As we Begin Again in the year, it’s important to embrace that thing that not many like to address. That thing is called repentance. When the word is even mentioned, some folks cringe. Why is that? Is it that we are afraid to make changes in our lives, even if they are good?
We just finished looking at the abundance of fruit that God wants to bring into our lives as believers. That fruit looked good enough to taste and to see His goodness.
In my search learning about fruit in this series, I came across the scripture in the picture listed above: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.: Luke 3: 8
This scripture sits right in the middle of John the Baptist’s message. John was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He was called by the Lord to prepare for His coming by preparing the way for the people.
That preparation included encouraging people to take a good look at their lives. John released the same preparation message this way in the book of Matthew.
He said, “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: 10
He continued, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3: 11 He was calling people to come to the Lord.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God’s people was promised.
So, what is John indicating when he says, ‘Produce or bear fruit keeping with repentance?”
He was saying that true repentance will have fruit, and that fruit for the Christian is love.
The definition of repentance in the Old Testament comes from two Hebrew words that should help us understand this word.
- The first is the word nacham, which means to turn around or to change your mind. turning around is changing direction. The second is the word sub. It is used over 600 times in the Old Testament and is translated by such words as “turn,” “return,” “seek,” or “restore.” You often see it in phrases like “to turn to the Lord with all your heart.”
I like the definition that repentance is restoration. That gives us a whole new understanding of the word.
- When we come to the New Testament, we need to know the Greek word metanoia, which literally means “to change the mind.” Repentance fundamentally means to change your mind about something. It has to do with the way you think about something. You’ve been thinking one way, but now you think the opposite way. That’s repentance — the changing of the mind.
When we truly repent, we turn away from sin and turn our hearts to the Lord.
That’s the message John was conveying as he was speaking of the fruit of repentance. In other words, when we turn to God, ask for forgiveness and turn away from our old lifestyle, we keep it up.
Repentance is a change in how I think that leads to a change in how I live.
How we live speaks volumes, doesn’t it? A person can say something, but our actions do speak louder than our words.
When what we say and what we do align, that’s producing fruit in keeping with repentance.
May all that we do and say, as we begin again this year, align as He assigns.
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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