Matthew 3:8………Ready

Matthew 3:8………Ready

8 Produce (exhibit, manifest) fruit (i.e. godly living, character, conduct, behavior, good works, holy living, etc.) keeping with (corresponding, agreeing with, consistent with) repentance. (i.e. Straighten out and turn from your life sin.)

Continued From Book

“Teaches those who have repented will prove it by turning from their former way of life and sinful way of living.” ⇒ Prove it by the way you live that you’ve repented of your sins and turned to God.-NLT.

“Teaches how true repentance will display itself through a change of life and behavior.” ⇒ Can people see a real change in you, that your not the same person as before? That you’ve stopped using foul language and dirty jokes. You’ve stopped sleeping around. You’ve stopped partying and drinking. You’ve stopped engaging in lude and immoral behavior.

“Warns against saying your sorry for sin one minute, and the next minute go right back to sinning again.”  ⇒ Confession of sin means nothing without halting the continuation of that sin.

“Teaches true repentance ought to be seen and felt everyday of our lives. It should show up in our hands & feet, not just in our lips.”

“Teaches those who truly repented will live a changed life out of gratitude for all that God has done.” ⇒ Repentance and holy living is a visible response to the grace of God. Those who have received God’s forgiveness will shape how we live and treat those around us. (A forgiven person becomes a forgiving person. A delivered person becomes a delivering person.)

“Even today, the fruits of repentance will often ask; “Lord show us where we need to turn from sin or where we have gotten lax with sin” Or “Lord how can I better serve you and live for you. ⇒ Or “Lord what will you have me do now”? Or “Lord where are we turning to our ways instead of your ways”? Or “Where are we settling for less than what you’ve called us to be.”

“A question arises, how is this lived out in our lives? We can go through a whole laundry list of ideas, but the most common are. Have you left your selfish & sinful ways behind? Are you being honest in your actions and dealings with others? 

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches how repentance is more than just words; it is lived out in a daily life of surrender, obedience, and holiness.

Teaches how as Christians it should be obvious that we belong to Jesus by the way we live and how we love and treat others. Because we are thankful for Jesus, we live that out and influence people around us.

Teaches how repentance involves both a stopping and starting. When we here the word repentance we often think of it as things you stop doing, when it’s also things we start doing as well. It’s not just the sinful habits and bad stuff you get rid of, but also the good works you take up. Can you list some things you have STOPPED doing since you became a Christian; and some other things that you STARTED doing since you became a Christian?) (cf. James 2:18) [Note: The reasons most people fail to repent successfully or have victory over a certain sin, is because they only take off without putting on. That is they must fill the vacuum or void with something else or they’ll simply fall back into the same old pattern of sin. A genuine and lasting repentance will take measure to avoid the sin the next time. Where as a insincere repentance takes no measures at all and as a result find themselves engaging in the same sin. ] (cf. Matt. 13: 1-13, 18-23, Eph. 4:25, 31, 5:8)      

Teaches how the fruits of repentance will witness and share the Gospel with others. Those who are Saved and received God’s grace and forgiveness will bear testimony of what the Lord has done in their life. They will want everybody to know about the dramatic changes Jesus has brought about. (Note: Our repentance ought to be seen, heard, and felt everyday of our lives as a witness to the world around us.) (cf. Matt. 12:34-35)

Teaches how the fruits of repentance will come acts of reconciliation & restitution. A “thief” will not just stop stealing, but he will eagerly pay back what he has stolen!-(cf. Luke 19:8) A “guilty” person will not just admit they were wrong, but will be quick to apologize and make amends. Is there someone you hurt in the past that you need to say sorry to or make amends with? Or someone you need to repay a debt too? (cf. Ex. 22:1)

-fruits keeping with repentance-This is more than just about showing up at church. It’s more than just doing the right churchy things of baptism or Professions of Faith. Nor is this saying were to live a holy life from here on out. But rather God does expect us to live a life of honesty, integrity, and generosity towards others. Doing good to those around us, and being just to all men. God expects love and compassion at home, honesty and integrity at work, kindness and generosity to our neighbor. If we truly love the Lord, we should want to do what He values. We want others to be able to see evidence of our faith. If we love God we should love and care for people. We should want them to know the power of Jesus and His love too. 

