How can we "produce fruit" in keeping with repentance in our daily lives? The Call: “Produce Fruit, Then, in Keeping with Repentance” “Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8) Repentance: A Change That Keeps Changing Us • Repentance is literally a “turning”—mind, heart, and direction. • Real turning shows up in visible, ongoing results (Acts 26:20). • No one-time event; it’s a lifelong posture of surrender. The Vine Principle—Where Fruit Comes From “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you… The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit.” (John 15:4-5) • Abiding is daily, deliberate closeness with Jesus. • Apart from Him we can do “nothing”—no genuine fruit. • Connection → Life → Fruit. Skipping the connection kills the harvest. Daily Habits That Keep Us Abiding • Scripture intake—reading, studying, memorizing (Colossians 3:16). • Prayerful dependence—confession, praise, petition (Philippians 4:6-7). • Ongoing confession—keeping short accounts with God (1 John 1:9). • Corporate worship—fellowship fuels faith (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Obedience in the next small step—light obeyed brings more light (John 14:21). The Fruit Profile—What Repentance Looks Like “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) • These nine qualities are family traits of those who stay close to the Spirit. • They develop together, not cafeteria-style. • They show up in real-life situations, not just in theory. Concrete Actions That Match Repentance John’s listeners asked, “What then should we do?” (Luke 3:10). His answers were practical and specific. Likewise: • Relationships: forgive quickly, pursue reconciliation (Ephesians 4:32). • Speech: truthful, edifying words—no gossip, slander, or coarse talk (Ephesians 4:29). • Finances: generosity, integrity, no exploitation (Luke 3:11-13; 2 Corinthians 9:7). • Work ethic: honest hours, quality effort, respect for authority (Colossians 3:23). • Sexual purity: honor marriage, flee immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5). • Compassion: visit the lonely, serve the poor, defend the vulnerable (James 1:27). Relational Fruit—Loving God and Neighbor • Vertical: wholehearted love for the Lord (Mark 12:30). • Horizontal: sacrificial love for people (Mark 12:31). • Both loves increase together; you can’t excel at one while neglecting the other (1 John 4:20-21). Moral Integrity Fruit—Turning From Sin • “Put off your former way of life… put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:22-24). • Repentance is proved by what we stop doing and what we start doing. • Every temptation is an opportunity to bear fresh fruit of obedience. Witnessing Fruit—Testimony and Service • Good works cause others to “glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). • Spoken witness: sharing the gospel is fruit (Romans 1:13). • Serving gifts: hospitality, teaching, mercy, giving—all Spirit-powered fruit (1 Peter 4:10-11). Ongoing Evaluation and Growth • Regular self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). • Invite godly accountability—iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). • Celebrate progress, repent of setbacks, keep walking (Philippians 3:13-14). The Assurance Behind the Effort “Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11) • The fruit is His life expressed through ours. • Our job: stay repentant, stay connected, stay obedient. • His promise: a harvest that points everyone back to Him. |
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