Last Sunday in Bible Class we discussed Matthew 21:18-22 and the fig tree that bore no fruit. Jesus cursed the fig tree. It withered and died. The fig tree bore no fruit and therefore wasn’t productive. It was worth nothing because the tree didn’t fulfill its purpose, which was to produce its fruit. He also mentioned faith. Faith is needed to produce fruit.
John the Baptizer also told his hearers… that they should bear fruit worthy of repentance.(Matt 3:9) Of course the fig tree was simply a metaphor for the disciples who followed the Lord. They were expected to bear fruit. This meant they were to do good works as well as making disciples. Doing good works, giving alms, healing the sick etc. were also expected of those early followers. But what about repentance? Why is that important in the life of a disciple? Can’t we just apologize and go on? Surely what we do for others really counts, right? And what is repentance anyway? More than you think.
Is there such a thing as a “lifestyle” of repentance? Perhaps we are missing something important here. Many think of God as a judgmental tyrant who is out to extract vengeance on the disobedient. Other’s view Him as a kindly old man who turns a blind eye to the moral condition of his children. In fact, God is neither.
Psalm 51 is a powerful prayer of David, after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed in battle. How could he approach God after that?
True repentance is based on an understanding of God’s character. God wants truth in our “inner” parts and a humble heart. David understands God’s character. He knows that God is merciful and gracious in His forgiveness. If we really understand what sin is then we can more fully live a life of repentance.
Sin is “missing” the mark that God expects of His children. We say to ourselves, “Well, nobody is perfect.” Few of us today think of repentance as a lifestyle. We promise in our prayers that we will never do hurtful things again……and we mean it. After all, none of us has really committed a serious crime or deliberately hurt another person. Many things seem like repentance but really are not. Each falls short because we still hold onto many of the sins which will always be there.
David knows that true repentance is ultimately a supernatural work of God. That’s why David prayed ”Create within me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Only a Creator God can do what David is praying for. This cry for forgiveness can only come from God himself.
Yeshua’s (Jesus) once and for all sacrifice for sin is ultimately how we can find forgiveness. Repentance is possible because He took our sins upon himself.. God’s greatest demonstration of love is found in Him. It is God’s gift to us through Him.
For all who have received this gift, a lifestyle of repentance is a blessing. It reminds us daily of God’s relentless love and forgiveness for us. That in turn makes us a more loving and forgiving people.
AbideLines 