Fruit Evidencing Repentance

Fruit Evidencing Repentance By Mark Mayberry 8/17/2014 Introduction Preparing the way for the Savior, John the Baptist said, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He revealed the nature of conversion, saying that men should bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-14). Matthew 3:1-12 (NASB95) 1 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight! 4 Now John himself had a garment of camel s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can 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. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Luke 3:1-14 (NASB95) 1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight. 5 Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth; 6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God. 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 1

is cut down and thrown into the fire. 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. In the first and second gospel sermons recorded in the book of Acts, Peter emphasized the need for repentance (Acts 2:37-40; 3:19-21). Acts 2:37-40 (NASB95) 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation! Acts 3:19-21 (NASB95) 19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Paul similarly affirmed that men should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance (Acts 26:19-20). Acts 26:19-20 (NASB95) 19 So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. The Nature of Repentance Every obstacle that stands between us and the Lord must be removed. In order for repentance to be real, a genuine change of heart and life is necessary. While the sorrow of the world wallows in remorse and regret, godly sorrow moves us to repentance (2 Cor. 7:8-11). 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (NASB95) 8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while 9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what 2

vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. Statement to the Pharisees and Sadducees Jesus sternly denounced the Pharisees and Sadducees, saying, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:7-12; Luke 3:7-9). Matthew 3:7-12 (NASB95) 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can 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. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Luke 3:7-9 (NASB95) 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. On other occasions, Jesus denounced religious leaders with similar language (Matt. 12:33-37; 23:29-33). Matthew 12:33-37 (NASB95) 33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 23:29-33 (NASB95) 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? This emphasizes the importance of serving God with sincerity and truth (Josh. 24:14-15; 1 Cor. 5:8). 3

Joshua 24:14-15 (NASB95) 14 Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 1 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB95) 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Statement to the Crowds The crowds questioned Jesus, saying, Then what shall we do? He answered, The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise (Luke 3:10-11). Luke 3:10-11 (NASB95) 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. This emphasizes the need for charitable compassion (Luke 6:38; 12:29-34; Acts 9:36-39). Luke 6:38 (NASB95) 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 12:29-34 (NASB95) 29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Acts 9:36-39 (NASB95) 36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, Do not delay in coming to us. 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. Statement to the Tax Collectors Some tax collectors questioned Jesus, saying, Teacher, what shall we do? He replied, Collect no more than what you have been ordered to (Luke 3:12-13). 4

Luke 3:12-13 (NASB95) 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. This emphasizes the need for honesty and uprightness (Luke 19:1-10; 2 Cor. 8:16-24; 1 Pet. 2:12). Luke 19:1-10 (NASB95) 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house. 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much. 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 (NASB95) 16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; 19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, 20 taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you. 1 Peter 2:12 (NASB95) 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Statement to the Soldiers Some soldiers questioned Jesus, saying, And what about us, what shall we do? He said, Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages (Luke 3:14). Luke 3:14 (NASB95) 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. 5

This emphasizes the need for fairness and equity, personal integrity and a spirit of contentment (Matt. 7:12; Phil. 2:14-18; 1 Tim. 6:6-11). Matthew 7:12 (NASB95) 12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Philippians 2:14-18 (NASB95) 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. 1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NASB95) 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Hebrews 13:5-6 (NASB95) 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, 6 so that we confidently say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me? Conclusion What shall we do? emphasizes individual accountability. The same question was asked by believers on Pentecost (Acts 2:37-38) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25-30). Acts 2:37-38 (NASB95) 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 16:25-30 (NASB95) 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here! 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down 6

before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? After seeing Jesus on the Damascus road, Saul of Tarsus was instructed to get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do (Acts 9:1-6). Afterwards, Ananias commanded Paul, Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name (Acts 22:16). Acts 9:1-6 (NASB95) 1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do. Acts 22:16 (NASB95) 16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name. Will you respond to the Lord s invitation in a similar manner? Will you be saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:40-42; Phil. 2:12-13)? Acts 2:40-42 (NASB95) 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation! 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB95) 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 7