Fruit of Repentance [Clarification on the Topic]

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Matthew 3:7-8

Here in Matthew 3 we have the religious leaders showing up to interrogate John the Baptist. Here in the passage, we see he is teaching and baptizing people, telling them to repent because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He was preparing people for Christ’s ministry. People were getting saved and were committing themselves to walk in newness of life. John was preaching what Roman’s 6:1-14 reaffirms.

Now, although the earthly reign of Jesus did not happen at that time because His people rejected him, we still preach a similar message today as New Testament Christians, because He is coming back one day. We still preach repentance, however, what this means and what it looks like practically speaking has become a jumbled mess. I believe the lack of clarity on this issue has caused many to believe and trust a false gospel sending them to hell. My goal is to purify these polluted waters and bring some much-needed clarity to this topic of repentance.

First, we know that salvation is by faith alone without works. Ephesians 2:8-9. This is not even contested among most true Christians, however, if you continue on to verse 10, (Ephesians 2:10) you will see that God saves us by His grace alone, but then is expecting us to work for Him, His purpose, and His glory after we are saved. The problem arises when people mix step 1 (getting saved) with step 2 (having works/ sanctification). God’s will is that everyone reach step one and two, however, a person can only escape hell with step 1. Step 2 will never save anyone from hell. Step 2 means nothing if the person never reaches step 1. God may show mercy on someone who has repented of their evil ways (Jonah 3:10) or has good works, because God is good and He loves goodness, but if that person never reaches step 1 they will still die and go to hell.

Conversely, you can have a person who reaches step 1 (gets saved) but continues living wickedly, continues sinning against God, doesn’t live like they have been made a new creature in Christ, and simply decides that step 2 (having good works/ being sanctified) just isn’t important. Well, God just might punish that person. (Hebrews 12:6-11, proverbs 3:11) because He wants them to produce fruits that should come from someone’s genuine repentance and salvation. (John 15:2) He might even take that person’s life, but because they are saved they will never see the fires of hell.

In the Gospel accounts Jesus and John the Baptist both called the religious leaders vipers. But keep Matthew 5:20 in mind. The religious leaders appeared to be really good people on the outside, (Matthew 23:27) and they even had works, but they were not saved. These people, had works but they were done in the flesh. These were not fruits of repentance, because these people never reached repentance, (2 Peter 3:9) as John rightly called them out for. These religious leaders thought they were Godly, but they were not, they were not even saved in the first place. Someone might do good things, but that cannot make them Godly unless they have actually been saved by blood of Christ and are walking in the Spirit.

So to sum this up, repentance is an extremely important word and we need to be crystal clear on what we mean. When we use this word we need to specify what we mean by keeping step 1 and step 2 in mind.

Step 1: Repentance at salvation. A person realizes they are a sinner, and that their sins make them guilty before a perfect and holy God. Hell is their final destination if they don’t call upon the name of Jesus to save them forever. When they understand this and ask for the free gift of salvation for all eternity they have reached step one and are saved. God then wants them to continue on to step 2.

Step 2: Daily repentance and sanctification. The first thing a new believer should do is be baptized in outward expression of the regeneration that took place on the inside. Then, for God’s glory, purpose, and to have sweet fellowship with Him, the person should try to live as close to Jesus as possible. This is bringing forth or producing fruit that is directly in line with our genuine faith in Christ. God can now help us produce fruits of the Spirit because we have become a child of God. Anyone who attempts to reach step 2 without step 1 first is operating without the power of God, cannot escape hell, and cannot truly fellowship or please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

We must commit ourselves to helping people reach repentance, and then sanctification, not mixing both of them together. God‘s will is that every person reach step1 and step 2.

If you are not sure that you are going to heaven, please get this settled today by clicking here: How to Go to Heaven.

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