Sunday Morning IBC. 4/28/2013. Luke 4.

Luke 4:1-13.  The Validation of the Messiah. (Part II): The Temptations of Jesus.
Pastor Nam Park.

Jesus is here validated as the Son of God.
We might not see these temptations as similar to our own, yet they are genuine and real.
In the end, temptation is a diminishment of God. We are tempted in that moment to suggest/believe that God is less than He claims to be. He is less in control... He is less good, so I must take control... He is less than the satisfaction I need, so I look for satisfaction... This is practical atheism.

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 2:22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
1 John 3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

Could Jesus Have Sinned?
"If Jesus as a person had sinned, involving both His human and divine natures, then God Himself would have sinned." - Wayne Grudem 
Jesus is the God-man.  If Jesus had sinned, then God would have sinned.  His dual nature of God and man prevented Him from sinning.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Marathon Running. How painful is it? To find out, you ask the individual that has finished the race. Jesus likewise experienced it all (temptations).

Temptation #1: SURVIVE AT ALL COST.

The temptation to use the power that God gave you to take care of yourself. 

Surviving at the diminishment of God? 
A: Jesus quotes scripture. Authority found in Scripture.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

Miracles were happening all around them, yet they were constantly complaining. Yet, in the wilderness, God gave them Manna to teach them to depend on Him every single day.
Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Exodus 16:17-18 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.

Joshua 5:12 The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

Shall I diminish God and take care of things on my own, or shall I trust in God's intention for why I am here? Was it the Father's will that He was there at that difficult time? 

Following God is more important than survival.
Our temptation is to doubt God's constant goodness.
Ex. The flight that crashed and survivors became cannibals.
Survival at all cost is not a Godly virtue.

This life is not all that God has promised us. In the end we will be glorified and enjoy our Savior forever. Let's not diminish God in order to survive.

Temptation #2: SUCCEED AT ALL COST.
Satan is the ruler of this world, yet the lie is that he has the power to give it away.
Satan lies but God is still in Control.

Daniel 2:21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;

He removes kings and establishes kings;

He gives wisdom to wise men

And knowledge to men of understanding.

Daniel 4:25 that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.

Satan tempts Jesus by giving Him the "cup-of-noodles" route to ruling as Messiah; an offer to escape suffering. Yet Jesus wasn't going to give in, but it must have been tempting.

Is it okay to succeed at the diminishment of God?
There is a cost: Luke 4:7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.”
[Just to bow your knee for one second.]
Luke 4:8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’
Honoring God is more important than success. Even if the potential of failure existed out before Him.
Jesus' response is a somewhat summarized form of Deuteronomy 6:13.

Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. 

Jesus is not here just to accomplish good for the world. His first and primary purpose is to serve the Will of the Father. 
Sometimes we forget our primary purpose here on earth. God has to be more important than accomplishment and success.
Ex. Alexander the Great weeping over no lands left to conquer.
Ex. Jim Elliot's death as not being a waste but that it was worthwhile to honor God with it.

Temptation #3: SIGNIFICANCE AT ALL COST.
Demons know how to quote scripture.
To demand miraculous protection from God is not loyalty to Him or faith.
Exodus 17:3-7; verse 7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?”
Contentment, Satisfaction, Joy with God are more important than personal significance.

Following God is more important than Survival.
Honoring God is more important than Success.
Contentment with God is more important than Personal Significance.

Love God, Trust Him. Fight temptation.
Jesus exemplified what it meant to struggle, felt the weight, and came out victorious.

Living It: Priorities. Honoring God with our lives, as a slave would for his/her master... Doulos for Christ.

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/21/2013. Luke 3:21-28.

Luke 3:21-28. The Validation of the Messiah. (Part I)

Pastor Nam Park.

Luke gives us 3 Areas of Evidence of the Valid Nature of Jesus as the Messiah.

- v.21-22. God the Father gives Divine Affirmation.

- v.23-28. Historic (Hereditary) Qualification.

- Luke 4:1-13. Spiritual Affirmation: The temptation of Jesus.

Idea: The Messiah must be validated.  The more difficult the task, the more qualifications necessary. Example: "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." Haha. In actuality, if you search for a surgeon, you want someone with credentials.

DIVINE AFFIRMATION.

Title Heading for v.21-22. "Jesus is Baptized" Yet these verses are one long sentence and the minor item is the baptism while the main clause is the Father's voice booming.  The baptism was occasion for Jesus' earthly ministry to start.

Why would the Sinless One get baptized?

1. Jesus was validating the Baptizing ministry of John.

2. Jesus was identifying with sinners.

Matthew 3:14-15 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

Jesus had to grow up and participate on the days of atonement. Why was He involved in all these ceremonies? A: To live this perfect life in order to have His life evaluated. The exchange on the cross is that He lived a perfectly righteous life, in place of our sinfulness.

