"Fruit of Vipers"
14/01/13 09:46
January 14, 2013
“Fruit of Vipers”
Blessings Folk!
Read:
Matthew 3:7-10
Luke 3:7-9
pastedGraphic
As we saw yesterday, John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Many of the people responded.
They confessed their sins and repented of them.
The religious rulers saw this and worried.
They did not want to lose their control over the people.
They did not want to lose their leadership to some locust eat’n wilderness dwelling vagabond.
They decided to “play along”.
They came to be baptized by John.
They came to profess repentance and confession of sin.
John called them what they were - offspring of vipers, children of Abraham.
Hummm?
John was letting them know that just a public profession of repentance of sins was not the true evidence of repentance. A change in the fruit of life was the evidence.
So, if they were truly repentant, then it would be evident in their life.
John then addressed the issue of their heart.
They thought that since they were children of Abraham, then the Lord would not cut them off.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
God can raise up children for Abraham from stones. (Interesting thought to dwell on.)
God, even at that moment, was laying the ax head to the root of the tree.
Lineage would not suffice.
Only repentance.
Only confession.
Only faith.
We see the same today.
So many think they are in correct relationship with God because they regularly participate in organizational church activities, yet, they are not of the Organism of the Body of Christ.
So many think they are in correct relationship with God due to family heritage and past faithfulness of previous generations.
It is only be grace that we are saved.
Each individual must repent, confess and call upon the name of the Lord.
Each individual must produce fruit which shows evidence of a transformed life.
Where do you stand?
“Fruit of Vipers”
Blessings Folk!
Read:
Matthew 3:7-10
Luke 3:7-9
pastedGraphic
As we saw yesterday, John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Many of the people responded.
They confessed their sins and repented of them.
The religious rulers saw this and worried.
They did not want to lose their control over the people.
They did not want to lose their leadership to some locust eat’n wilderness dwelling vagabond.
They decided to “play along”.
They came to be baptized by John.
They came to profess repentance and confession of sin.
John called them what they were - offspring of vipers, children of Abraham.
Hummm?
John was letting them know that just a public profession of repentance of sins was not the true evidence of repentance. A change in the fruit of life was the evidence.
So, if they were truly repentant, then it would be evident in their life.
John then addressed the issue of their heart.
They thought that since they were children of Abraham, then the Lord would not cut them off.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
God can raise up children for Abraham from stones. (Interesting thought to dwell on.)
God, even at that moment, was laying the ax head to the root of the tree.
Lineage would not suffice.
Only repentance.
Only confession.
Only faith.
We see the same today.
So many think they are in correct relationship with God because they regularly participate in organizational church activities, yet, they are not of the Organism of the Body of Christ.
So many think they are in correct relationship with God due to family heritage and past faithfulness of previous generations.
It is only be grace that we are saved.
Each individual must repent, confess and call upon the name of the Lord.
Each individual must produce fruit which shows evidence of a transformed life.
Where do you stand?