Fruit Keeping with Repentance

 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Matthew 3:7-10

Do you like being told you’re wrong?

John said it.

I’ll say it.

You’re wrong.

So am I.

 

Wrong…as in unjust, immoral, dishonest.

Neither of us can stand before Holy God.

 

In this wrongness…real hell is our fair destination.

Pharisees and Sadducees weren’t righteous by position…

or because they were Jews…

John bluntly told them.

Going to church won’t save us…

Baptism won’t save us…

Jesus alone saves…

the one who confesses sin, the one who repents…

of wrongness- of sin.

 

Don’t be offended.

It’s foolishness.

Examine your heart…

Honestly.

John said, “You brood of vipers!”

Strong words…carry offense unless…

You listen to God speak.

 

Live life serving God…

seek His will…

may our life tree bear fruit…

love for others, goodness, patience, honesty, self-control…

 

Jesus gives forgiveness of sin and these…

 to the one who repents.

Every life tree not bearing fruit is cut down…

and burned.

Nothing to lose…but sins.

Eternity to gain.

A great exchange.