By: Robert Serreyn
Question? What did John the Baptist mean by Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance in Luke 3:8?
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Answer:
He was speaking of TESTIMONY, not salvation, Verses 7 through 14 bear this out.
NOTE: A person IS NOT asked to bring anything to obtain salvation for that would elude to works in gaining eternal life.
John the Baptist was declaring to those that claimed to have “Believed” to PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED themselves as a Believer of the Promised Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ.
To further concrete this, John the Baptist IN YOUR FACE kinda of way said to those there if YOU CLAIM Abraham as your father (We have Abraham to our father) THEN “Be Not Ashamed” to publicly identify yourselves (Bring forth fruits WORTHY of Repentance) WITH the God of Abraham which is Christ.
In Conclusion:
A person upon trusting Christ as the ONLY PAYMENT for their sins SHOULD be willing as the “First act of Obedience” to God’s Word is to be baptized (by immersion) SHOWING that they are NOT ASHAMED of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh (not paying for sin), but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
In short John the Baptist was saying, Present yourselves as a public testimony (bring forth fruits) that you are NOT ASHAME to be identified WITH Christ as your Messiah (worthy of repentance).
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH