Sunday 21 May 2023

He said to them : Races of vipers, who taught you to flee from the wrath to come ? Matthew 3.7

Devilish Nature

It is to the religious elite of the country that Jean-Baptiste addresses his question. John had been sent by God to precede Jesus. His mission was to prepare the people to welcome him as the Saviour.

Jean's visitors were proud to be part of the chosen race. They were the physical descendants of Abraham, the father of believers. But John does not see it that way.

For him, their fundamental nature does not come from Abraham, but from the serpent, the devil. It is not primarily because of what they do that the religious leaders of the nation must repent, but for what they are.

It is necessary for each man to understand who he is in order to turn to God. As long as we delude ourselves about our condition, we do not understand its gravity. Our problem with God is not primarily in doing, but in being.

Jesus said that we must be born again, so incurable is our first nature. Our efforts to improve ourselves are in vain. It is impossible for us to change the background, the natural dispositions of our being ourselves. Jesus alone can make us a new woman, a new man. The path to faith in Him is through unapologetic self-condemnation.

Have you ever repented like this before God ?

Gilles Georgel

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Proposed reading : Gospel according to John, chapter 8, verses 39 to 47.

Source (Live Today)