Luke 3:3-6
Foundation of Faith: Returning to Gospel Basics – Luke 3:3-6
Luke 3:3-6 (NIVUK)
He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 'A voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's salvation."'
Commentary
Mark Fletcher: And then the second thing is this really nice idea, I think, that John the Baptist calls us to remember where we come from, where it all began. And the journey of faith is of course, a lifelong journey. It’s full of wisdom and things to learn, but I think it needs to bring us back often to the place where it begins.
You know, the very foundation of the gospel is repentance and faith. It is like the tax collector in the temple who says, God have mercy on me, a sinner. And when we seem to be going astray, when we seem to be getting lost, when it seems to be going wrong, John the Baptist would say, go back to where you started.
Go back to that foundation. Remember the gospel, which is your hope and your salvation. Repentance is the foundation of faith. A humble return to depending on God that’s willing to say, show me where I’ve gone wrong. Show me what I need to put right.
We need to experience the love and the mercy of God because that is the thing that defines us. We should never get too far from that starting point of repentance.