Note: To better understand how this “Fruit in keeping with repentance” is worked out in our lives. We find in the Gospel of Luke John the Baptist providing some practical ways to three groups of people which can serve as a model for us. To the first group of people [the crowd] John emphasized how the fruits of repentance will be kind and generous to others. To the second group of people [Tax collectors] John emphasized how the fruits of repentance will be fair and honest with others. And the last group of people [Roman Soldiers] John emphasized how the fruits of repentance will stop taking advantage of others and be content with what they have. John’s advice is not just limited to these situations. But extends to living a life that is marked by honesty, compassion, generosity, and integrity in all areas, whether its at home, work, or play. Also note John’s reply may surprise us in what it does not contain. At first we might think that the changes brought about by repentance and Saving faith might include more worship, Bible study, prayer, and service at church. John doesn’t mention any of these at all. Which goes to show how repentance and true religion is less about focusing on self and our own spirituality, and more about focusing on helping other people.

Note: To put this in more specific terms “Fruits of Repentance” will be kind and generous to those in need. As an example if you see someone who needs food, clothing, and shelter you’ll stop to help them. [If you have a closet full of things you don’t need, give them away. Or donate them to organizations like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or the Rescue Mission.] If you hurt or wronged someone you will be quick to apologize. If you have been making an idol out of money, you will stop, and begin to delight in the Lord alone. If you have been putting impure things in front of your eyes, you will stop, and pursue better things. If you have been getting furious with your family, you will stop, and seek God’s grace for self-control. If you’ve been cheating and stealing you will stop and start making an honest living. [If your self employed don’t cheat on your income tax return. If your unemployed don’t file a false insurance claim or a false disability claim.] If your in a position of Authority don’t abuse it. [If your a Police officer don’t violate a persons rights or falsely charge them. If your a Judge be fair and impartial in your rulings. If your an Employer don’t pay low wages or demand long hours, pay your workers what is fair. If your an Employee give your boss an honest days work, don’t slack-off or punch out early.] Don’t exploit or take advantage of others. [If your in a management position don’t use your power to bully or abuse others with threats of demotion, termination, or pay cuts.] Be honest and fair in your business dealings. [If your a Sales Person don’t shade the truth about a product, or sale something you know is defective. If your a Contractor don’t over bill your customers or use inferior materials or cheap parts.] Don’t be selfish or greedy, be content with what you have. [If you make low minimum wage or passed over for a promotion, don’t become disgruntle, thinking your worth more than what your being paid. Instead trust God to help you make the most at what you have.]

Note: Another good example of a person producing fruits worthy of repentance is found in the Gospel of Luke. Where a tax-collector named Zaccheus, who become rich by cheating and overcharging people on their taxes said; “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.” To which Jesus responded, “Today, Salvation has come to this house.” Why? Not because Zaccheus had bought his Salvation! But because Zaccheus was showing the FRUIT of genuine repentance. He wasn’t just SAYING that he was going to follow Jesus, he SHOWED it by changing his ways, stopping his cheating and defrauding of people, and giving to the poor.-(cf. Like 19:1-10)

Note: In talking about producing fruits in keeping with repentance. There was a story about the conversion of a man named Jack Eckerd. Jack Eckerd is the founder of the Eckerd Drug chain, the second largest drug chain in America. After months of prayer and testimonies by his good friend Charles Colson, he finally believed the Gospel and accepted Jesus into his life and was born-again. The first thing he did after being born-again was to walk into one of his drugstores. Going down the aisles he saw copies of Playboy and Penthouse. He’d seen them in his stores many times before, but they never bothered him before. Now he saw them with new eyes, with born-again eyes. He knew what had to be done. He went back to his office. He called in his president. He said, “Take Playboy and Penthouse out of my stores.” The president said, “You can’t mean that, Mr. Eckerd. We make three million dollars a year on those magazines.” He said, “Take ’em out of my stores.” And in 1,700 stores across America, by one man’s decision, those magazines were removed from the shelves because that man had given his life to Christ and was now living the converted life.

FRUITS KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE…..

• Have you turned from your poor behavior and sinful way of living?

• Have you started being honest in your actions & dealings with others?

• Have you changed the way you treat & interact with others?

• Have you stopped gossiping about others?

• Have you stopped cheating & deceiving others?

• Have you stopped being critical and resentful of others?

• Have you made amends & restitution to those you’ve wronged? (Where possible)

• Have you asked forgiveness from those you have offended & hurt in the pass? (Where possible)

• Have you stopped using poor humor & bad language?

• Have you been praying, witnessing, and reading the bible more?

• Have you made a honest effort to break from sinful habits and worldly living?

• Have you donated your time to worthy causes, public-service, tutoring, faith sharing, foster care?

• Have you become more loving & caring towards family, friends, and strangers around you?

• Have you held yourself accountable by setting up barriers, filters, and accountability partners?

• Have you witnessed the Gospel and shared with others all that the Lord has done? (In both word & deed)

• Have you made a point to stay away from any conduct or behavior that brings dishonor to God?

  (For more Applications get the whole Book)

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