Luke 13:1–9
God desires that we live a life of repentance. In the previous teachings on repentance we mentioned two of the things it includes. First we looked at the mental, or intellectual, side of repentance. In order to repent, we must come to ourselves, we must be brought to our senses. The Greek word metanoia means a change in one’s way of thinking. Repentance means “to change your way of thinking.” We noted that in the Old Testament the idea of repentance consists in returning to God. God’s people had separated themselves from God through idolatry and ungodliness, and they had to return to God. After he sinned, David repented and returned to God. The same applies to us. If we have strayed from God, we must return to God; return to our first love; to our first devotion; to the joy of salvation.
In our second teaching we spoke of the emotional side of repentance. Repentance has not only a mental side — that we recognize our condition and return to God — it also has an emotional element. When a person recognizes his sins, he begins to weep over them. We read how James says, “Grieve, mourn and wail!” We also saw that woman who came to Jesus and began to weep over His feet. With her tears she washed His feet, and with her hair she wiped them.
We looked at two parables in which Jesus spoke of two sons. The first was about the prodigal son and about the one who considered himself righteous. The second was about the son who said he would go to the field but did not go, and the one who said he would not go but afterward went. These parables show us that those who consider themselves righteous actually need repentance more than those who are sinful. Because those who consider themselves righteous do not recognize their sin at all. This is exactly what happens with us believers. We think that because we go to church we are more righteous and more worthy than others, but in fact there is a great danger of catching and taking on the Pharisees’ yeast, which is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is one of the greatest sins that Jesus condemns. So let us recognize our condition and return to God.
Today we will continue with the third side of repentance. The first side is the mental or intellectual side — to come to yourself and recognize your sin. The second side is the emotional side — to weep over your sin, to be sorry for what you have done. But the third side of repentance is the most essential. It is the volitional side of repentance — to remain in your decision; having changed your mind, not to go back to your former sinful condition.
THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS (Matthew 21:28–32)
We will begin with the parable of the two sons, which we began to consider in our previous teaching (Matthew 21:28–32):
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:28–32)
Here it is a matter of the will. The second son, when he was invited to do something, at first said “Yes!”, but then did not do his father’s will. The first son said “No!”, but reconsidered and afterward did what his father had asked. God desires that we think in this way — that we think long-term. Remember the Parable of the Sower. There it is said of some of the seeds that fell on shallow soil that they sprouted very quickly, but then were scorched by the sun and the parching wind, and in the end bore no fruit.
THE FRUIT OF REPENTANCE IN PAUL’S EPISTLES (Romans 6:20–22; Galatians 5:19–25; Ephesians 4:17–24; 5:1–2)
The word “fruit” is the most crucial word when we speak of repentance. Just as faith without deeds is dead, so repentance without fruit is not true repentance. God looks for fruit in our repentance. This is precisely why we must examine ourselves as believers. We must ask the question: “What is my fruit? Do I have the fruit of repentance in me?” This is the question the apostle Paul asks in Romans chapter 6. This is the question we want to ask ourselves today — the question of our fruit. Let us ask it and examine our hearts (Romans 6:20–21).
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! (Romans 6:20–21)
So, when we were “slaves to sin,” what was our “fruit”? This is a question the apostle Paul asks us. What was our fruit before our repentance? And he answers: “the things you are now ashamed of, because those things result in death.”
In Ephesians 4:17–19 the apostle Paul explains in more detail what the things were in which we lived before we repented. What is the fruit that an unrepentant person has?
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. (Ephesians 4:17–19)
Sensuality and sexual impurity — this is the fruit of the unrepentant person. In Galatians chapter 5 there is talk of “the fruit of the Spirit” and “the acts of the flesh.” The acts of the flesh are the fruit that an unrepentant person has (Galatians 5:19–21).
