Fruit of Repentance
Authenticity of True Confession and Repentance
Many have prayed for years and years for family, friends, co-workers and sinners in general who have cause tremendous grief for others. There are many people who have said “I am sorry,” but never have produced a life of genuine repentance. Others have never even shown remorse over the things done which broke the heart of others, caused unrest in the workplace and produced a life of unlawfulness, disregarding God’s given correction and guidance which is good for themselves as well as all mankind.
Born-again Christian theologians turn to the Bible for guidance so they can distinguish from real repentance and insincerity. Genuine Christians are broken hearted over those who are sorry for the circumstances they are in, yet not grieved over the sins they commit against God, family, friends, co-workers and society in general. This teaching holds truths which every judge in America should be told, every law student should be taught, all workplaces should be govern by and family members should desire to understand.
As a matter of fact, an unrepentant offender will refuse any treatment which requires any conformation of their confession of sin and true guidance toward repentance. Their plea of a confession is only for a reduce form of correction, which only opens the door to a deeper bondage to their sins. They take advantage of loved ones, deceive law enforcement, cause havoc in the workplace, breed distrust among friends and go into a deeper decent into the bondage which holds them captive. They love manipulating those who are wanting to help through seeking a weak format style of accountability. The less they have to give an accounting for or the confirming of their daily lifestyle activities, the more they like it. They are good at words of manipulation and intimidation, influencing others to come to wrong conclusions of the progress they are not making. Saying, “Owe, you do not trust me” or ‘trust me.” They give little accountability with little to no substantiating of what they are saying. A Biblical truth the unrepentant must come to know, “He who conceals his sin does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them find mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. “ (Proverbs 28:13-14 )
We must not allow superficial appearances of repentance to control our responses. A display of tears without a true cry from a contrite heart is only a coverup what is really residing inside a human soul, which in it’s unrepentant state, is an enemy of God. Jesus said, By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) The Psalmist writes, “My sacrifice are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) God’s promise is mercy, grace, comfort and guidance to the repentant. To the unrepentant He promises chastisements, the worst being turned over to themselves giving them what their evil heart’s desire.
The sinner who enjoys reconciliation will be seeking Jesus Christ to deliver him from the sinful flesh, the lures of the world and the lies of the devil. Under the preoccupy The Truth Will Set You Free Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly a disciple of mine, and you know the truth, and the truth will set you free. …Truly, I say to you, everyone who practice sin is a slave to sin… So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-38) Many have received Christ as Savior and Lord and were set free from drunkenness and others sins which kept them from enjoying a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have allowed the Holy Spirit to empower them to walk in God’s perfect will for them.
The process of the reconciliation with God comes first from knowing what sin really is. The word “sin” (?µa?t?a hamartía) means to miss the true end and scope of our lives which is suppose too be spent on worshiping the Lord [Jesus Christ] and lived for God. - (Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.) It means to miss the mark or wander from the path of uprightness in order to choose to do wrong. This comes from a direct choosing to not have knowledge of God’s Devine law. (Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.)
The first and upmost prayer for the unrepentant is to ask God to reveal to them their sin and bring them to repentance. Until they repent, no prayer a has eternal lasting blessedness. They must repent! Or face the eternal unrest and torture of hell. Jesus said, For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Too often our form of teaching repentance has produced the shellfish child who had been caught doing wrong to another child and forced to say I am sorry, without seeking the Holy Spirit to bring real conviction to the offending child who had sin. Without demanding true repentance is like sending a child to his room, never talking about what needs to be done to get his act in order with God. The average church’s format of applying correction is like having a child grounded from something, not giving them Biblical structure to overcome that thinking of how they can get around being grounded.
The unrepentant will always be seeking ways to look sincere, only doing what is needed to avoid the strictest form of correction, never wanting to know the joy of true repentance, being brought to the Lord and brought into good favor with God.
What are the Signs of True Repentance?
Repentant People:
1.) Accepts full responsibility for their actions. They do not blame others and accuses people of their wrongs to justify their actions. (Luke 23:40; 1 Chronicles 21:8)
2.) Looks for accountability from others who has the authority to call them to account. My road of repentance required years of keeping a daily calendar which had to be substantiated. Healthy accountability is not about what you do not do, but what you are doing for and with the Lord. (Hebrews 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Proverbs 27:17)
3.) Does not continue in hurtful behavior or anything associated with it. They do not hurt people by their attitude and actions.
4.) Does not have a defensive attitude or justifies with reasons for doing wrong.
5.) Does not have a light attitude about what they have done.
6.) Does not resent any questioning of their sincerity. Especially if its repeated offenses.
7.) Makes restitution wherever necessary. In Luke 19:1-10 the teaching of Zacchaeus, the generosity he demonstrated. Biblical observation of his life tells us he was a wealthy tax collector. Exegeses of scripture tells us he was a thief and oppressor of God’s people. Zacchaeus’ heart of repentance moved him to say, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will restore it fourfold.’ Jesus said, ‘Today salvation has come to this house…’”
8.) They are appalled by sin. They have full recognition of who they are and what people are really like in the secrets of their hearts. The great prophet Isaiah said when he came into the presence of God, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5) The truly repentant will school themselves in the counsel of God’s Word. They know what comes from the tongue comes from the heart and the speech of those they hang out with is from a sinful heart. (James 3:6,8) Birds of a feather flock together. Once someone has come into the presence of the Lord they want to be delivered, they want to change. The old hangout friends they hanged out with are gone for the most part.
