Day 85: So what is repentance? - Luke 3 vs 7 – 14

7-9 When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the axe of God’s judgement is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

10-11 The crowds asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”

12-13 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptised and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”

14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” Luke 3:7-14 New Living Translation

It seems that people in Israel began to realise that John was indeed a 'messenger' sent by God and so they'd better go out to hear what he had to say. But vs 7-9 show that not all of them came with the right attitude to God's word. Many of them thought they were fine and had nothing to worry about because they were the descendants of Abraham. But John points out that fruit trees that don't bear fruit are not worth keeping. (That went for family-trees too!) The attitude we have to God's word is very important.

Some of the people, however, were thoughtful enough to dig deeper and began to ask John what they should do in light of the message he was bringing. In the three examples of those in vs 10 -14 asking 'what must we do?', can you think of one or two words for each of the groups that would describe what sort of attitude they probably had in life up to that point.

My words for the three would be selfish (or self-centred), dishonest, and bullies. This brings us to the meaning of repentance and what it is all about. The original Greek word implied 'a change of mind.' (Our English would probably say a change of heart.) The result would be a change of attitude. And when we change our attitude – it always leads to a change in our actions. It leads to a change in the way we speak and the things we say as well as the way we behave in general. That's why John answered each of the those asking what they must do in the way he did. Look again at what his answers would mean for their lives.

Lastly, what do you think would need to be in the hearts and minds of those people for them to put John's words into practice?

I think it would require a sense of shame and sorrow for how they had been living up to then. In a way, that is also a part of repentance – but not the main part. One can get emotional and have a sense of guilt, but still not be willing to change. And some people may not feel strong emotions at all, yet know in their hearts that they've been sinning against a holy God and need forgiveness, and to put wrong things out of their life. Repentance involves a change of attitude to God that leads to action. The apostle Paul described this well when he said: “The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation, and there’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10.

How is our attitude today? Like those people who came to John we must not be deluded by any religious family connections we may have. The real test is whether our lives have been changed by the gospel. Repentance is a doing word, not a feeling one. It's a turning away from all that is hateful to God - and a putting on of the life of Jesus Christ.