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19–21)
Without repentance we cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Without repentance we cannot be saved. In Romans 6:22 the apostle Paul continues:
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:22)
The way to be set free from sin is through repentance — by confessing our sin. Before, we were slaves of sin; now we are slaves of God. Is that so? Before, we had one fruit; now we have another: “the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
This is the fruit of repentance — a pursuit of holiness; growth in holiness — something we call “sanctification.” Not that we will not fall into sin. The believer too can fall into sin, but this is like the nature of the sheep and the nature of the pig. The pig, when it lies down in the mud, loves to lie there in the mud; but the sheep, even if it falls into the mud, gets up, shakes itself off, and does not stay lying in the mud. The nature of the dog is that it goes and returns to its own vomit. But if we are repentant and born again, we are not like that. Our nature has been changed. Through repentance we have become new creatures. If we are new creatures, we must have new fruit. As the apostle Paul says: “the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
If we return again to Ephesians and Galatians, we can see in detail what kind of fruit is meant (Ephesians 4:20–24).
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:20–24)
These are the fruits that God looks for in us:
- The fruit of repentance — righteousness.
- The fruit of repentance — holiness.
- The fruit of repentance — truth.
- The fruit of repentance — turning away from sin.
- The fruit of repentance — sanctification.
- The fruit of repentance — good works.
- The fruit of repentance — true, divine love.
The fruit of repentance is to be like our Heavenly Father. In Ephesians 5:1 it says:
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2)
This is the fruit of repentance. And also in Galatians 5:22–25 it says what “the fruit of the Spirit” is, which is likewise the fruit of repentance:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22–25)
This is the call I too extend to you — to cultivate, to grow within ourselves the fruit of the Spirit. Having repented, we have become children of God, we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as the apostle Paul says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit!” — to follow the Spirit, to have the fruit of the Spirit, and not the acts of the flesh.
THE WARNING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Luke 3:7–14)
The Bible says clearly and categorically that if we have no fruit of repentance, we will not be saved. That is why I too warn you. In God’s word there are exhortations. These exhortations usually contain a warning as well. These warnings are like road signs. There is a sign that says “No Entry!” — you must not go in there. There is a sign that says, “This street is a dead end.” There is a sign that says “Sharp Bends!” There is a speed-limit sign that says that if you drive too fast, you will run off the road, fly off, and fall into the river. The warning from Jesus is that if you have no fruit of repentance, you will not be saved. I must tell you this, and I am telling you. We must examine ourselves every day, whether we have within us the fruit of repentance.
If we have no fruit of repentance, we will not be saved. John the Baptist already spoke of this fruit (Luke 3:7–14). John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:7–14)
John was direct — he was even sharp. “You brood of vipers” means “offspring of snakes.” (A sister who was newly converted and still did not understand the archaic language of the Bible decided to act very spiritual. She came into church and said, “Hello, brood of vipers!” But “brood of vipers” is actually not something good — it means offspring of snakes.)
“…Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” John tells them, “Do not think that you can escape the coming wrath. The ‘coming wrath’ is coming. Do not think you can escape it with one baptism.” Many people think that once they take water baptism, their “passport” to heaven is already stamped — no problems, they will get in. Yes, you must be baptized. But you must also have something else — you must have fruit of repentance. John continues: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’”
In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church it is held that if a person is baptized, he is saved. That is why they baptize children. While the child is still a baby, they baptize it. Once you are baptized — that’s it — you are already a child of the Orthodox Church, you are already saved. But many such baptized people will be disappointed one day, because God will say to them: “Where are your fruits of baptism? Where are your fruits in keeping with your repentance?” Even in evangelical churches there are similar confusions. Sometimes people, seeing others being baptized, tell themselves that they too must be baptized. Often the parents of the young people are more eager to have them baptized than the teenagers themselves. But in fact baptism alone is not enough. Repentance is needed; fruits of repentance are needed.
“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Does this cutting down and throwing into the fire look to you like going to heaven?)
John said concrete, practical things that could be seen, that could be verified: share with the one who has nothing; do not collect more than is appointed; do not extort or accuse falsely, and be content with your pay. These are the fruits of repentance — they are visible and real actions that follow from the virtues we must have in our lives. Good relationships with one another, caring for one another, generosity, freedom from greed and love of money, modesty, and honesty are among the fruits of repentance.
