The Fruit of Repentance Pastor David Gibbs January 25, 2015 Matthew 3:1-12 There ought to be evidence of our relationship with Jesus within our life while we are here in this world Because repentance implies change, Christian lives bear fruit... 1. ...change after confession (1-6) • after the recognition of the sinful parts of our life their will be a change within those parts that takes place after our confession of them to God • if we want our lives to be filled with the joy, peace, and hope that God desires for us, a change must take place within these sinful areas • our lives with Christ are meant for more than being stuck in a habit of sin 2. ...change in character (7-12) • a life changed by the Lord will be changed in character Do we bear the fruit of repentance? Do we practice confession leading to change? Is our character growing in the likeness to Christ? Todays Passage: Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT! Now John himself had a garment of camels hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can 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. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:1-12 NASB)
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:52:27 +0000
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