Are You Changed? Part 2 – Luke 3:10-14

This week’s message challenges every believer to ask themselves if we are changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. To be changed means to repent and grow in continued sanctification. Union with Christ bears fruit in sanctification bears fruit. Therefore, ongoing fruit-bearing is only possible as we abide in the vine, the Lord Jesus; apart from Him, we can do nothing (Jn. 15:4-5).

Last week’s message reminded us of the Christian’s hatred of sin after repentance and possessing the mind of Christ. This marks the beginning of the Christian life. The old man used to love sin, but by the grace of God the old self is replaced with a new inner man that hates sin and loves God. So then how can we examine our hearts if we have hatred of sin as a result of repentance? Do we have a desire to be like Christ? We cannot be passionate about the Lord if we do not mortify sin.

True repentance bears good fruit (Lk. 3:7-8; Jn. 15:2; Jer. 2:21). Before repentance, we only bear bad fruit; that is, the deeds of the flesh. When God gifts the believer to possess saving faith, they are able to trust and obey the word of God with a sincere heart. In verses 10-14, Jesus describes different groups of sinners that approach that make up the crowd: tax collectors and soldiers and the lovers of money (i.e. greedy). Essentially, these groups represent all sinners. The only proper response for any sinner is to repent of unbelief and self.

When Jesus states one must deny themselves in order to follow after Him (Matt. 16:24), only the truly repentant are able to do so by the power of God. If we do not kill the self, we are unable to believe in the gospel of Christ and by no means bear good fruit. Self-centeredness produces only bad fruit wrought by man’s depraved sin nature.

But the result of a changed heart loves God above all (Matt. 22:36-40). Repentance results in a life that transitions from loving self to loving God and others. We love the Lord by obeying His Word and will. In Scripture we see those that are repentant possess a whole other nature the enables them to follow the Lord’s will (Acts 8:1-2; 9:3-6; Phil. 1:8).

Moreover, faith, hope, and love characterize a genuine and sincere Christian. The sincere in faith towards God hope in Him and love Him that leads to a life of bearing much fruit that exhibits change as one gives to those in need, a life of honesty and integrity, and true contentment in Him, which the world cannot ever offer.