Repentance Is The Fruit

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” – Luke 3:7-8

John the Baptist never pulled punches. Whenever your first line is “you brood of vipers”, it can be safely assumed you have a certain edge to your teaching. In Luke 3 we find the best segment of the teachings of John in Scripture. He begins the chapter and his oratory by sharing Isaiah 40:3-5 in speaking of the coming Jesus. Next he turns his attention to his audience. He is both condemning and encouraging them in a way modern preachers would envy.

Bear fruits in keeping with repentance . . .

Repentance is a necessary avenue for grace. At some point, every follower had to have a moment where they laid their baggage down at the foot of the cross in brazen confession. Yet in order to continue in close intimacy to Him, we must continue to repent in humble boldness. It is in these moments of confession and sorrow that we “bear fruit”. In God’s economy, it is the one who recognizes their desperate need for daily absolution that is of any benefit to the world around them.

Yet it is important to point out that it does not say “repent, and bear fruit” but “bear fruits in keeping with repentance”. The first statement tells of fruit as a result of turning away from sin, while what John actually says hints more at the “fruit” of repentance itself. Something holy happens when you admit your wrongdoing. Our Lord can only work in the humble, and the first step of humility is admitting what a wreck you are. Fruit follows a continued repentance. This is the daily and progressive act of following Jesus.

In Protestant faith, we sometimes wrongly have a one and done mentality of confession. Today, carve out some time to repent. Feel your soul lifted under the weight of excused sin and the grace of a God who so freely redeems.