deeds? Is the Baptism simply the indoctrination into a warm and loving club or community? Were you feeling guilty?

Which fear motivated you? The fear of death and destruction that John spoke of? Or the fear of awe and respect for God?

The motivation of John’s comment is revealed in the next verse.

“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.” (Luke 3:8)

Hypocrisy and pride were two very serious problems of the Jew. These things produced a false sense of security in their relationship with God and misunderstanding and misapplication of their religion. Their thoughts and actions towards God were askew. They were resting on their religious laurels thinking they were born into salvation simply because they were descendants of Abraham. This is a good example of the “Once saved, always saved” way of thinking. But to get that erroneous thought out of their heart and mind, John makes it a point to say that “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

Having your relationship with God made comparable to that of a rock should be an eye opener.

“No plague is more hostile to the truth or a more deadly way of blinding someone completely than a false presupposition, especially when it is fixed obstinately in the mind” (John Calvin/Bondage and Liberation of the Will).

At best these Jews who showed up to the Baptism by John were thinking it simply another religious ceremony, a ritual to “prove” their salvation. People who believe in the once saved only saved misnomer, those of the works and deeds mindset, the folks that believe that “all you need is love”, thinking that love equals justification and salvation; it is these types of people that require religious ceremonies to believe. It is in the doing that makes them feel saved, righteous, holy, and/or loved.

There is no deed or ceremony or inheritance that leads to salvation. Only faith.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If doing something earned salvation (a ceremony, a ritual, doing good deeds, etc.) what you would be doing would be creating a debt that Jesus would have to pay. God owes nothing. In fact, salvation is offered by God as a gift of grace only. There is no requirement or obligation by God. Man cannot create a debt that God must pay or an obligation that God must perform. We have no controlling power over God. It even sounds silly when you read it, doesn’t it? God with a debt that He owes man? What would be the consequence if God didn’t pay it?

And God does not need our help. God’s got it all under control. Stop and think about this for a moment. Can you imagine how quickly the devil would take advantage of the opportunity if any aspect of salvation was left totally in man’s hands? Mankind would have been long gone a very long time ago.

Again, we are saved by grace through faith. It is a gift from God.

Baptism, like the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper) are not ceremonies, they are Sacraments. Sacraments are of God and are not of human invention. Sacraments presuppose faith but are more than just an expression of that faith. The Sacraments are signs and seals, an active demonstration, a recreation, an aid, comfort and reminder for sinful man.

John Calvin calls Sacraments an “external sign” by which the “Lord depicts and bears witness to his goodwill towards us in order to support the weakness of our faith” (Calvin/Truth For All Time).

Augustine is most famously quoted as saying Sacraments are an, “outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.”

Adam Clarke on the Sacrament of Baptism said, “Baptism is a standing proof of the divine authenticity of the Christian religion, and a seal of the truth of the doctrine of justification by faith, through the blood of the covenant.” (Clarke/Christian Theology)

The symbolism of Baptism represents the washing clean of the old man and the rebirth of the new man.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:3-7).

John, went before Jesus “in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17).

John, “in the spirit and power of Elias”, went baptizing with water unto repentance. Why? Why must John come first? Why did John bark at the Jews who showed up, calling them vipers?

Before we can accept Jesus into our heart, we must first be able to recognize sin for what it is. Sin is unrighteousness in open rebellion against God. This was the purpose of the law, to bring sin to our attention. But the law never saved anyone, only condemned them. We needed a Savior.

Spiritually speaking, there is no such thing as an alloy or composite. The dross must be separated from the gold. There is one relationship with one God. Not two or more gods. No demigods. We must choose.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

The spiritual house must be swept clean and maintained that way. Why? “For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians 6:14b-15)

But a house swept clean of the devil and sin without accepting filling it with Christ, is only asking for trouble.

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)

John came first to get everyone to clean and sweep their spiritual house. Jesus came in right behind to knock on our door. It is up to you and I to let the Savior in.

Bill Hitchcock