Repent or Perish
Notes
Transcript
The irony is that we live in a world surrounded by death. That's a strange way to begin a sermon. But think about it, death is all around us. We read about in tragedies. We see it on the news. It often is what makes headlines. From free access to mass casualties.
But still, we are somehow disconnected from it. We think about our death, but we never tend to think it would come upon us in this way.
It's a strange thought, but how many times would you say that you have escaped death? Or, nearly died, but by the grace of God, you lived. For some, that may hit closer to home than others. But for me. I think about being in Tuscloosa on April 27th. And a tornado ripped through that area and across the entire state.
I was fine, in fact, I was on campus in a pretty secure building, down in the basement. But I had a cousin who was living in a nearby apartment that was hit directly by the Tornado. Another friend, who was thrown some 50 yards by its wind. Yet, though it killed several people and injured others. Yet, I was left unharmed and by all accounts unfazed by it.
A lesser-known event, years prior, I was sitting in a vehicle with my cousin at a stop light when out of nowhere, a car clips our mirror, going at least 60 mph, hits a median, goes airborne, hits two cars in an Applebee's parking lot, rolls once, and settles on 4 wheels. To everyone's surprise, no one was hurt. Yet, I was inches from severe injury and possibly death.
Those are the two that come to mind, but I'm sure, between extensive running and cycling when I was avid in those hobbies, interstate driving, and just living in a fallen world, there are certainly others. We escape death and tragedy by sheer grace.
From moments of tragedy, having just missed us. Had I not turned around when I did, or had I not gone to do this, I would be in the precise timing of such and such events. I think we all have those moments. Where our end is staring us down, and we escape by sheer grace.....and we just seem to carry on unaffected.
We think, somehow, we are immune to those things. Cancer is what happens to other people. Car wrecks are what other people experience. Tragedy is coming on others, but rarely on us. It's interesting because we know that death is inevitable, but we also keep it conveniently distant from now.
To boot, we can sometimes have a warped perspective on those who encounter such hardship. Sort of disconnected and unattuned to what they experienced. Somehow, we are exempt from that. When instead it ought to really cause us to consider the reality of our own death. That could have been us. There really is nothing preventing it from being us. Apart from grace.
And so, the very thing that ought to calibrate our minds towards the inevitable, we've learned to callous. What ought to remind us of brokenness and of death, and of coming judgment, becomes a strange comfort, that those things can't happen, or won't happen. The tangible reminds us of what's coming for us all, and we continue living without regard to grace.
That's a danger, and that's the danger in this text. That Jesus helps the crowd to see. That the world is broken, death is sure, judgement is coming. We must be prepared.
Sermon Summary: Unless you repent, you will perish!
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.’ ”
I. Be Warned of Greater Suffering For Those Who Don’t Repent (vv.1-5)
I. Be Warned of Greater Suffering For Those Who Don’t Repent (vv.1-5)
Jesus has been speaking quite extensively now. He’s been teaching and this discourse continues really since Luke 12.
Jesus primary point is that Judgement is coming, and you don’t know when it might happen. This is about what Jesus has been speaking to, really, since Luke 12. When so many thousands came to hear Jesus, that they were trampling on each other. Jesus has gone back and forth between speaking with the crowd and speaking to His disciples. He spoke about fear and anxiety. Don’t live like a rich fool, and live only for this world. Live with the end in mind instead. He spoke to stay ready and alert for the master’s return. Who are you talking to, Peter chimes in (Luke 12:41). Jesus is alert to all who have ears to hear. Warning them of interpreting the skies correctly, but ignoring the spiritual reality of a coming judgment.
But, perhaps, just like us, they are focused more on the masses than their own hearts.
1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
You know, it’s interesting. What is happening here is Jesus is keeping the focus on the indiviaul hearts. And it’s interesting, because what Jesus says here is equally for us. We too, would be quite comfortable at leaving things at a distance.
So, some of those present want Jesus to speak to the isutaiton involving Pilate. Now, we have zero clues about the particular incident. This is the only place it was recorded. There have been many attempts to idenify what this is refering too, but we ultimately don’t know. But we do know enough about Pilate and the Roman Empire to know that things like this did, in fact, happen often.
But apparently, a group of Galileans was offering sacrifices. Likely, during Passover, as this would have been the time when Galileans would have been in Jerusalem and at the temple. But nonetheless, they come and are offering religious services, and while in worship, Pilate orders their execution, and they are killed, mingling their blood with the blood of their sacrifices.
This is a grim picture they bring before Jesus. And there is no known reason as to why they bring this up to Jesus, but we do get a sense as to why by the way Jesus responds to them. This was known, out in the open, it would have been on the front page of the Jewish Times….So uh, Jesus, what do you think about this?
Now, this is getting to an interesting question. Maybe what did Jesus think about this? Or what about the Galileans, since his disciples were Galileans. And maybe they mention it as a dig at them, but more than that, there would have been a way of thinking that said, well, this kind of stuff happens to sinners. This is somehow God’s vengeance on them. This is God’s judgment against them. This is like Job’s friends right, Job, you are suffering because you have sinned! I mean, Job come on, just repent let’s get this moving. It’s clear this clamaity has come upon you for a reason. Or John 9:2, when the disciples bring a man to Jesus who had been blind since birth and say, now who sinned, that has caused this man to be born blind?
We tend to think the same thing if we aren’t careful. I mean something by happens, we think, well, they must have messed up. They must have done something wrong. If we don’t think that about others, we think that about ourselves, don’t we….What I have done to deserve this! We are looking for something or someone to blame.
It really gets to a question of theodicy. Why do bad things happen to good people? Or if God is all-powerful, why doesn’t he stop all evil? And Jesus addresses that issue here. Jesus says, the reason this happens isn’t necessarily their sin. In fact, there may be lots of reasons.
So Jesus asks this question - I love it…
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.
v.2-3 Do you think…..Do you suppose…Do you you think these Galians were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
Do you think that….Do you think God was out to get them. Is that what you think? That’s common. And Jesus sets the record straight. With that’s not what is happening here.
But notice, he doesn’t declare their innocence. He doesn’t say they were without any sin, but he does make it clear their clamity isn’t because of their sin, but all suffering is because of sin. Sin the world, sin in the hearts of man. Sin in a fallen world. Where tragedy happens!!
And Jesus, really focuses there attention. You are focused on them, but Jesus says, the real focus ought to be on yourself!
Do you think they were worse off….No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
See, Jesus is striking on that convenient tendency to shift the focus away from us and onto others. Suppress the reality of the coming judgment and talk about the times and seasons, and the evening news.
And Jesus says, I’ve got news for you. You are concerned with that tragedy and making comparisons. Listen, you are no better off than that could have just as easily been you, and unless you repent, there is a great judgment coming. YOU WILL PERISH SOON. And you don’t know when it’s coming!
This ought not just be a talking point for you. It ought to enlighten you to the reality of DEATH COMING! You’re no better than these Galileans. They perished, you heard about. You too will perish. And what matters then isn’t everyone else’s sin, but your sin. You must repent!
And then Jesus brings up a second situation to make a larger point. What Jesus is doing here is keeping the crowd focused on a coming Judgment. Jesus doesn’t want them to lose sight of that….and Judgment is coming, and you don’t know when it might happen, so you must be prepared now.
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.”
Here is yet another situation that isn’t explicitly mentioned outside the bible. Whereas the first incident was an accident, this is a tragic accident.
Perhaps it happened in construction. Or perhaps just something freak. We know that Jerusalem was surrounded by different pools or aqueducts for various cleansing, many of which were surrounded by pillars, like the Pool of Bethesda in John 5. There is likely another in Siloam. And apparently, one of the tower fell on 18 people and killed them.
The same conclusion is reached - Do you think these are worse sinners because they suffered in this way? (v.2)
And now, the language is nearly identical in verse 4.
Do you think they are worse offenders because they died in this way (v.4)?
Notice, Jesus is suggesting they are wrong; shouldn’t they hold God responsible? God is in control of all things. Jesus is after something bigger here. He’s making it clear not to equate suffering to wrong doing.
Just because they died in a certain way, doesn’t mean they were deserving of death in a certain way, but they most certainly did die!! And that’s what you ought to consider. They did die!!