9.) They are desiring the proper consequence, because this helps them mature and live a life of repentance. People must grasp this truth, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) Without consequences there will be no change in a sinner’s heart. King David, the man after God’s own heart had to suffer the consequences of his sin and sadly there were times others suffered from his inability to control his fleshing sinful nature. A genuine hard study of the whole counsel of God’s Word leads us to understand, we can be forgiven of our sins, we must face consequences of our actions. -- The consequences of David’s sins were the loosing of four sons: a. Bathsheba’s first born (2 Samuel 12:18) b. Amnon (2 Samuel 13:28-29) c. Absalom (2 Samuel 16:14-15) and d. Adonijah (1 Kings 2:25) King David did much good for and with the Lord and he stilled suffered consequences of his sins. Because of his sin David was told by the Prophet Nathan, “the sword shall never depart from your house. …I will raise up evil against you from your own household,” and “the child also that is born to you shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:10-11, 14) The whole of Scripture teach boundaries and consequences.
10.)They feel the depth of the pain they have caused. A repentant person won’t try to
minimize, down play or excuse what they have done.
There are Biblical truths found in the teaching of the Prodigal Son one must embrace as we consider rather or not someone is repentant. The beloved John proclaims a truth which is for all who live today as well. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8) There are essences of repentance.
You recall the Biblical account of a man who had two sons. The youngest asked for his inheritance, left home and lived recklessly. When his money was gone, the land he lived in was struck with a famine and he had spent all he had, he had nothing and no one was reaching out to help him. (Luke 15:16)
Truths we must catch from the Prodigal Son in regard to Repentance:
1.) The Bible says, When he had come to his senses…” (Luke 15:17) He “came to his senses” (e?? ?a?t?? de ????? [eis heauton de elthon]) is a phrase, an expression for repented. Referring not only to a mental process that causes him to think more clearly, but also moral renewal involving repentance. (Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 406). Broadman & Holman Publishers.) Sadly, to often the person who just keeps sinning the same sin over and over has to be totally spent, all his resources gone before he lets God open his eyes.
2.) The fruit of repentance births forth confession. The Prodigal said. “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’” (Luke 15:18-19) The man who confesses his life of adultery, drunkenness, drugs, stealing and life spent on self-pleasure makes no accusations, just confessions.
3.) The fruit of repentance produces an awareness of unworthiness. The prodigal son was broken by his sin as well as the hurt and harm it had caused others. He knew it had wounded them and was content to just being on the working crew, not to enjoy the benefits of family. He mention, “. . . [I] am no more worthy to be called thy son . . .” (Luke 15:19)
4.) The fruit of repentance accepts possible limitations. He was willing to accept limitations and return not expecting restoration of family authority or benefits. Luke 15:19 says, “…Make me as a hired servant.” (Luke 15:19)
5.) The fruit of repentance can produce mixed responses. In the teaching we read, “He [the son] arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet . . . and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:20–24)
The father welcomed his returning son with open arms and free forgiveness. His brother, on the other hand, was not happy about their father’s response.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ (Luke 15:25–30)
Even though the father offered forgiveness and restoration with gladness, the brother was angry and complaining. The Father interceded for the son who had fallen away giving explanation for the celebration (Luke 15:31-32) The fruit of repentance opens up the doors of opportunity to shows ones changed heart and diligence to serving those they had hurt.
The fruit of repentance explained in this teaching enables the offender to enjoy God’s reward of being brought into the family of God. Restores broken fellowships, marriages, enrich friendships and families as well as make you productive in the work place and society.
The person producing the fruit of repentance lives under the truth taught by the beloved John, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) The truly repentant rest in God forgiving them while rejoicing, for the Lord, through the Holy Spirit of Christ is cleansing them through the present process of sanctification. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 526). Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
Cleanse (?a?a???? katharízo) in a spiritual sense, to purify from the pollution and guilt of sin. (Acts 15:9; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:26; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:14; James 4:8; 1 John 1:7, 9; Sept.: Ex. 29:37; Ps. 51:7; Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.)
There are many Christians living under the joy of repentance and living FREE from the desire of Jack Daniels, drugs, the lure of adultery, stealing, gossip, envy, and any other acts of the sinful flesh.
For me, after living a life which would leave a black mark on tar paper, and coming to Christ, my mother-in-law purchased me a NIV Bible. Shortly after getting that Bible, I received a hunger and thirst for the Word of God. For many years I did not watch TV, Rated R films – I just filled my spiritual heart with the things of God. When I got my ordination papers, I was interviewed by a board of Spirit-filled born again theologians. One of the men, Joe Beach said, “We notice you are person who seeks out accountability.” They ask were I learned this – I told them I noticed in the whole of Scripture – there is a natural life that comes from being truly repentant – which finds it base in what does the Lord require of me to prove my love for Him.
One thing I did was to keep a daily calendar record of my day and make a list of things I needed to get done for the Lord. And everything I did was not only written down, but could be substantiated. Every month, I handed my completed list of the list needing done to the elders of the church I attended. Did it for 20 years. I have not done this much for the last 10 years. The more I keep things written down for joyful accountability, the better I do – when I do not write down – I do not do as well.
Repentance is not something you do just once, it is an ongoing lifestyle that must be lived out daily salted with joyful accountability – so you may enjoy the fruit of repentance – having God’s favor upon you.
