Bible Reading Blog
“The Fruit of Repentance”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Luke 3
“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins… [John said,] Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.... Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3.3, 8-9)
The gospel always begins with an unapologetic call to repentance. Forgiveness cannot occur except where one realizes responsibility for sin and turns from it. When we realize what sin costs us and what it cost God, we are better prepared to turn from it.
After turning to God, forgiveness should yield a transformed character as a response to the grace of God. John assumes that repentance will have a fruit. Jesus will say later in this gospel that one who is forgiven much loves the Lord much (Luke 7.47).
What should that fruit look like? The simple answer here involves treating people with generosity in meeting their need and in refusal to abuse authority (Luke 3.10-14). In other words, a transformed life transforms our ways of relating to others.
It is important to note that a transformed life will cause tension in some relationships. John’s message of repentance to Herod struck a nerve (Luke 3.18-20). Herod tried to stop the effect it had on his conscience by locking John up; but nothing Herod does can change his accountability. He was opposed to God and he needed to know.
Sometimes sinners respond with hostility when sin is called sin. The universality of repentance affects the hearts of men differently, but it cannot be tamed to meet the need of the situation.
The scriptures highlight that this transformed life is a choice. Paul would say we are transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12.2). The writer of Hebrews encourages to do this every day (Hebrews 3.7-8, 15; 4.7). This means our fruit bearing is a matter that requires constant attention and purposeful investment of our minds.
We must recognize that being born in a Christian home, going to a Christian church, or surrounding ourselves with Christian people is not the same as personally turning away from our sins. Living a “moral Christian life” means nothing if we are not different than who we used to be. We must bear fruit that shows we are committed to turning from sin.
The gospel is a call to think, act, and live differently. Jesus does not save perfect people, but forgiven people whose sin takes many forms... but to whom the same forgiveness is offered. And so, a warning without the gospel is imbalanced. No one is above God’s standard. When it comes to him, all are accountable. The only bridge over the chasm of sin is the recognition that with repentance comes forgiveness.