Jesus’ point is that they died. They died, some in a tragic slaying by a pilot, others by a freak accident in Siloam. But they died! Jesus essentially says, I’m not going to get caught up in a cultural commentary on Pilate or a theology debate here….The reality is they died. And the reality is that after death comes the judgment. And the focus of Jesus is the focus on the perishing that will come on everyone if they do not repent before the Judgment comes. They want the focus on the masses and the crowds, anything they can do to get the focus off of them!! But Jesus says, “No, I want to keep the focus on YOU!!
In fact, Jesus uses a word here in verse 4 - the word offense. It means to be a debtor. It means one who is guilty before God. And by using this word, Jesus is reaching back to His point in Luke 12:58-59. That there is an account we must settle before God, and we will never get out of debtor’s prison until we have paid EVERY PENNY!!
So yes, the Galileans suffered death at the sword of Pilate, and it was tragic. Such is to be expected in a sin-filled world. Yes, these Jews in Siloam suffered in this way. It was tragic, but is to be expected in a sin-filled world, where tragedy is abundant!
They both perished…and it’s nice to consider and debate about them, and keep the focus off us when things like this happen, but Jesus says, WHAT ABOUT YOU!! I TELL YOU, YOU WILL LIKEWISE PERISH, UNLESS YOU REPENT!!
DEATH IS A REALITY - JUDGEMENT IS NEAR!! YOU NEED TO REPENT, or YOU WILL PERISH!
Doctrine of Repentance
This is brings us to the doctrine of Repentance. We talk about that often here at GraceLife. There is a lot to say on the subject.
I will say a worthwhile book to get is Thomas Watson’s little book called “The Doctrine of Repentance”
He provides some helpful definitions and topics on the subject.
I find his definition helpful. He said
Repentance is “A grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly transformed.” - Thomas Watson
He says that it includes:
Sight of Sin
Sorrow for Sin
Confession of Shame
Shame for Sin
Hatred of Sin
Turning from Sin.
Watson says, Repentance is a gospel grace. It is both inward and outward, and it is ON GOING!!
It’s a doctrine we can understand, but fall to practice. It’s one we often pull up shy from practicing and exercising.
Most of us view repentance as simply trying hard. Or doing more and doing better. So repentance often looks like DOING MUCH! We have a lot to do now, I got start reading more, memorizing more, reading more books. But this is not repentance. It’s actually more like PENTANCE and not repentance. Because PENTANCE is about effort. DOING. Repentance is about the heart and is demonstrated by our works.
Others view repentance as merely covering up our sin. Or that our sin is just going away. Like, if I can just get my sin out of sight, then that equates to repentance. We are content with masking rather than being transformed in the inner man.
Others view repentance as mere sorrow. And that’s a part of it. But the type of sorrow matters. There is a worldly sorrow that is merely sorrow for guilt. Sorrow that more not sin, but the exposure of sins! It regrets that you got caught, but does not mourn the decay of heart!
These are things REPENTANCE IS NOT -
It’s not trying harder. It’s not doing better. It’s not covering up. It’s not just getting our sins to go away. It’s not merely a worldly sorrow.
Listen to Paul in 2 Cor 7:9-10
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
So there is a way of sorrow that produces nothing spiritually. It’s just sorrow. It wallows in guilt, but never moves towards Christ!
Repentance is both inward!! And is manifest in action! But it begins with godly sorrow. Be are broken by our sin and because of our sin. And thereby, we TURN from our sin! And in turn from sin, we cling to CHRIST!
And it is a gift! It’s not something that we produce, but the Spirit of God produces in us! And it’s always an invitation unto life!!
There is a way that we can view this call to repentance, and see it as “out to get you card!” Well, you better REPENT, or ELSE!!…and that’s certainly true, there is a sobriety that ought to warn sinners of a coming judgment. But that’s not all it is. Repentance is also an invitation!
See, Jesus, inviting these people to repent isn’t just a threat. It’s an invitation! IT’s an invitation to come to Christ, to be brought into the family of God. To be included in the blessing and promise that CHRIST offers! To repent is always an invitation to something better than the misery of sin. And find greater satisfaction in CHRIST!!
And that’s what Jesus is initiating this crowd to as well.
And it’s the mark of discipleship. Repentance is a way of life. So Jesus says, UNLESS YOU REPENT and continue in REPENTANCE. That is a way of life!! It is ongoing. It’s the mark of a believer!!
And there are three primary reasons a person wouldn’t REPENT….
1. We think we are good enough….
Do you think these Galileans are worse sinners because they suffered in this way?
And the other ….
2. We love our Sin…..we love our sin more than Christ
2). We have given up!
And that’s where some of you are right now. You’ve given up. You’ve tried. It didn’t work. We felt pulled back into the same way as before. We got discouraged, fatigued, and we gave in, and we gave up.
And this is where Watson is helpful in reminding us that it is the GRACE of God’s Spirit. We can’t do this on our own. We are dependent on the LORD for mercy and His grace to continue!!
If we try in our strength. We will fail!
And that’s the invitation Jesus extends here. Not to try hard or do better. But to come to Christ and be changed. Come to Christ in humble contrition. Come to Christ and be safe from a coming judgment that is greater than losing life on earth. You TOO will PERISH unless you repent!!
Be warned of Greater Suffering coming than on earth for those who do not REPENT!
II. Be Spurred Towards Repentance In Light of God’s Mercy (vv.6-9)
II. Be Spurred Towards Repentance In Light of God’s Mercy (vv.6-9)
This led to Jesus telling a parable. In telling this parable. Jesus intends to connect this saying to the discourse of the before. In short, it serves as an illustration or picture of Jesus’ point. You must repent before it’s too late, or you will 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.’ ”
A man had a fig tree in his vineyard. Fig Tree makes a lot of biblical connections.
It find it’s origins all the way back to Eden, from which Adam and Eve used it’s leaves to make covering for themselves after the sinned against the Lord.
It was the fig tree that was the symbol of blessing in the promised land in Deut 8:7-8. It was a figure of safety and prosperity in 1 Kings 4:25, and Micah 4:4, and destruction is seen as a curse (Joel 1:6-7, Amos 4:9).
Fig Tree that was already planted there….in the vineyard. In which, this is most certainly seen as a metaphor for Israel. In Isaiah 5:1-7, Israel was placed in God’s vineyard, and instead of producing proper fruit, they produced wild grapes.
1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!
And so it is, they had every right opportunity to produce good fruit. The circumstance was right and proper. It was in a good vineyard. But there is a problem. It’s not bearing any fruit.
God cultivated Israel to be a fruitful tree, He had given them the Law. He given them the covenants. The sacrifices of atonement. They should have been bearing fruit! Abundant fruit!
The Messiah comes, and they reject them. Jesus is before them, and they stumble over him. Their hearts are not humbled. Their disposition is not one of drawing near to the Lord, but in rebellion and pride!!
The man goes to the Vinedresser - This tree is not bearing fruit…. It’s good for nothing. It’s wasting Space!! CUT IT DOWN!!
Why should it be stealing nutrients from other plants? And this should be the end of the matter. JUDGEMENT is NEAR! It’s on the horizon!!
In fact, this should call attention to the coming judgment that John spoke of in Luke 3:9.
9 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.”
YOU NEED TO REPENT. The AX is laid at the root of the TREE!! JUDGEMENT is coming!!
The man is telling the vinedresser CUT this tree down….but to our surprise, the Vinedresser doesn’t oblige….at least not here!!
The vinedresser delays, gives the tree another year to bear fruit. Gives it supply. Gives it everything it needs to yield and bear fruit….And should it bear fruit! WELL AND GOOD!! But if not, it will be cut down. Jesus is warning the crowd of the coming judgment. He’s warning his own people of the judgment coming on Israel, for their hardness of heart. For their lack of spiritual fruit! Forsaking the way of Yahweh! For resisting the Lord and not following HIM! For refusing the Messiah, who stands before them!
When God gave them the Lord through Moses and delievered them from Egyptian bondage, they promised to keep the Law, and rather than bear fruit in demonstrating fruit of belonging to Yahweh, they rebelled.
