The Knowledge of Saving Repentance, Part 2 – Luke 3:7-9

Richard Baxter once said Christians are elected to repent. Repentance is essential and the starting point of our salvation. Often repentance is seen as a negative but rather it is an encouraging and refreshing subject.

‘Bear fruit’ implies that there is life. Christians have many names and characteristics, but one key aspect is life. Christians are the only ones that have life, the life of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4). How do we obtain this life? First, realize how wicked you are, that you are spiritually dead (Luke 3:7). If you still consider yourself good, then you cannot repent (Luke 13:8). True repentance confesses their complete sinfulness and inability to stand before the holy God (Luke 5:8). Once acknowledged, then leave everything and follow Christ (Luke 5:11).

Why must we repent? Not only are we sinful, but we are also hopeless. There is no Plan B for salvation. God has already established repentance as the means. In verse 8, John the Baptist knew that his hearers would not like the message of repentance and that they would instead turn to their heritage of Abraham as a means of salvation. Their ancestor and religion was their Plan B. To the Jews, Abraham was a monumental figure, their founding father (John 8:39), and their pride in Abraham was greater than their faith in God.

Repentance has always been the pattern of salvation since the fall of Adam and Eve. From calling Abraham out of his people to commanding Moses to take off his shoes to decreeing fasting and covering of sackcloth in Nineveh, God has required repentance. This is such a wonderful example of God’s mercy and grace, God saving the sinner through repentance.

Many people have a sort of spiritual Abraham, a thing they rely on besides repentance.

• Age: People think they have a long life ahead of them and can repent later (James 4:14). They delay their repentance without realizing that both time and repentance is a gift of God and cannot be obtained whenever they want.
• Family heritage: We trust the faith of our parents or family members instead of our own. Apostle Paul is the classic example of an impressive heritage that was worthless for salvation (Philippians 4:5). Repentance is individual, no one can repent for you (Ezekiel 18:4)
• Religion: Every other religion besides Christianity has one common denominator which is man’s work. They teach that man can achieve salvation. Another flaw is their wrong view of sin. They do not hold the right view of sin and so they cannot repent before holy God. Also, Christianity without love is religion.

Why must we repent?
Because repentance is God’s idea. The aforementioned false ways of salvation are all man’s ideas (Romans 1:23). These false repentance or false salvations do not bear fruit (Luke 13:6). They might look appealing and even look spiritual, but there is no true righteousness. Righteousness is the fruit of repentance. Many in the church claim to believe and repent but they do not bear the fruit of repentance (Hebrews 6:4-6). Only biblical repentance leads to righteousness. A. W. Pink says ‘Repentance is a heartfelt realization of how dreadfully I have failed, all through my life, to give God His rightful place in my heart and daily walk’. Daily walk means being righteous.

We must repent because we are doomed by the wrath of God. The wrath of God is holy and just anger towards evil and is a “fearsome and terrifying thing”. It is not a future wrath but a current and present wrath. “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees” This does not depict a God who is preparing to chop down the tree, it shows that God is beginning the act of swinging! It is not a future wrath and judgment but current! (John 3:18) Like a geyser ready to erupt, God’s wrath is collecting underneath every day. (Psalm 7:11) Hell is the terrifying and horrible outcome against the unrighteousness of men.

Though God’s wrath is present, God is also patient in His judgment. He shows overwhelming mercy, desiring the repentance of sinners. (2 Peter 3:9) He wondrously offers salvation to undeserving sinners through repentance. So you must repent now! There is no other way and no other time. Repent and turn to Him for salvation and He will powerfully save you from your sin.