Evangelical Greek Free Church

Good News Magazine - A New Year: A Fresh Start

A new year often prompts us to make good resolutions about the future. I wonder if we would want to change things in our lives if a convincing preacher challenged us with the message ‘prepare to meet your God, because he is about to come here!’

In Luke we read about John the Baptist, a compelling and unusual preacher with a challenging message: “….the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins… The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I (Jesus Christ) will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit…” (Luke 3:2-3,15-16).

A baptism of repentance represents a change of heart, which includes sorrow for sin and a determination to lead a holy life. Christ would deliver the repentant person from sin’s penalty by dying on the cross, hence the forgiveness of sins. ‘Baptism’ figuratively means “to be identified with” as an unbleached cloth is identified with the color in a vat of dye when it is dipped. As John the Baptist preached and the people identified with his message, they were baptized as an outward sign of their inward repentance or “change of mind”.

Before a king made a journey to a distant country, the roads he would travel were improved. Similarity, preparation for the Messiah was made in a moral and spiritual way by the ministry of John, which focused on repentance and forgiveness of sin and the need for a Savior. In verse 6 we read: “And all mankind will see God’s salvation.” God’s salvation was to be made known to both Jews and Gentiles – a major theme of Luke’s Gospel.

So Jesus reached out not only to his own nation and age, but to us all in every time and place. In Luke’s story we hear and see God’s good news of his love and mercy communicated by Jesus in his teaching, healing, acts of compassion, and all above all in his death on the cross. Luke makes it clear that salvation is offered to all: men, women, and children, old and young, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, foreigners and strangers –and especially the lost, the ill, the sad, the downtrodden and the disreputable. There is room for all in God’s kingdom, and the key to entry is available to everyone: trust in Jesus and follow him.

Why did people get so stirred up by what John had to say? His message challenged everyone going their own way without God. But there was good news for those willing to change: God could forgive and there was one coming to make this possible, Jesus, the Son of God. The stern message had its effect, and as a sign that people recognized their turning towards God’s way John baptized them in the Jordan River. But it didn’t stop there! The people realized they needed to change their behavior and ask John for guidance on what they should do. The answer was: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (verse 8).

If you have not repented from your sins, may the start of this New Year be a fresh start for you by asking God for forgiveness. He will transform you and make you a new creation. And following this, may God richly bestow his blessings upon you and guide you so as to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. What a wonderful start to another new year this will be. This is the best and most important resolution you could possibly make for it will positively influence the rest of your days here on earth, and for eternity in heaven with Jesus, the Son of the only true and living God.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you; And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numb 6:24-26).

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