He said therefore to
the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with
repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for
Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:7-9).
The
Holy Spirit inspired Luke to record the teaching and preaching of John the
Baptist so we can discover the same indispensable truth about repentance that
he preached to his original audience. Just like Jesus, John attracted large
crowds. Just like Jesus, John confronted the crowd with truth that convicted
their hearts and sent many of them running away. But others were compelled to
step closer and accept the challenge of true repentance which John promised
would lead them to Christ… “I baptize you with water for repentance, but
he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to
carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Here
John’s message reveals that the way to the new birth that soon would be offered
by Christ is via genuine repentance. The Spirit prompted John to use the word
repentance (Greek: metanoia; a compunction for guilt prompting a reformation
or reversal of decision). John challenged the crowd to consider much more
than ceremonial cleansing through baptism. John demanded “fruits in
keeping with repentance”. The Holy Spirit-inspired words of the Baptist
reveal the marks of a truly repentant heart.
Sincere
repentance produces fruit. A convicted heart that reverses course
produces a dramatic change in behavior. There is undeniable evidence when
motives and priorities are moved from selfishness and wickedness to benevolence
and righteousness. The most obvious fruit of a truly repentant heart is a fresh
new hunger for the forgiveness that only Christ can offer. The truly repentant
heart seeks and responds to the gospel of Christ… “The next day he
saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man
who ranks before me, because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but
for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to
Israel’” (John 1:29-31).
Serious
repentance prompts new life. A genuine new motivation in the heart
prompts a consuming new hunger for righteousness. Familiarity and compromise
with temptation and sin are replaced by discomfort and longing for holiness that
drives the truly repentant soul toward Christ… “Repent therefore, and
turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for
you, Jesus” (Acts 3:19-20). Earnest disciples know we cannot achieve
the holiness we covet on our own. The truly repentant heart trusts and
grows in the righteousness of Christ… “For our sake he made him to be sin
who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2
Corinthians 5:21).
Spurious
repentance procures death. Fake repentance deceives the soul into
believing there is a self-made path to righteousness. This increases
hopelessness and guilt in the soul that keeps striving and failing to conquer
sin and guilt. A lifetime of self-deception leads the unrepentant soul to a confrontation
with the consequence of their rejection of the Savior… “Whoever has the
Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1
John 5:12). Godly grief over sin and genuine repentance lead to life. The
truly repentant heart pursues and finds eternal life in Christ… “For
godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret,
whereas worldly grief produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
As we grow
up into Christ our hearts will increasingly reflect…
The Marks of a Truly Repentant
Heart.
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