Be Very Worried If Your Sin Isn’t Mentioned Here

Luke 3:12
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely —be content with your pay.”

John the Baptist was a very effective preacher. He didn’t desperately go seeking people to preach to. He preached so well that people sought him to hear him. May God grant us the effectiveness of John the Baptist as we serve Him.

As John was preaching and baptizing, masses came seeking him. They would hear John mentioning the sins that the people present should stop in order to be ready for God’s kingdom. When someone realized that their sin had not been mentioned, they pleaded with John to also address them. The people knew that they needed eternal life and sin stood in the way of that blessed future.

Our text today tells us that when Tax collectors came, they also asked John to address their sins and publicly so. They asked John, what should we do to be part of this kingdom? John told them to stop stealing taxes. They should not collect more than they are required to collect. Tax collectors knew that if your sins are not mentioned you are doomed. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

Then some soldiers came and found that the sins of the tax collectors were being exposed so that they can be ready for God’s kingdom. The soldiers didn’t call John aside for a private consultation of their sins. They also publicly asked John to identify their sins and what they need to do to inherit eternal life. John told them to stop asking for bribes and accusing people falsely. John also asked them to be content with their pay. The soldiers knew what many of us need to know, that being corrected is not a bad thing. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

The silliest thing we can do is to claim innocence and being sinless. The listeners of John were not silly enough to pretend that they are perfect and sinless. They asked John to identify their sins. They did not dispute, they went home knowing what to do in order to inherit eternal life.

The sins John was mentioning were not secret. It was common knowledge that tax collectors were collecting more than they should. Who didn’t know about bribing in the police department? Yet John didn’t have the evidence of these sins, but he mentioned them hoping that in their wisdom they will desist from sin. If John had been asked for evidence, he would probably have nothing to show. But since the sins had been mentioned over and over, he asked them to avoid it. They were glad their shortcomings were identified. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

Personal sins that are not public knowledge should be dealt with privately, between the accuser, the accused, and God, only. Certain exposures do more damage than good. It may leave the accuser looking heroic but it is foolishness. However public sins must be dealt with publicly.

Isaiah 58:1
“Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.

God commands the prophet to tell people their sins as loudly and as clearly as possible. Tribalism, racism, and corruption are not secret sins, they must be condemned publicly. The public can see and tell. They may not have evidence that can survive a court of law but the situation is rampant and obvious. John addressed it and the people were kind enough to obey and repent. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

All people agreed with John’s condemnation of sin except Herod who got offended and imprisoned John the Baptist, Luke 3:19-20, and then later on Beheaded him. Many Herods are there in every congregation of listeners. Instead of correcting their ways, they get offended and kill the messenger. They don’t know that it is a great favor if your sins are mentioned. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

Hebrews 12:8
If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that if you are left out when others are being disciplined, you are not loved. When sins of others are being mentioned and they are being corrected, yet you are left out, the Bible says, you are an illegitimate son and you are not loved. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

When sermons address your sins, you are loved by God. God loves you so much so that He shows you what you need to rectify to make your relationship with Him better. Do not despise God by rejecting correction. Do not misunderstand and get offended by correction. It is a sign of God’s love for you. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

Hebrews 12:5
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Hebrews 12:6
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Hebrews 12:7
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

Whenever or anytime you feel touched by God’s word and you feel addressed in person, praise God for He loves you. It is against the professional ethics of preachers, to preach about someone who they can reach and correct. Preachers don’t take things personally on public platforms. Those would be terrible preachers. However, preachers must be fearless in addressing sins that are public knowledge but no one is willing to tell Herod that he is wrong. A preacher must do it, out of God’s love for Herod. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
…, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, …

What preachers preach the sermon should be treated as God’s word and not the preacher’s opinion. We preach God’s word and not our opinions. If it is God’s word that mentions our sins, we should be glad that God remembered us to correct us. If we silence those who correct us, we are closing the door of mercy for ourselves. Make it your way of life to accept correction without excuse. Be very worried if your sin isn’t mentioned here.

Dear God, it can be painful, but deal with me like a legitimate child that you love. Correct me, and give me the grace to accept it and make requisite corrections, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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