Repent or perish

Concluding His Message

Jesus is speaking to this crowd that is surrounding Him

this sermon that started in the beginning of 12

be rich toward God

lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven

be prepared for the return of Christ

be found waiting and watching for the trumpet call

Judge yourselves and make it right with your accuser

before it is to late when the Judge of this world will judge you according to His perfect judgement

Jesus is going to conclude this sermon with instructions with dire consequences if they do not

to repent or perish

this word perish is a word that means to lose, to kill,

Matthew 22:7 (LSB)

“But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.

Matthew 27:20 (LSB)

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

Matthew 18:11 (LSB)

[“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

these are all the same Greek word

it is more than just dying

Luke 9:25 (LSB)

“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?

John 3:16 (LSB)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Perish go to destruction, go to hell fire

and in order for you not to perish you must repent

read Luke 13 1-9.

Repent

V 1-5

these people figured that because of the horrific ways these people died that God was punishing them more because they were greater sinners

all these people considered themselves going to Heaven because they were God’s chosen people

just like today most people consider themselves as going to Heaven

go to any funeral and listen

all religions have a heaven they go to

but Jesus says I am the way no one comes to the Father but by me

Jesus, God is exclusive

so what does Jesus say we must do to be saved?

first we need to know what are we being saved from

THE WRATH OF GOD AGAINST SIN

the wages of sin is death

it is not a matter of getting our heaven bus ticket punched

but salvation from the penalty of sin

we want to approach with the evangelistic thought of going to Heaven

we have soften the way of salvation to a destination

without the conviction of sin and the need of repentance

to get there is pray this prayer ask Jesus into your heart

God has saved people at this time BUT there are many more who believe they are saved. who show no evidence of being regenerated

these people you cant evangelize because they think they are already are saved

so again what does Jesus say is the way to be saved?

V 3 and 5

unless you repent -you perish

unless you turn you burn

unless you turn from your sin to embrace Christ

unless there is a Godly hate that you have for your sin

unless your sin repulses you and you embrace Jesus and His crucifixion

unless we turn from our selves to Jesus for grace and mercy

we will perish

Spurgeon said, "Repentance is an inseparable companion of faith." The tear of repentance glitters in the eye of faith. Faith and repentance are like Siamese twins, they are virtually joined together. They are two spokes of the same wheel or two handles of the same plow. Repentance is a heart broken FOR sin and FROM sin. True repentance has a double aspect. It looks upon things in the past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye. If your sorrow is because of certain consequences that have come on your family because of your sin, this is remorse, not true repentance. If, on the other hand, you are grieved because you also sinned against God and His Word, then you are on the right road. Late repentance is seldom true but true repentance is never late. Repentance is a turning from sin and returning to the Lord. Repentance adds nothing to faith but is rather an integral part of it. Saving faith is repentant faith. Repentance and faith are inseparable.

Proverbs 28:13 LSB

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will receive compassion.

This verse links the two inseparable parts of true repentance: confession and forsaking sin. True repentance is more than being sorry for your sins.

2 Corinthians 7:8–9 LSB

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance. For you were made to have godly sorrow, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.

a Godly sorrow is the beginning of repentance

now Jesus is going to give a

Parable

V 6-9

Jesus is comparing the Jewish people as a whole to this beautiful fig tree

they say they are good and going to heaven

but there is no fruit

there is good looking leaves

there is a confession of salvation

remember people are known for their fruit

the owner says cut it down its no good

this person has sat in church for decades has heard the gospel over and over

and still no fruit

the caretaker says one more year

I’ll give it extra attention fertilize the roots

then after that we will see

these people who died when the tower fell over died in an instant

people die instantly all the time

is this message your fertilizer time?

your last chance?

Paul says today is the day of salvation

2 Peter 3:9 LSB

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

don’t push the patience of Jesus

are you truly repentant? do you hate your sin or love it?

if you were to stand before a judge would you be convicted of being a christian?

or just a good person

is there any fruit / evidence that will the judge can use to say you are a true follower of Jesus?

are you a fruitless tree?

that needs to be cut down?

it is time to do some self examination

let me pray for you right now