Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1–9 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 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? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 6 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. 7 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?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Truth #1 Jesus Commands us to Repent or Die Eternally

Explanation

Jesus uses two current events that the reader would be familiar with to point to two realities

Current Events:

Galileans who were worshipping at the Temple got killed by Pilate’s (govenor of 1-judea) soldiers

Tower fell on 18 people and crushed them to death

The First reality is that how someone dies is not representative of how good or bad a person is.

The Second and more important reality is unless they repent, they will perish

Repent — Fundamentally, repentance is a change of mind, a switch from an outlook that esteems sin to one that considers it abhorrent (hateful). It is important that we remember, however, that Scripture understands a true change of mind to be one that includes more than just a shifting of intellectual categories.

To have metanoia — to have true repentance — involves feelings of regret and remorse. Repentance means we are truly sorry for something we have done (not just its consequences) and want to change our behavior.

Perish – Dying eternally

Key word that Jesus uses is the word “you” (5x in 4 verses)

Corroboration.

John 9:1–3 ESV

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Application

Don’t look at people around you dying and think to yourself that they deserved it and you don't.

You deserved death because you have rejected the Kingship of Jesus.

Unless you bend the knee to Jesus you will perish

Truth #2 Repentance Without Evidence is Worthless

Explanation

Parable - Fictional story with spiritual significance

Characters

Man

Fig tree

Vindresser

Owner came to a fig tree expecting fruit and found none over a long period of time (3 years)

If the fig tree bears no fruit, then it does not need to be taking up space in the garden

Owner commands that the fig tree be cut down

The vinedresser intercedes for the tree and the tree is spared, but only for a while

Illustration

Family member that wants to quit ______________ bad habit that talks about it but never actually does it.

Guy treading water in the gulf and a boat comes by and ask if he needs help. The guy responds, “no its ok, God will save me.” Then a helicopter comes by and ask if he needs help. The guy responds again, “no its ok, God will save me.” Then he dies ands gets scolded by God for reject two opportunities to be saved.

Corroboration

Matthew 3:8–10 ESV

8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

James 2:14–16 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

Application

Alot of us will be like the guy in the illustration, constantly waiting and playing games with God thinking that this is a game and that you have all the time in the world then boom you get into a car accident or cancer or die from some undiagnosed heart condition.

Repent while there is still time.

Like the lesson from two weeks ago, Jesus told the people to “settle with their accuser before they get to the judge”

A lot of students still believe that this means nothing. They may say all the right things but their actions reveal that their heart does not believe the truth of what they say.

For if we believe that this is true, then why do we entertain things that God has clearly said in His word

What does repentance look like?

What are you turning from?