Hebrews 10:4 "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Animals were not sufficient to die for a man, neither were the Angels sufficient. A man has to die for a man, yet only if he lives a perfect life and Christ lived 30 years righteously. And Jesus identified with sinners, because He was a man. 

Characteristic of our Savior: He prays. [While the Heavens tore open]. What was revealed?

v.22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

What is God pleased with?

The Father was pleased with the 30 years of a devoted life. A life well-lived. The Father would later be pleased to crush Him, found in Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53:10 

But the Lord was pleased

To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,

He will see His offspring,

He will prolong His days,

And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

The Holy Spirit comes and anoints human beings for a certain purpose. IE: King David, Sampson. So why does the Holy Spirit come from the heavens in the visible form of a dove?   A: To absolutely validate that Jesus is not just an average prophet or a moral teacher. So that Jesus was visually verified as the Son of God, for ministry... Along with the thunderous, booming affirmation of the Father.

HISTORICAL QUALIFICATION.
The Messiah needed to come from the Line of David.
Book of Matthew (Genealogy through Joseph): Abraham ---> Jesus.
Book of Luke (Genealogy through Mary): Jesus ---> Adam, and ultimately the Son of God.

Matthew as author tried to establish Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Yet Luke goes further and takes the genealogy to Adam, the Son OF God.  Jesus came from God.

How is Jesus validated for the ministries He's about to embark on?  The skies tore open, the Holy Spirit descended and the Father spoke His affectionate affirmation. And genealogically, He is the Son of God. There is only one King that could be THIS King. One Lamb that could be THIS Lamb. One Savior that could die and take on the sins of the world.

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/14/2013. Luke 3:15-20.

Luke 3:15-20. One Greater than John.
Pastor Nam Park.

Would it had been sinful if John had gotten married? ...had lived in a city (instead of the wilderness) ...to wear jeans (instead of camel skins) ...or ate tasty food (instead of locust and honey)?  Yet John was so committed that he would sacrifice these things for something else.

Motivation for his consecration, his willing sacrifice:
Sacrifice is a function of value.
We will sacrifice more for something of more intrinsic value to us.
ex. Alabaster vial: She found Jesus of far exceeding value, worth the sacrifice of the wage of the costly perfume.

We look at Christ through the eyes of John the Baptist: the greatest of the old testament prophets. Some things are worth the sacrifice... and of all things that are worth the sacrifices of our lives, surely our Savior should exceed them all. John's consecration was natural to him because he saw something so much greater in its value that he would lay down his life... and the Savior was worth it all.

Luke 3:15-20 Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, 16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. 19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, 20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.

John constantly maintained a distinction between himself and the Christ. He believed:
1. the Messiah is Mightier.  v.16 "...but One is coming who is mightier than I"
2. the Messiah is Greater in Honor.  v.16 "...I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals"  Only the lowliest servant performed this job since feet were covered in dirt from walking around all day.
3. the Messiah comes with a Greater Baptism. v.16 "...He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." The baptism of the Messiah is supernatural. The symbol of John's baptism wouldn't be as powerful as that of the source. Christ's baptism is the REAL thing.

Spirit and fire...
Option 1: Jesus will send the Spirt and it will cleanse with Spirit and fire.
Option 2: Believers are baptized with the Spirit but for the unbeliever, a baptism of judgement, with fire.
Nam leans more to option 1 since it's a bit more encouraging. 

v.17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John has already called them broods of vipers, but when the Messiah comes, He will separate them, like wheat (heavier pieces) and the chaff (lighter husks of the wheat).
Fire consumes and destroys. But, consider a fire that doesn't get satiated. Why do we underestimate Hell: the eternal fire. It'll be a horrible reality for those that did not Value the Son. His eternal wrath will burn them and not consume them.

John Piper mentions: It is good news when someone wakes you up and says, "Quick the hotel is on fire, but there is still time. I'll show you how to get out." The gospel must always contain a warning of God's wrath: "The chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

v.19-20 the Messiah was greater than John's own life... And if there is something of great value, you will find yourself driven to obtain it. 

Matthew 13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The biography of John ends in v.20

Herod Antipas married his brother's wife: Herodias.  They were a new testament match to Ahab and Jezebel (wicked wife). And the cherry on top of the wicked life that Herod Antipas led was that he put John (the man of God) in jail, and eventually took his head.

Hebrews 11:37-38 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

"men of whom the world was not worthy": is the value of John. These men/women did whatever it cost to honor their Savior. A higher affection would consume them. And God would call some of them to be martyred because the world was not worthy to be in their presence.

John does not call us to be just like him, but in his affections, we should seek to be identical.

Living it: Value Christ. Live a life that has great affection for the Lord. 

Sunday Morning IBC. 4/7/2013. Luke 3.