THE WARNING OF JESUS (Matthew 7:15–23)
Fruits of repentance. Without fruits of repentance we will not be saved. In the Gospel according to Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said (Matthew 7:15–23):
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15–23)
First, if we want good fruit, we must change the tree. If we want good fruit, we must first repent, become new creatures. Then we must persevere in our new divine life, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and have fruits of repentance. Because if we do not, Jesus warns us: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire… Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
This is the fruit Jesus looks for, and He says that if you do not do the will of the Father who is in heaven, if you have no fruits of repentance, you will not be saved. Look — these are things connected with Christian ministry. Christian ministry is not enough for salvation. I am afraid to say it, but from this verse it turns out that there will be even pastors and evangelists who will not be saved. Even if you have success in ministry with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, if you do not have the fruit of repentance in your character, in your life, your ministry will profit you nothing with respect to your salvation. Because Jesus says, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
We have already mentioned that God’s standards are much higher than our standards. Earlier, in Matthew 5:20, Jesus says:
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
The other place in the Gospel where Jesus says “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” is Matthew 18:3.
3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
Notice, here too Jesus said “unless you change” — this means to repent. The fruit of becoming like little children is to be free of malice, sincere, without hypocrisy, innocent. Let us see what these things are that will not allow us to enter the kingdom of heaven, and let us guard ourselves against them. I call on each one of you to examine your life and to check: “What is my fruit? Do I do the will of my Heavenly Father? Do I live a holy life? Or do I make compromises, telling myself that I can live with one foot in the church and the other foot in the world?” The old preachers used to say that we cannot live “with one foot in the church and the other foot in the world.” If you live like that, you have no fruits of repentance. “Fruits of repentance” means holiness and separation from sin.
THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE (Luke 13:1–9)
If we have no fruits of repentance, we will not be saved. Look — it is said that “the ax is already at the root of the tree” (Luke 3:9). It is said that “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:19). I don’t know about you, but this does not look to me like going to heaven. “Cutting down and throwing into the fire” means that these people are going to hell. Therefore we must take care, repent truly, and have fruits of repentance.
In Luke 13:1–9 Jesus told the parable of the barren fig tree.
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. (Luke 13:1)
Here it speaks of people who were worshiping God, but Pilate mixed their blood with their sacrifices. In other words, he killed them while they were worshiping.
2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:2–3)
Here Jesus uses as an example a certain social evil that had happened. For some reason Pilate, who was the Roman governor, became angry and killed these Galileans. Perhaps they had revolted, or something else; but either way, they die a violent death. Jesus says that this is a tragedy, but it can serve us as an example. The television news is full of tragedies: a ship that has sunk, a plane that has crashed, some war, an explosion that killed hundreds of young people, wars and destruction. When we watch the reports of these tragedies, we should remember that “unless we repent, we too will perish in the same way.” This should make us begin at once to pray and to repent, because “unless we repent, we will all perish in the same way.”
Jesus continues with a similar tragedy, which this time is not caused by an evil tyrant. It is a natural catastrophe — for example, an earthquake, a flood, an industrial accident, or a pandemic:
4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Luke 13:4–5)
Jesus gave two tragic examples — one caused by man, the other by an unfortunate concurrence of circumstances independent of people. Years ago the news reported two thousand Bangladeshis who worked in a garment factory. They did their work from morning to evening, sewing clothes for their exploiters to sell to Westerners… But the building in which they worked simply could not bear their weight. It collapsed, and in an instant they all died. Do you think that precisely those two thousand people who worked in that building were more sinful than all the people who live in Bangladesh? Or in the whole world? In harmony with this parable, Jesus would say: “No, but I tell you, unless you repent, you too will all perish in the same way.”
