Day 8 of 500. The New and Living Way. “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance…”
“OUCH!” is my response to that section of scripture. Let me put it in context:
Luke 3:8-9 “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The BLT (Billy L. Tingle) version reads, “PUT UP OR SHUT UP!”
Christ is saying a lot in those two scriptures. The first point is “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance…” You say you have repented and accepted Christ, but where is the fruit as evidence of a transformed life. “What fruit” you may say. Paul breaks it down in Galatians 5:22-23a (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
Love is listed first, not by accident. With true love the others have no choice but to be present. Christ said in John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” If you are unable to show love then I fear that you have not truly received God’s love yourself. Not just love but love “keeping with repentance.” Love that reflects the love Christ showed you.
Secondly Christ told the listeners, “and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father.” God doesn’t want to hear what your mother or father did or how they led their lives. He doesn’t want to hear how you were raised in church and never miss a service.
His third point showed how He can use anyone regardless of their station in life or family history, “for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.”
His fourth and final statement was a warning, “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” He couldn’t make it much clearer than that. He isn’t judging the tree on what it did in years past, “so every tree that does not bear good fruit” that is a now statement. There is only one outcome for those found fruit-less, they are “cut down and thrown into the fire.”
There is a popular saying, “Common sense is a flower that doesn’t grow in everyone’s garden.” I’m afraid that just as lacking is the fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” How about your own life? Could your fruit fill a produce stand or would you have trouble even making a bowl of fruit-salad?
I’m checking my branches as I type,
Billy