Luke 3:1-14. A Voice in the Wilderness. (Part III).
Pastor Nam Park.

God is Holy. Definition by negation: God is without sin. Yet holiness can also be translated as being "consecrated" and "set appart." Our God is distinct and above other gods. Usually, the opposite of being holy is something that is normal and mundane.
In light of that, how should we live our lives since we are not without sin?  A: We are to live a life that is consecrated and set appart for a holy purpose.

Recap: Why was John's Preparation ministry necessary?  A: The people had forgotten that they needed a savior. John understood what Jesus would be sent to do and John cried out John 1:29b "...Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
This message was offensive to the Jews who didn't readily admit that they were sinners that needed forgiveness.

The Jews believed that they were saved by their birth-right. They were "born" physical children of Abraham. Yet Galatians 3 states that it's by faith that we are Sons of Abraham. We are not to rely on our birthright for salvation. God is not obligated to save us in this manner.
Galatians 3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. 

It is urgent that we believe NOW. 
Luke 3:9 Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
John Piper mentions: It is good news when someone wakes you up and says, "Quick the hotel is on fire, but there is still time. I'll show you how to get out." The gospel must always contain a warning of God's wrath: "The chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." 

Then the crowds questioned John what they should do?
Luke 3: 10-14 10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

John instructs:

1. Share clothing, Share food. [Basic necessities. Material care for those in need. Not giving away all that you have, but rather he commanded them to SHARE.]

2. Tax Collectors (grouped with sinners since they had committed themselves to a life of sin by their conscious career choice) were instructed to only collect what was necessary. They were to be a testimony by their transformed life to those they had previously cheated (who would now know the prior evilness) and to the other tax collectors (who might possibly persecute them for collecting only what was right).

3. Soldiers (who might have bullied the people by falsely accusing the people) were instructed to be content with their wages and seek no excess unjustly from the people.

We are to demonstrate a difference in our life, not by running away, but by staying where God has placed us and being different. At home. At work. In all things that we do.

Remember that we are to be an aroma to the world.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

Living It: Be different than the world. An aromatic testimony to those that don't know the gospel.

Easter Morning IBC. 3/31/2013. 1 Corinth 15.

Why Does the Resurrection Matter? Our Belief is Validated by it.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Pastor Nam Park.

The Question before us: Why Does the Resurrection Matter?
When thinking of the gospel of Jesus, we don't always think of the Resurrection.
We emphasize the His death and the forgiveness of sins through His death. But it's rare to hear the Gospel with emphasis on the fact that He was raised from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

- Paul stresses that not only that Christ dies, a death validated by burial, and then raised.

Why do we celebrate the resurrection and not merely His death? A: Because the resurrection demonstrates the power of everything He has promised.  He can actually give life and not just proclaim the forgiveness of sins. The resurrection validates everything that is accomplished on the cross. His Resurrection is the key to THE LIFE that is lived in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 

Matthew 9:1-6 Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. 2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.” 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”

Only God can dispense grace and grant the forgiveness of sins.
Which is easier: To say your sins are forgiven or to demonstrate the impossible? You can't just go around saying "your sins are forgiven," without validating the power behind it. The crowd understands it perfectly, that Jesus is not just talk.
So did Jesus die on the cross? ABSOLUTELY. But not only did say that he would take the wrath of God in the place that we justly deserve, He would overcome death and then come back to life; Physically, Verifiably, Historically. That validates that He is UNLIKE ANYONE ELSE. He has come back from the dead. This is the power of the gospel.

At that time, if you didn't believe, you were to go verify it with witnesses of the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 

If Christ was not raised, then we are not forgiven and we are still in our sins. 
He died "ONCE FOR ALL." And once I believe, he becomes my forgiveness of sins (past, present, and future sins). And if Christ didn't raise from the dead, there is no proof that we are forgiven. It's proof of the power of God to save.

Micah: Dad, which is your favorite super hero?
Nam: Superman.
Micah: Yea, I like superman because he's the most powerful.
---
Nam: But Micah, can he create life out of nothing?
Micah: What? 
[Teaching them, no matter how powerful one created being can get, he can not measure to the power of God. God speaks and reality happens; that is His power.]

God's power is mostly demonstrated:
1. The Creation of the World
2. The Salvation of Sinners: To give to dead men who are in their sin, life again. 
Salvation of your Soul. The darkness of your sin. The deadness of your death. In the midst of your sin, you have been given life. But no resurrection, you're still dead, in your sin.

Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 

Two Options.
1. We pay for our own sins.
2. Son of God takes our place. But if Christ isn't raised, we don't get option 2.

The tragedy of this world is all around. Each tombstone has the story of a life lived. Yet our hope is beyond death.  1 Corinthians 15:20 affirms this.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

Dead men do not come back from the grave.

