Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance!
A. John the Baptist declared. Luke 3:8-9
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.
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bring not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
1. John the Baptist declared to those who came to be baptized for remission of sins-->
Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
2. The axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree therefore which bring not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into fire!
We all know what this mean!
B. Apostle Paul reinforced this! Acts 26:20
But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance.
C. James explained it this way! James 2:17-20
Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. Yea, a man will say, you have faith, and I have works:
show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
You believe that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and tremble!
But wilt you know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead!
D. Apostle Paul also put it this way! Eph.2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1. When we don’t do good works we prove that we are defected products!
2. We also prove that God’s workmanship defected too!
E. Jude described no good work Christians this way. Jude 1:4-7
1. Jude 1:4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.
They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
a. Their condemnation was written about long ago!
b. These secretly slipped into the church! They did not get into the church the normal way!
c. They are godless men. They change the grace of God into a license for immorality.
d. They deny Jesus Christ as their Lord. This means they care not what Jesus said!
e. John 8:30-44 Jesus called these people children of the devil!
2. Jude 1:5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
a. They are in the church as delivered people but Jesus does not recognize them as believers.
b. They are the people designated for destruction!
3. Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home these he has kept in darkness,
bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
4. Jude 1:7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.
They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
F. Conclusion: Those who do not bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, beware! Mark 11:12-14
And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon:
and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. And he answered and said unto it,
No man eat fruit from thee henceforward forever. And his disciples heard it.
1. What happened to this fig tree serve as a warning to those who do not do good works in the Lord!
2. If you don’t do good works, don’t claim to be a believer of Jesus!
As the fig tree show forth leaves, but not fig for people to eat!
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preach this on January 27, 2013.