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Bearing Fruits of Repentance

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December 28, 2008

Lesson: Luke 3:7-18

Key Verse: Luke 3:8

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Introduction

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John the Baptist was commissioned by God to preach “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3). He came as the fulfillment of the Word which God wrote and of which was written by his prophet Isaiah (Isa. 4:3): “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (3:4). John would preach the truth of the coming of the Messiah, who would “save his people from their sins;” whose name would be Joshua (Jesus), meaning, “Salvation is of the Lord.” When John preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,” he was making straight the path for which Christ Jesus came to this earth. John’s baptism was not without true meaning and purpose, for those who came to John and heard his message were brought to “repentance for the remission of sins.” In other words, they repented of, acknowledged their sin and iniquities against God, and by faith understood the meaning of remission of sins to be a full pardon from and by the grace of God.

This message of “repentance for the remission of sins” was the truth of the Gospel preached by other chosen of Christ. When Peter preached he was asked, “What must we do?” His answer was: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). On another occasion Peter spoke of God as the judge of the quick and the dead, confirming that they were witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, saying, “to him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). Paul also preached of “repentance for the remission of sins.” Paul spoke of the Christ that “after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;” and that the Lord said that our “sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (Heb. 10:12-18).

The “Fruits of Repentance” which includes remission of our sins in Christ and our new life in Christ, is expressed in these words of our Confession: “Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and word of God, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from them all to God, purposing constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience” (Larger Catechism #76). This new life in Christ is one of obedience, which is summed up in these words of Christ: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:37-39).

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Bearing fruit of repentance – Luke 3:7-9

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John came preaching the “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;” with the promise of the prophets that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (3:6). John spoke to his hearers, asking this question, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” If they had ears to hear and hearts to receive the message, it was because the gospel message came from Jehovah through the prophet Isaiah, and so through John. The crooked way of the wicked can only be made straight by the Christ who can bring about pardon for our sins through his sacrifice on our behalf upon the cross of Calvary. Matthew Henry wrote of John’s warning that “This generation of vipers is fairly warned to flee from the wrath to come, which is certainly before them if they continue such; and their being a multitude will not be at all their security, for it will be neither reproach nor loss to God to cut them off. We are not only warned of this wrath, but are put into a way to escape it, if we look about us in time.” The wrath of God is a reality that all of must face. In one case it warns the wicked that there is an eternal punishment for transgressing the moral law of God; “For every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come” (S.C. # 84). Wrath “deprives of the smiles of God’s face. It is hell enough to be excluded his presence: in whose ‘presence is fullness of joy’ Psa 16:11” (T. Watson). The warning is made sure and true in these words that “the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree therefore which bringeth no forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

In the other case it reminds those of us who know the pardon for our sins in Christ, the depth of the saving grace of our Father in heaven. For it is “God who is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” God’s Covenant is sure in his Christ. Those who have escaped the wrath of God through Christ’s redemptive work are enabled to “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.” Paul encourages us to do good works with thanksgiving: “For God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work; (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor. 9:8-11).

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Discussion: What are the

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Examples of Fruit –Luke 3:10-14

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The people responded to John’s warning, asking, “What shall we do then?” Matthew Henry sees in these exchanges between John and the people the truth of the need of those who are taught to teach others, referring us to Matthew 18:19-20: “God ye therefore and teach all nations …Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have committed unto you;” writing that those “that profess and promise repentance in general must evidence it by particular instances of reformation, according as their place and condition are. They that would do their duty must desire to know their duty, and enquire concerning it.” Thus John speaks to the people in particular circumstances with this example, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” As we teach the Gospel as Scripture has taught us we are to bear fruit that will be worthy of that Gospel. The blessings that we receive from the Lord will find its usefulness or fruitfulness in being a blessing to those who are in need. Those who are called blessed or inwardly happy are those who are merciful. The warming of the heart by the teaching of the Word of God must bear the fruit shares one’s clothes as well as to feed those who are hungry.

John then hears the publicans who came to be baptized: “Master, what shall we do?” The publicans were those who collected taxes for the government. They were to “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.” They were to just in their collections, not seeking to line their own pockets. Honesty and integrity is also a fruit of the Gospel in the positions we may hold in the government. This should also remind us that we are to be honest in the selling of goods. Business practices are to bear the fruit of the Gospel. The soldiers also came to John, asking, “And what shall we do?” They too are to be just in their duties, seeking the best for others and content with their wages.

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Discussion: How are we to be fruitful in the duties we have in our home or communities?

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The Messiah Comes – Luke 2:15-17

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The people with expectation began to wonder who John was; as they thought deeply about the possibility that John was the Messiah. There was no true king in Israel. They were under the rule of Caesar. Would this be the one who would free them? “Thus the way of the Lord was prepared, and people were prepared to bid Christ welcome; for, when men’s expectations are raised, that which they are in expectation of becomes doubly acceptable. Now when they observed what an excellent doctrine John Baptist preached, what a divine power went along with it, and what a tendency it had to reform the world” (M. Henry).

The Spirit gave the opportunity to John to make the path straight, to proclaim the coming and nature of the Messiah: “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latched of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” The Messiah will come with the might, worthy of all praise and glory. He will come with judgment and mercy. He is the Son of God given by the Father to be the propitiation for our sins. His Name, his person is “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). In Christ we have become adopted children of the Father, members of the household of God, a fellowship of believers, redeemed and made alive, proclaiming the wonder of the Messiah whose name is “Jehovah is salvation!”

Our paths are made straight in the coming of the Christ, “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:15-19).

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Discussion: What is the wonder of the coming of Christ into our lives as our Savior?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2009 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.
 
 

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