Necessary Repentance

Introduction

There are times in all of our lives where we realize the finite nature of our existence.

I remember several times from my childhood.

The first time I thought this way was 9/11. I remember where I was - Mrs. Holmes 5th Grade History class. The scene was horrific. It was my first realization that the world we live in was not perfect and horrible things happen.

The second time happened when I was 16 years old. I was driving home from school and a car pulled in front of me at an exit. I dodged the car, but I was rear ended by a tow truck. The damage to my car was quite heavy, but I remember

In the text today, the words of Jesus will sound harsh in light of what is happening around him. But I believe they are harsh to crack our stony hearts.

They would be harsh if He hadn’t entered our suffering and defeated death in the process.

They might be harsh if he hadn’t wept over Lazarus or taught the disciples what we studied last week.

How should we think personally about the brokenness of the world around us? Jesus answers: When you see the brokenness of the world, it is an opportunity for repentance.

Read Luke 13:1-9.

Explanation

Luke 13:1–3 ESV

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Rehash: As Jesus is teaching, some individuals ask about a horrendous situation that had taken place. Pilate had perceived a passover celebration to be a moment of insurrection in Galilee. He had killed many of them while they were offering sacrifices.

They were probably looking for Jesus to condemn Pilate. Certainly, Jesus would side on behalf of the Jewish people and against the Roman occupation.

Jesus does something curious. He calls those who were killed (v2) sinners. But he also says that they are no worse than the men who were standing in Jesus presence.

Now, this belief challenges ancient belief concerning suffering.

If you suffered, it was because you did something.

In the book of John, “Rabbi, who sinned that this man is lame.”

This should be a relief for us. God isn’t looking to punish you for what you have done, because all of the punishment for our sins was placed upon Jesus.

Your current predicament may be the consequences of your actions, but they are certainly not God’s judgment on your sins.

Jesus doubles down in verses 4-5.

Luke 13:4–5 ESV

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

APPLICATION VERSES 1-5:

Jesus is not being calloused to what happens. We know those people don’t we. The people to quick to speak quick platitudes into our suffering or dismiss our pain. Jesus is NOT doing that. We aren’t speaking lightly of suffering. We are talking about one of the many ways we need to respond when we see suffering in the world - including how we respond personally to our own spiritual lives.

Jesus point is not to address HOW people died but THAT people died.

John Piper // “Whether perishing came through the agency of evil human volition in Pilate or the various effects of futility-infused creation of the falling tower, Jesus primary issue was the perishing itself, not its agent.

We are often so cued into whats wrong with the world that we are clueless to what’s wrong with us.

We can quickly become too glued to a television screen or a phone screen to notice the sin in our hearts. And when we get to this place, we are so concerned with what is happening around you that you have neglected to care for your own soul.

You are busy, but your spiritual life isn’t flourishing.

We won’t have quiet moments, because quiet moments keep us from the parts of our hearts that we try to forget.

We can easily lull ourselves into complacency with our lives all the while pointing at everything wrong in the world.

Repentance is necessary in the Christian life. I want to cover this from two standpoints this morning. Firstly, repentance unto salvation. Secondly, repentance unto sanctification.

What is repentance? Kevin teaches our students in Gospel Truths that repentance is a change in mind, heart, and direction concerning sin.

We often think about repentance as a terrible, archaic term. Repentance is the way to freedom. It is the road out of a bad decision. It is the way out of a trap.

Puritan Pastor, Thomas Watson wrote a book on repentance. In it he says, “Upon our turning to God, we have more restored to us in Christ - than was ever lost in Adam. God says to the repenting soul, I will clothe you with a robe of righteousness, I will enrich you with jewels and graces of my Spirit. I will bestowe my love upon you! I will give you a Kingdom. Son, all I have is yours!

I remember returning to the Lord after a season of wondering: It wasn’t emotional. It wasn’t hands waving or crying. It was a simple resolution - I knew Jesus was better than what I had been chasing, and I just wanted Him.

When we are saved, we trust in Jesus to save us, and we, at the same time, turn from our sin.

I want to give you an aside here. We think the term repentance is archaic, so we don’t often use it as it comes to salvation.

We tell people to “ask Jesus into their heart,” “give their lives to Christ,” “commit their lives to Christ,” etc. to talk about their giving their lives to Jesus.

What I have noticed as a pastor over the years is that this causes confusion.

I think it is important when you are sharing the gospel to use the Biblical language - repent and believe. It just keeps us from confusion.

FOR SALVATION: When we initially follow Jesus, we follow Him by faith and repentance. That is true salvation.

Repentance is necessary for salvation.

You don’t get Jesus and your old life.

If you are living away from God, there is no way to Him by through faith and repentance.

Faith is a trusting on Jesus to save us by His merit. No good we can do brings about our salvation. No amount of hustle or prayer or good deeds or years in the pew outweighs our sins.

Jesus one remark for you to day would be this one: do not wait. Do not think that you have next week or next year to be saved by Jesus.

British Pastor William Mason once said, “Every day of delay leaves a day more to repent of and a day less to repent in.”

FOR DAILY WALKING WITH JESUS:

Every time you see something horrible happen in the world, you have a stark reminder that this world is not your home. So you are given the opportunity to repent of the ways in which the world has made its home in your heart.

You need repentance daily, because you need to walk with Jesus. Daily repentance means daily turning from yourself and following Jesus.

We aren’t wallowing in our sin. We are turning from it.

Tim Keller, “Fear-based repentance makes us hate ourselves. Joy based repentance makes us hate our sin.”

Luke 13:6–9 ESV

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus tells another parable to illustrate the need for growth or the fruit that comes from repentance. In this parable, a man planted a fig tree. At the end of three years, that man gave the fig tree everything needed to flourish and one more year to produce fruit. However, he gives orders that this year the tree is to be cut down if it does not produce fruit. We don’t ever see whether or not the tree produces fruit.

We see two things in this text: (1) The necessity of fruit and (2) the patience of the man with the fig tree.

Fruit is not necessary for faith. Faith is necessary for fruit. And where there is true faith, fruit will inevitably come. That is why fruit is important. We don’t earn salvation, but we do absolutely show whether or not we love and adore the Jesus we profess by how we live our lives.

At the same point in time, this man planted a fig tree and gave it years to produce any fruit at all. Even after it did not produce fruit, he told his gardener to do what? “Give it everything it needs to produce fruit.”

Invitation

I want you to make no mistake this morning. You are not promised tomorrow. Don’t miss Jesus and his goodness.