"Fruits Worthy Of Repentance"

"FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE"

"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham to our father": for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."-Lk 3:7,8

Just what are these "fruits"? Well, John is asked this question by this same crowd. They asked, "What shall we do then?". Good question! Maybe the best bible question is asked by the Philippian jailer; "what must I do to be saved?"-Acts 16:30.

But is that what this group was asking? Notice John tells them to do something unheard of! Something impossible for the insincere, casual inquirer (merely intellectually curious!). (Vs 11) "He answereth and saith unto them, 'He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise"! When someone wants to be free of some "thing", (anything!), that "has a hold or grip on" him, he must first be willing to "turn loose!".

If these were to be "a people made ready, prepared for the Lord", (which was John's mandate from God), so they might be eligible to "Receive Him", they must first be convinced to "turn unto the Lord" by turning from their own ways (this world)! John was given but one, burning message; REPENT! That means let go; let God!

The "spirit of Elijah" is a mighty wind that "fans" the desire of men's hearts. Jesus asks three times in a row what the people expected of John, "but what went ye out into the wilderness to see?"-Mt 11:7,8,9. In other words, 'what did you seek?'. [What did you EXPECT to see?] "Plant a carrot, get a carrot (not a Brussel sprout!)" is a line from one of my favorite songs from the musical "The Fantastiks".

As they sought - they found (in John). Jesus was also rough on a sincere young man who asked Him this question. Remember what He said? Much the same thing as John said to this "assembly of snake-babies" ("brood of vipers"). "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me!". -Mk 10:21. Now Jesus "LOVED" this young man! But he went away sad! He could not "bring forth the fruits worthy of repentance!".

We have to see What we don't have, feel remorse, guilt and conviction of our own unworthiness of God's Love, learn that we can't do or make It ourselves, hear that It's a free gift from God, want It with all our heart, mind & soul, decide to risk "letting go" and abandoning our welfare, or "trust" Another, choose His life as our own, commit (vow) ourselves to His ownership, and then dedicate our life-time-resources to His Process of Sanctification.

Sound complicated? Nawww! Just sounds that way. Actually, it all happens in the twinkling of an eye. It's a spiritual thing, you know. But we must become "broken" (contrite, willing) before we can "open" (Come) unto Him! There is no way to counterfeit the true intent of our heart [and thus hide it from God]. If we want God, He knows it! It's as if He's hunting, searching, [hungry even!], for one of His "little ones" who's ready to "fall in Love" with Him!

But that's exactly what it takes! Until we're ready to "fall" helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly, out-of-control, head-over-heals in Love with Jesus Christ, we're all doomed to go away "sad" (like the rich man), & cling desperately to a lethal world!

But part of the problem is determining whose repentance! If we conclude it's man's repentance, John's sentance doesn't make any sense! How could man "bring forth fruit worthy" of his own repentance? The answer is, of course, he couldn't! "Who warned you to flee (GOD'S) wrath to come? - bring forth fruit worthy of (GOD'S) Repentance! NOW it makes sense! [But you say, ".....GOD'S REPENTANCE???"]

Remember how Moses (God's saviour of His people) got God to repent of His wrath? "And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore [why] should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, "I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever." And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."-Ex32:11-14.

Man has sinned, God's curse is on Him. If God does not Repent of His wrath, and find a way to pardon and forgive man, man has no hope! But God has always promised salvation from His wrath (He'd find a way!).

"The elijah effect" (I call it) brings man to that point of choice or decision where he is faced with the Reality of his delusion; that he's deceived; that he is not what God created him to be, and that he's doomed if he stays that way. This causes a man to cry, "what must I do to be saved?". In one, single word ("repent"), we have God's answer!

"For the LORD shall judge his people, and Repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left."-Dt 32:36.

"And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."-1Chr 21:15.

"And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies."-Ps 106:45. God even says, "I am weary with repenting!"-Jer 15:6.

Jesus said, "Whosoever will save his life will lose it!"-Mk 8:35.

We must all "Behold, as in a glass, the Glory (Love) of the Lord" (and thus perceive our own nakedness without Him) to be "changed into the same image from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord".

But all this takes an "OPEN FACE". What Paul means by that "open face" (humility) is "FRUIT WORTHY OF REPENTANCE"! Jesus is our Vine, Brance, Fruit, Worth & Repentance! [Our "Salt" AND our "Light"!] For the Love of Christ we -*AND*- God Repent!