When God sent them prophets to return their hearts, they rejected the prophets and refused to return, and ended up in captivity.
And now, then Christ stands before them, they are rejecting God’s only son….and in just a short time, God’s glory will be manifest through His son on the cross. The time is now, they must repent! There still time! BUT SOON it will be too late!!
Jesus is inviting them to REPENT!! HE’s inviting them to consider their ways and to RETURN to the Lord in humility. In contrition and weeping! The reality is that they would not. Jesus knew they would not. But that does not deny the Lord’s mercy towards those who will be judged in the end. In fact, no one can say of the Lord that he was not merciful. They deserved to be judged. They didn’t deserve more mercy. They didn’t deserve another chance, but the Lord, in His grace, extends more time that they might repent, but they would not! This is building and building throughout Luke 13…until you see Jesus is Luke 13:34.
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
God is warning them here, as a barren tree that bears no fruit, God is getting ready to cut them down! But before He does, He’s given them every opportunity to bear fruit! He’s been patient with them. Returning year after year, for three years. Looking for fruit! He is already patient!! And is willing to extend even great patience at the mercy of the vinedresser.
Let it alone - LEAVE IT, it allows it to lie….and the Lord loosens the soil, literally dung it. Cultivate the ripest conditions that it should bear fruit!!
Then if it should bear fruit, which is implied as unlikely, well and good….but if not (no then clause) cut it down, which is likely to happen.
Which does in fact soon happen, in fact. After the passover in AD 70, the Roman seized and conquered Jerusalem. But spiritually, they had stumbled over the Christ, and because of the hardening of Israel, the message of salvation would go to the Gentiles.
In fact, part of God’s plan is that the hardening of the Jews would bring the grafting in of the Gentiles (Romans 10-11).
And the same is true, not just for the Jews, but also for us!!
3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
God’s kindness. That is what you see in this text. Yes, the reality of judgment, but also this is great mercy on display. And the purpose of God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance!! And that’s the invitation of Jesus in this text. Judgment is near. REPENT before it is too late!
Where would we be without this mercy?
See, I think its easy to do the same with this text that we do with life. Keep it at a distance. Keep the reality and application of truth distant from us. It’s about Israel. It’s about these Jew in the crowd coming at Jesus. They will likewise perish. They ought to repent.
But beloved, so long as we keep this text at a distance. We will miss the application to our hearts. We love to keep things away from the heart. We love to keep things from landing on us. But the reality is, this principle lands before us all this morning.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
For the believer in Christ, had it not been for the mercy of Christ, we would surely have been cut down. Matthew Henry said, if it were not for Christ, the whole world would have been cut down!
But Christian, I wonder what is in your heart that needs to change. What is it in your heart that you need to turn from? It would be real convient to keep this text away from you. But what is God cultivating in your heart through His word? What is the Lord stirring in you, through His people, and through Providence? Are you being sensitive to His Spirit, or just turning a blind eye?
There are some in this room, and you are apart from Christ! You are in sin. And Judgement is coming, and unless you repent. You will likewise PERISH!
The Lord has been gracious. You haven’t faced death and the judgment yet. He’s digging up the soul of your heart through the preaching of His word. Perhaps, he’s brought about hardship to draw you near to Himself. Perhaps, he’s cultivating and fertilizing the soil of your heart, that you might REPENT and bear fruit of repentance!!
He’s given HIS SON! He’s suffered the death of sinners on the cross! He rose from the dead on their behalf!
THERE IS STILL TIME!! RESPOND, in REPETANCE AND FAITH!
The worst thing we could do is presume on His kindness. The worst thing we could do is ignore the obvious. What is all around them, but so easily dismissed. Death is drawing near. Hell is real and eternity is LONG!
You know, I may be wrong, but I think had these Galileans known Pilot and his men were coming in with swords to kill them, they might have stayed home or delayed for a moment. And perhaps those attending the pool of Siloam might have steered clear of the area, had they known it would fall.
Yet, Jesus tells us plainly, there is a day of judgment coming! And even better, He provides escape and refuge from the coming destruction. Turn from sin, Trust in Christ!
