Are You Ready? Matt. 3

Series: Radical Kingdom: Hidden Majesty Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC February 8, 2026 John the Baptist's message after 400 years of prophetic silence was clear: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. True repentance involves three components: a change of mind, heart, and life. It's not about cleaning ourselves up before coming to God, but rather an invitation to turn from sin toward His grace. The religious leaders of John's time appeared righteous but lacked genuine repentance, while authentic faith requires honesty about our struggles. Jesus' baptism demonstrates the gospel - He identified with sinners and took our curse so we could receive the Father's blessing. Repentance is urgent because time is limited, and it separates authentic Christians from those merely going through religious motions. 1. Repentance is the Way that We Prepare to Encounter Jesus. (vv. 1-3) 2. Repentance Begins with the Realization that We are Filthy. (vv. 4-6) 3. True Repentance is Demonstrated by Life Change (vv. 7-9) 4. We Need to Repent Now Because Time is Running Out (vv. 10-12) 5. Jesus Makes Our Repentance Effective for Salvation (vv. 13-17)