We must repent. Not simply look and say that brother Simeon is preaching something up there. No, people! I tell you, repent! No joke, no lie, no deception. You see how many verses there are in the New Testament that say that if we have no fruits of repentance, we will not be saved. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we live in sin, that we have separated ourselves from God, and that we do not have the fruits of repentance that we ought to have. Therefore, in order to save our souls, God’s word tells us: “REPENT!” Not only mentally, not only emotionally, but afterward, until the end of your life, you must bear fruits of repentance.
The examples Jesus gives show us that punishment can come unexpectedly and suddenly. The Galileans who were bringing their sacrifices hardly expected that Pilate would come and slaughter them while they were worshiping. Nor did those who were under the tower of Siloam expect it to fall on them. Nor did those who went to work that morning some years ago, in that building — the garment factory in Bangladesh — think that the whole building would collapse and two thousand people would die. We do not know when something might happen that would put an end to our lives. On the other hand, God is merciful, and He gives us an opportunity to repent, to bear fruit, and so to be saved and have eternal life. In confirmation of this, Jesus told the parable of the barren fig tree:
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. (Luke 13:6)
When someone plants a tree, he does it so that the tree will bear him fruit. When I was a child, in our house in Kazanlak we had a fig tree that had very good figs. I was very glad when autumn came to eat some of those figs. This man also came to his fig tree to look for fruit, “but did not find any.”
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:7–9)
Twice in this parable it is said that the owner was looking for fruit on it. This shows us that God looks for fruit from us. He visits us, reviews our lives. And He waits. “Come now, when will this holiness come? When will this righteousness come? When will this devotion come? When will these good works come? When will the change of character come? When will self-restraint and self-control come? When will all this come that I am expecting? Where is the fruit?” — God looks for fruit of repentance — “Come now, you repented, didn’t you? Where is your fruit?” — and when He comes and sees that we are dividing, gossiping against one another, unable to bear one another, unable to endure one another, He says: “One more summer, and if you do not bear fruit, my patience will run out.” Take this teaching as a kind of “fertilizing.” Here I am fertilizing you with God’s word. Repent and bear fruits of repentance; if you do not, woe to you!
The conversation between the master (the owner of the garden) and the vinedresser (the gardener) reminds me of the conversation between God the Father and God the Son. As a righteous judge, God the Father looks for fruit, for, look, He said it: “For three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any.” But Jesus, as our high priest and intercessor, intercedes for us before the Father: “Please, do not cut them down at once. Give them a little more time; leave them for this summer too!” God the Father is merciful, but He is also a consuming fire. He looks for fruit. And Jesus, as our intercessor, says: “Father, leave them a little longer! Let us give them one more chance.” God the Father agrees, but gives us a deadline — “one summer, not two or more summers.” Then Jesus is content and says: “If, after I fertilize them, they bear fruit — fine; but if they do not, you will cut them down.”
These are the words of the Lord. So do not deceive yourselves. Do not think that if God has given us more life, He has given it to us simply to enjoy ourselves. No. He has given it to us so that we would bear fruit of repentance. There is a theory that while you are young you should enjoy life, and when you grow old, then you will begin to believe in God; but you do not know how long your life will be.
THE REASON FOR GOD’S DELAY (2 Peter 3:1–15)
Before the year 2000 there was an expectation that in the year 2000 something would happen. Even secular people believed that the end of the world would come. But the year 2000 came, we are already in 2021, and people said to themselves, “Well, there’s nothing to fear; everything will just go on the same.” But the warning we find in God’s word is that it will not “go on the same.” In 2 Peter the apostle explains why God “delays” (2 Peter 3:1–15).
