“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matt. 3:8 ESV)

Repentance: To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for something one has done or left undone. Especially, to experience such sorrow for sin as produces amendment of life; be grieved over one's past life, and seek forgiveness; be penitent. More commonly the translation is "turn" or "return." Two requisites of repentance are "to turn from evil, and to turn to the good." Most critical theologically is the idea of returning to God, or turning away from evil.

John the Baptist preached repentance

“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark. 1:4 ESV)

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11 ESV)

Jesus preached repentance

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17 ESV)

“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32 ESV)

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3 ESV)

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7 ESV)

Peter preached repentance

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 ESV)

Paul preached repentance 

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent…” (Acts 17:30 ESV)

God's patience and kindness is meant to lead you to repentance

“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?” (Rom. 2:4 ESV)

“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.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

Jesus calls the church to repentance and gives a warning 

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Rev. 2:5 ESV)

“Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” (Rev. 3:3 ESV)

God calls His people to repentance and gives a promise

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19 ESV)

 Quotes:

“There is no repentance where a man can talk lightly of sin, much less where he can speak tenderly and lovingly of it.” - Charles H. Spurgeon

“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, "Wait on time.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

“Deep sorrow does not come because one has violated a law, but only if one knows he has broken off the relationship with Divine Love. But there is yet another element required for regeneration, the element of repentance and reparation. Repentance is a rather dry-eyed affair; tears flow in sorrow, but sweat pours out in repentance. It is not enough to tell God we are sorry and then forget all about it. If we broke a neighbor's window, we would not only apologize but also would go to the trouble of putting in a new pane. Since all sin disturbs the equilibrium and balance of justice and love, there must be a restoration involving toil and effort. To see why this must be, suppose that every time a person did wrong he was told to drive a nail into the wall of his living room and every time that he was forgiven he was told to pull it out. The holes would still remain after the forgiveness. Thus every sin after being forgiven leaves “holes” or “wounds” in our human nature, and the filling up of these holes is done by penance, a thief who steals a watch can be forgiven for the theft, but only if he returns the watch.” - Fulton J. Sheen

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” (Psalm 40:2 NLT)

 The Lord is your stronghold 

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2 ESV)

 Built on the foundation of Christ

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22 ESV)

 Therefore…

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

“Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the LORD.” (Psalm 26:12 NLT)

 Quote:

“When a man has no strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful.” - D.L. Moody

“Give no offense to Jews or to Greek or to the church of God…” (1 Cor. 10:32 ESV) 

 Overlook offenses

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Prov. 19:11 ESV)

“Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.” (Eccles. 7:21 ESV)

 Don’t offend 

“A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.” (Prov. 17:19 ESV)

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19 ESV)

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2-3 ESV)

Repair personal offenses 

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matt. 18:15-17 ESV)

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4 ESV)

Jesus is our best example

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (Peter 2:23 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1 ESV)

“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Tim. 2:24-26 ESV)

“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:16 ESV)

“Great peace have they which love your law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165 NKJV)

 Quote:

“We need to forgive our brother seventy times seven not only for 490 offenses but for one offense.”  - C. S. Lewis

What did Jesus say about being our friend?

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 NIV)

 What did Jesus say about being His friend?

 “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14 NIV)

 Qualities of friendship 

•  A friend loves continually - A friend loves at all times....” (Prov. 17:17 ESV)

•  A friend faithfully tells the truth, even when it’s painful - “Faithful are the wounds of a friend...” (Prov. 27:6 ESV)

•  A friend covers an offense and keeps confidences - Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Prov. 17:9 ESV)

• A friend adds strength and lifts up – “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Eccles. 4:9-10 ESV)

The best friendship is with God

“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.” (James 2:23 ESV)

How to become a friend of God

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14 ESV)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12 KJV)

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:17-21 ESV)

 Therefore…

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-14 ESV)

 “He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.” (Prov. 22:11 ESV)

 Quote:

“The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain (with God) and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.”  - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.” (Col. 1:5 NIV) 

The power of the gospel 

When you “truly understand the grace of God” you begin to grow and bear fruit. That’s the power of the gospel. It is alive and active all over the world, bearing fruit in every good work. 

Bearing fruit in every good work 

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…” (Col. 1:9-10 NIV)

Strengthened with all power

 “…being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Col. 1:11-12 NIV)

He has rescued us 

 ”He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son…” (Col. 1:13 NIV)

We have redemption 

”…in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:14 NIV)

Therefore…

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints, springing from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.” (Col. 1:3-6 NIV)

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” (1 Cor. 2:12 ESV)

Quotes:

“Wherever Jesus has been proclaimed, we see lives change for the good, nations change for the better, thieves become honest, alcoholics become sober, hateful individuals become channels of love, unjust persons embrace justice.” - Josh McDowell

“If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality.” - Oswald Chambers

“There is a moral and spiritual war for the souls of Americans. And this war must be waged by preaching the Gospel, prayer, and obedience to God's Word.” - David Jeremiah

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Eph. 1:4-5 NLT)

 The above passage says that God…

1. Loved us 

2. Chose us in Christ

3. Made us Holy without fault in His eyes

4. Adopted us into His own family 

This is Good news and is reinforced by other Scriptures!

1. Loved us: 

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16 ESV)  

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:8-11 ESV)

2. Chose us in Christ:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16 ESV)

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thes. 2:13 ESV)

3. Made us holy without fault in His sight:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV)

4. Adopted us into His own family:

“To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal. 4:5-7 ESV)

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (Gal. 3:26 ESV)

Therefore…

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 NLT)

“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2 ESV)

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isa. 61:10 ESV)

 Quote:

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.” -  C.S. Lewis

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” (1 John 3:6 ESV)

Do not deliberately continue to sin

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:26-27 ESV)

“Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him…” (1 John 2:4 ESV)

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4 ESV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt. 7:21-23 ESV)

God is patient and wishes all should reach repentance

“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.” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3 ESV)

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19 ESV)

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9 NLT)

Therefore…

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” (1 John 3:7-9 NIV)

Quotes:

“I’m against sin. I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. And when I’m old and fistless and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!” - Billy Sunday

“Let us stop the progress of sin in our soul at the first stage, for the farther it goes the faster it will increase.” - Thomas Fuller

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…” (Eph 1:5 ESV)

Adopted: to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection or assent; elected, approved, endorsed, favored.

Adopted through faith in Christ

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Gal. 3:26 ESV)

You are an heir through God

“To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal. 4:5-7 ESV)

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13 ESV)

You have become blameless and innocent children of God

“That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Phil. 2:15 ESV)

 You are a fellow heir with Christ

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14-19 ESV)

Therefore…

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2 ESV) 

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (Eph. 2:19 ESV)

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15 ESV)

 Quotes:

“If anybody understands God’s ardor for his children, it’s someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us. God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home. - Max Lucado

“God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.” - F.F. Bruce

“Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” (Psalm 122:6 NLT)

God blesses those who bless Jerusalem and curses those who curse Jerusalem 

“And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3 NASB)

“May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." (Gen. 27:29 NIV)

God is their God in faithfulness and righteousness 

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” (Zech. 8:7-8 ESV)

Therefore…

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.” (Isa. 66:10 NIV)

“The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.” (Joel 3:16 ESV)

Quote:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” – Jesus Christ