ADULTS STS LESSON 114 REPENTANCE AND FRUIT-BEARING
MEMORY VERSE: “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down“ (Luke 13:8,9).
TEXT: Luke 13:1-9
Our text records a pathetic, tragic and politically According to the story, “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices“ (Luke 13:1). The certainty of this story is not in doubt, as the name of Pilate, who was Governor of Judea, is mentioned. What offence could these Galileans have committed that warranted their blood to be “mingled with their sacrifices“? But Jesus, not wanting to discuss the politics of the murder, brought in a familiar story of “…those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?” (Luke 13:4). From the two stories, our Lord wanted His hearers to deduce where the problem was. If the people Pilate killed, died of their sins, how about the ones killed by the fallen tower of Siloam, which was a natural disaster? In essence, Christ implied that people should not always speculate like Job’s friend – Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:7,8). For Jesus to have used these two stories to point out the necessity of repentance to the penitents is a challenge to us as soul-winners to seize every opportunity to present the message of repentance to our hearers. Again, for Jesus to have emphasised the necessity of repentance, it means that He did not see them, to “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for in people what John the Baptist even requested from repentance” (Matthew 3:8). Many of them did not consider what He earlier told them that He “came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). This informed why He brought in the parable of the fig tree to buttress the consequences of a fruitless life, which is void of repentance with its attendant fruit-bearing.
1.THE CENTRALITY OF REPENTANCE.
Luke 13:1-5; Matthew 3:7-9; 11:20-24; Mark 1:14; Luke 24:47; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Hebrews 12:16,17
Repentance has lost its real meaning and essence in modern times, yet it remains a foundational doctrine of Christ to other Christian experiences. Those who have low view of God care less about sin. Likewise, people who conceive false concepts of sin also hold a low view concerning the nature and character of a righteous, holy and loving God. Those who engaged Jesus in the Galileans’ death story had this false repentance theory by justifying themselves as righteous for being alive and not like those who died. But Christ called their attention by asking, “...Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?” (Luke 13:2). A person may still be alive and without experiencing any tragic incidence, yet be unrighteous. Just as the fruitless tree was given an extended time to prove its fruitfulness, so God is “…longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance“ (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, repentance is a necessary experience for everyone to be justified before God and be able to get to heaven. Its centrality is underscored by the prominence our Lord gave to it throughout His earthly ministry (Mark 1:14; Luke 24:47). Those who measure their standing with heaven by their earthly riches miss the indispensability of this experience.
The doctrine and teaching of repentance is fundamental to the propagation of the gospel. It is the foundational stone of the New Testament teachings. The emphasis that God places on repentance is confirmed by the frequency of reference made to us in the Scripture (Ezekiel 14:6; 18:30; Matthew 3:2; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19; 17:30).
- THE CALL TO TRUE REPENTANCE
Luke 13:3,5; Matthew 12:41; Jonah 3:8-10; Proverbs 28:13; Ezekiel 18:30; 14:6; 1 Samuel 7:3; Acts 26:20
“…Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish“ (Luke 13:3,5). This implies that without true repentance, a person is bound to perish and go to hell. It should be noted that:
One, repentance is not conviction of sin because a person can be under conviction, yet without repentance.
Two, worldly sorrow is sorrow for the consequences of sin, but not for the sin itself. Esau (Hebrews 12:17) and Judas (Matthew 27:3-5) are good examples.
Three, reformation of character is possible without being regenerated by the Spirit of God (Isaiah 64:6).
Four, being religious cannot be regarded as repentance. The Scribes and the Pharisees of Christ’s day were religious but did not come to repentance (Matthew 23:13,15).
Five, having mental faith cannot be counted as repentance. This is merely rational assent and acceptance of a set of creeds or historical facts about Jesus without any corresponding change in life (James 2:19,20).
Christ’s call to true repentance in His preaching is not ambiguous. True repentance is turning away from all known sins, changing one’s mind, purpose and action from that which is evil to righteousness in obedience to the commandment of God through the grace in Christ Jesus. It also means to turn from Satan unto the living God. The Scripture tells us that “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). There can be no genuine repentance without confession and forsaking of sins. Repentance elicits a form of godly sorrow which makes an erstwhile sinner regard sin with utter revulsion. Godly sorrow makes a sinner or backslider turn away from sin to righteousness (2 Corinthians 7:10).
There are steps to genuine repentance: One, recognising that you are a sinner (Psalm 51:3); two, realising that Christ has provided for your atonement (1 Corinthians 15:3); three, repenting from all known sins, which connotes confession and forsaking them (Proverbs 28:13); four, receiving Jesus into your life as personal Lord and Saviour (John 1:12); five, relying on God’s word that you are saved (Romans 8:14, 16; 1 John 3:7).
Repentance is a universal command by God to all people (Ezekiel 14:6; 18:30; Acts 17:30,31). John the Baptist anchored his message in the wilderness on repentance (Luke 3:3-8). On several occasions, Christ sent His disciples to preach repentance, which He Himself did (Luke 24:45-47). These attest to the timelessness of this doctrine (Revelation 2:4,5; 3:3,19). No one can obtain salvation, relate with God on earth and live with Him in eternity without sincere repentance from all sins.
Through repentance, the natural man who had been estranged from God is reconciled to Him. His past records of rebellion and self-will are blotted out by divine mercy. There will also be a fundamental change of life from being a sinner to being a saint (2 Corinthians 5:17), Repentance opens the fountain of God’s grace and abundant blessings on the penitent. It provides pardon and remission of sins. Through it, sinners receive justification and acceptance. He or she is saved to inherit all other blessings that Christ has procured for us through His sacrifice at Calvary. Repentance is God’s expectation from everyone. There is always joy in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:7).