But God has the power to give life to that which was dead.

And if Christ is raised from the dead, our testimony is TRUE and more significantly, your sins are FORGIVEN. And if Christ has been raised from the dead, not only has He died for my sins once for all, He proves has the authority to do it. To demonstrate that the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins, He has risen from the dead. For those that have hope in Christ, we will see them again. For those that have hope in Christ, we are not pitiful but instead the MOST TO BE ENVIED among all humanity.  Christ will change us and give us life. We worship a living Savior. He is risen, He is alive. 

2nd Hour IBC. 3/24/2013.

Prayer: By Affirming God's Character, Pray Confidently and Expect God to Answer.
Genesis 18:22-33
Tim Jin

Genesis 18:17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?

God reveals to Abraham what he is about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah to teach him of His justice and righteousness.

Genesis 18:22-33 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord. 23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.” 

.

32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham theLord departed, and Abraham returned to his place. 

Abraham models how we ought to pray: By Affirming God's Character, Pray Confidently and Expect God to Answer.  In this passage, God is Just and Abraham affirms that God will not act outside His character.

v.23 “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?"

God's Justice doesn't allow Him to treat the righteous and the wicked alike.

I. PRAY CONFIDENTLY.

v.27 And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.  

Even though Abraham knows that he is but dust and ashes before the Lord, he can still pray confidently. He is also persistent in his prayers.

Notice that Abraham ends his prayers in questions while we normally end our prayers in statements. "To question God is to Trust Him and to Believe in Him" ~ loosely quoted from William Varner.

v. 25 ...Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?

II. PRAY SPECIFICALLY.

"Definite prayers are greeted with definite answers." ~loosely quoted from Professor Rosscup.

v.24 Fifty

v.28 FortyFive

v.30 Thirty

v.31 Twenty

v.32 Ten

Abraham asks for specific numbers and God answers him.

III. PRAY EXPECTANTLY.

We can't change God's will. 
But, might God have acted differently if you had not prayed? I venture "yes."
Example: George Muller.

What next? You'd expect Abraham to ask for God to save Sodom with only 5 righteous.  Ultimately, it's about saving that 1 righteous person. But God leaves.
Genesis 19:4-7 Proof that the city is wicked.
Genesis 19:12-21The Angels are still intent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham expected one of two possible options:
Either the Cities fall or the Cities stand.
God's Resolution: The Cities fell and the Righteous lived.
God was faithful to act according to His unchanging character.

Let what you know about God's Character Drive your Prayers.

Sunday Morning IBC. 3/24/2013. Luke 3.

Luke 3:7-9. A Voice in the Wilderness (Part II).
Pastor Nam Park. 

Luke 3:7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Each of us, uniquely, (with our own personality) put the stamp of following Christ upon our own lives. There is no other human being in scripture, as consecrated, as completely SOLD OUT as John the Baptist. His mind and heart were pointed to the cross. He was a conduit (not to emulate as a person but to emulate as a follower of Christ) an instrument to point people to Christ. John was the Magnesium that burned so BRIGHT for just a short while, then was gone.

Why was such a Preparation Ministry necessary?
A: The people had forgotten that Salvation was from the Lord. The Lord is Savior.
If John didn't remind them of their sins, they might not have been able to connect the death Christ's death to the atonement of their sins.

Baptism of Repentance: You are a sinner. Come and be baptized in recognition that you are in need of salvation.

Luke 3:7 Term "brood of vipers"  
Brood: the offspring of an animal. 
"You children of venomous snakes." And those well-versed in the old-testament would immediately relate this to the garden of Eden where the serpent was the devil.
The Jews considered themselves "children of Abraham" yet John was calling them offspring of the devil. Being considered "children of Abraham" was insufficient to save them from their sins. You can not be born into Salvation.

"who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
Jesus will one day return with wrath and the question everyone must answer in judgement will be: How did you honor my Son? 

John preaches the BAD NEWS that makes the GOOD NEWS so good.
[1] Either I pay for my own sins or [2] Something greater than me, a precious lamb comes and takes my place.  We are not saved from the Devil, but rather, we are SAVED from the Wrath of God.

"the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire"
Everyone unwilling to seek salvation from the Lord, the axe is already ready to swing. SOON! NOW! The fire is God's wrath. It consumes and we perfectly deserve it.

This message of the gospel is offensive to some but DELIGHTFUL to others.
It might be hard to share the gospel, but remember that the Gospel is a DELIGHT and find encouragement there when we share. John made HUGE enemies over the course of his life, yet because of his strong conviction, hundreds if not thousands streamed to the Judean Dessert to find him preaching. We likewise are conduits to lead others to Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? [[not us, we're just a conduit, pointing men to the salvation: to the Savior that they need and the Salvation they can have.]]