1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. (2 Peter 3:1–6)
The time in which we live is like the time of Noah. In the days of Noah, he told them: “A flood is coming.” Noah was building a ship. But not at the harbor — he was building his ship on a mountain, where he could not move it to reach the water. He built it on the mountain because he believed the water would reach there and the ship would float. Noah built this ship for a hundred years. Everyone around him thought he was insane. They were “living their lives.” Noah was thinking about where he would put the animals God would bring him, how he would feed them. He planned, calculated, and built. And they said to him: “It hasn’t rained for so long — what flood are you talking about?” But there was water that encircled the earth. At the time of the flood, that water which was above the earth fell to the earth, and the earth and all who were on it — except those who were in the ship — were drowned. And here Peter continues and says:
7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2 Peter 3:7)
After the flood God said: “I will never again bring a flood. Here is the rainbow.” (Genesis 9:8–17) God said that there would no longer be a judgment by water, but He did not say there would be no fire.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8–9)
But “with you” — as it says in that parable: “Let us give it one more chance.” Many people are already ready for hell. They have no fruits of repentance. But God does not want to send them there at once. “He is patient… not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (2 Peter 3:10–11)
We await Jesus. Do we await Him? At every Lord’s Supper we say that we eat of the bread and drink of the cup, “until He comes.” We await Jesus, we await “the day of the Lord.” And if we await Him, we must be ready. We must be like those five virgins who kept their lamps full. This means:
- to be people of prayer, people of miracles and signs that happen in our lives;
- to be people who long for and love the house of God;
- to be people who do good without expecting it somehow to be returned to them.
And look what it says:
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:11–13)
There, in the new heaven and new earth, righteousness will dwell. Unrighteousness cannot enter there.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Peter 3:14)
Do you remember what I told you last time about God’s purposes for us, which are at the beginning of almost every epistle? God desires that we be “holy and blameless in His sight, in love.” God desires that we be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Here it says the same thing. Make every effort to be found “spotless and blameless before Him, at peace.” This is what God desires for us.
15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (2 Peter 3:15)
May God help us, giving us this spirit of repentance. I pray for you. I pray for the church, as Jesus prayed for His disciples. When He came to the last days of His life — one might even say the last evening — He prayed His high-priestly prayer. He said, “Lord, of those you have given me, I have not lost a single one,” except “the one doomed to destruction.” That was the traitor Judas, who fell away of his own accord (John 17:12).
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:12)
As Jesus prayed for His disciples, so I too pray for you. “Lord, those you have given me may be twenty or thirty, they may not be many, but let not one be lost. I want us all to be in heaven.” I do not want, when one day we see each other in heaven, to be saying: “Why is this sister not here? Why is this brother not here? What happened? Surely the pastor is to blame… (Brother Simeon is to blame.)” But I will not be to blame. Through these teachings on repentance I shake the dust off my shoes. What you do from here on is your own responsibility before God. Your blood be on your own heads! I have discharged from myself the responsibility to warn you of the danger. I have passed it on to you. I have warned you: “If you have no fruits of repentance, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Therefore repent, seek God. Let us live according to God’s Word, so that one day in heaven we may rejoice and say to each other: “Hey, glory to God, it’s good that we listened when he preached to us and told us these things. I took note. I repented. I confessed my sins, I had fruits of repentance, and now we are all together in heaven.”
PRAYER
God, we thank You for Your Word! We ask You, Father — we joke about some things, but the matters are serious. The spiritual realities are just as You tell us. Your truth is truth. Your Word is truth. We have read much of Your Word. We have looked at this parable that You told, in order to challenge us to fruits of repentance. Help us to see what fruit we have in our lives. Do we have holiness in our lives? Do we have righteousness that leads us to holiness? Or have we allowed ourselves to become carnal… Or have we allowed ourselves to be fruitless… Give us to long for fruit in our lives. Forgive every act of the flesh. Forgive us all these things that are of our old nature, of sin, and of Satan. Give us to have Your fruit in our lives. Give us hunger and thirst for Your Word. Give us to study what You desire us to have in our lives. What is our fruit to be? What is Your purpose for our lives? Help us, as we await the things of the future to happen, to prepare ourselves to live in the new heaven and the new earth, in which righteousness will dwell. You say that nothing unclean will enter there. You say: “Do not be deceived; those who commit sins will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Free us from the deception of sin and help us to abide in You. I ask You, in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah! Amen!