- CAUTION AGAINST FRUITLESSNESS
Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:22,23; 2 Peter 1:5-9
The moral implication of Christ’s instruction conveyed by the parable of the barren fig tree portrays fruitfulness.
From the parable, Jesus painted the picture of the worthlessness of the fruitless tree. According to him, “…Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down” (Luke 13:7- 9).
Since the purpose of Christ’s parable is to convey spiritual message, it therefore, means that God expects His children to bear fruit. And that “…the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering“ (Romans 2:4) are to help man bear the expected fruit as long as there is life. In analysing this parable, we observe the following:
one, the man who planted the fig tree in the vineyard represents God who created us and owns us by redemption (Genesis 1:27; Titus 2:14).
Two, against the expectation of the owner of the vineyard the fig tree was fruitless. Three, the fig tree cumbered the ground for three years, yet bore no fruit. This is likened to a believer who has known the Lord for some years and has no evidence of fruitfulness in spiritual virtues and evangelism (2 Corinthians 11:13).
Four, the dresser of the vineyard was instructed to cut down the fig tree.
Five, the dresser requested for a probation period to enable him nurture the fig tree to bear fruit. A believer must abide in Christ to be nurtured to bear fruit (John 15:4,5).
Six, the fig tree was to be finally cut down if it remained fruitless. This aligns with Christ’s declaration that “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away…” (John 15:2). So, believers’ final day of reckoning will also come if they remain unfruitful (Romans 11:19-23).
It is mandatory for every believer to bear the fruit of the Spirit which “…is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22,23). These virtues, which are collectively called “the fruit of the Spirit“ come from the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell a believer at the point of conversion; and He cultivates the ground of the heart of the saved soul to bring forth His fruit (Romans 7:4). The condition for a believer’s consistent fruitfulness is the continuous abiding in Christ (John 15:5).
All the virtues listed under the fruit of the Spirit are together. They are naturally related and they all characterise the true disposition of a Christian. Love, being the first, is the very basic essential life of the living Christ, which expresses itself in the other virtues enumerated. A Christian writer once wrote how the eight fruits are anchored on love. He said, Joy is love exulting; Peace is love reposing; Meekness is love with is true self-love; and Faith is love confiding, so that a bowed head; Gentleness is love in action; Temperance whole sum of Christian living is just loving (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 5:43,44; 1 John 4:7-12; 3:11,18,23). Joy comes from the Lord and is anchored in Him. The way into this joy is repentance and practical confession of faith in Christ. Money, mansion or materialism never gives this joy. They all give transient happiness. The book of Acts tells us that “…there was great joy in [Samaria]“ (Acts 8:8) when the people received Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This joy transcends trouble or tough circumstances, and abides through problems and pains (Isaiah 61:10; Jeremiah 15:16; Acts 8:6-8; 1 Peter 1:8; Luke 10:17; John 16:22).
Peace is the state where the soul and spirit of man is so imbued with the presence of God’s gracious Spirit that he is not easily provoked. Peace is the selfless, self- giving, self-loosing, self-forgetting and self-sacrificing love that is manifest in spite of adversities of life (John 14:27; 16:33; Romans 5:1; Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3). Longsuffering, which is commonly called endurance or patience, is the powerful capacity of selfless love to bear all things and continue in adverse situations. It is a generous willingness to try to understand awkward people, disturbing events and unwelcomed situations that God allows to come your way. This quality of “…who for the joy that was set before him endured character was beautifully displayed in Jesus Christ the cross, despising the shame…” (Hebrews 12:2; 1Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 1:11; 2 Peter 3:9).
Gentleness is God’s enduring quality of His dealing with man. The gentleness of God has drawn humanity to Him. Gentleness is love appreciating, caring, accommodating and correcting a friend, child or partner in a firm manner (1 Thessalonians 2:7,11; 2 Timothy 2:24; Psalm 18:35; James 3:17). Goodness comes from God. He puts great emphasis upon it. When Jesus Christ was physically in the world, it was reported in striking terms that He “...went about doing good…” (Acts 10:38). Goodness is the fruit that comes from the life that has received of God’s abundant grace. The Christian, whose life reflects goodness, is one with a noble purpose, strong character, reliable conduct and trustworthy lifestyle. He is good, gracious and generous (Genesis 45:5-8; 15:1; 1 Samuel 24:17; Acts 7:60; 1 Thessalonians 5:15).
Faith is the inward and wholehearted confidence, trust and reliance on God and His word. Faith, therefore, is active. It puts the best construction on every situation. Faith pushes on, perseveres and remains loyal even when there are reverses and disappointments (1 Samuel 17:37; Psalm 37:3,5; Isaiah 26:3,4; Psalm 125:1). Meekness – the meek is gentle, pliant and flexible but he is strong, courageous and mild. The meek sees the good virtue in others, and gives his best to help the brethren to live a happy life. The meek Christian is submissive, quiet, kind, soft and patient especially with the weak (Luke 6:29; 1 Peter 3:4; Galatians 6:1; Numbers 12:3; Zephaniah 2:3). Temperance is also called self- control, moderation or self-restraint. As the very character of man, temperance brings the whole person – spirit, soul and body – under subjection to do what Christ wants. The entire body – its appetites, drives, desires, tongue, eyes – is brought under control of the indwelling Spirit of God (Titus 2:2; Proverbs 16:32; 2 Peter 1:5-7; James 3:2).
It is instructive to note that Christ’s parable in our text conveys a warning to sinners and backsliders to repent of their sins or face divine judgment.
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:
- Why is repentance central in the Bible?
- What are the characteristics of false repentance?
- Mention the features of true repentance.
- What steps should a sinner take to experience salvation?
- What are the benefits of genuine repentance?
- What is the qualification and condition for fruit- bearing?
- Explain the fruit of the Spirit.
