FRUIT PRODUCED IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE: A LIFE OF SONSHIP
It is said in Luke 3:2 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), that “the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” It was a commissioning that marked the origin of John the Baptist’s ministry that saw many flock to listen to him preach and receive his baptism of repentance. In addition to John’s ministry—calling people to repent, baptising them with water—he urged people that in order to avoid the coming wrath that he speaks of in Luke 3:7 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), they needed to reorient their faith to the “One who is mightier than I, the One who’s sandals I am not worthy to untie” as it says in Luke 3:16 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), and that a critical aspect in doing that is to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” before receiving his baptism as it says in Luke 3:8 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016). What was it that John demanded to see that would qualify as an individual’s genuine repentance? In order to answer this question well, we must lay out some of the details around the genesis of his ministry. And to be able to do that, first, we must clearly define what is meant by the true definition of repentance.
Repentance: At Its Root
When in the NT there is reference to "repentance" from sin, the authors use the word that comes from the Greek root word “metanoia”G3341, which means “a change of mind”, or “a change of attitude.” As it was, when John the Baptist beckoned people to repent for their sins, it was for a change of mind, or attitude toward sinful ways, and a call to turn toward Jesus, the Messiah, that would result in a changed way of living. But what are the characteristics of this changed way of living? This is an echo of Johns original request for the produced fruit in keeping with a changed way of thinking when he shunned the “brood of vipers” in Luke 3:7 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016). With the understanding that repentance in the biblical sense means to change one’s mind, or attitude, we can develop a clearer picture to answer the original question of what produced fruit in keeping with repentance presents as.
Repentance: Reorienting Yourself
First, we shine a light on the cautionary statement that John makes in Luke 3:8 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016) that says, “And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.” John was indeed inviting people to change their mind and attitude about their sinful ways, but more than that—what might have been extremely challenging for this “brood of vipers” to hear—he suggests that they would not find salvation by putting their faith in their beloved forefathers. A significant part of this call to repentance was to withdraw faith from the forefathers and to deposit it in the True Messiah. Here, addressing the fact that people put their faith in the voices of their forefathers, was a mere precursor of how God addresses this in the telling of the Transfiguration in Luke 9:28-36 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016). Peter had a faulty view of Moses and Elijah in that they were equal with Jesus. He expresses this by offering to make up tents for the three of them. However, in Luke 9:35-36 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), “a voice came out of the cloud” and singled Jesus out from Moses and Elijah, stating that “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him! ”And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.””
The significance of this identification is enhanced by the presence of Elijah and Moses, for it indicates to the apostles that Jesus is the voice of God, and instead of Moses or Elijah, representing the Law and the prophets, they should now be listening to the Messiah, as opposed their forefathers. This harkens back to Johns statement that salvation does not come as a result of being descendants of Abraham. Instead, they were to change their thinking about that, put their faith in Jesus, and produce fruit in keeping with this new orientation of life. In fact, Jesus later said in John 8:58 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), “before Abraham was, I am”, speaking about Himself. This would have been challenging to the core. They had been thinking a particular way from the days of Abraham, and the time had now come for that to radically change. But to what? What is the unmistakable mark of this new way of thinking?
Repentance: Characteristics Of The New Orientation
When John had interacted with the “brood of vipers”, the crowd that overheard Johns rebuke were also deeply challenged and looked to him for answers. We notice this in Luke 3:10 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), when they asked, “what then shall we do?” We can deduct from this question—after having heard Johns caution about making claim in being a descendant of Abraham—that they were at a loss if their forefathers were no longer the answer to their sinful ways. However, the text suggests that those that overheard were a mixed group of individuals; the oppressors and the oppressed alike, and John said nothing about overthrowing the authorities. Instead, he gave clear instruction as to how the authorities should conduct themselves.
Johns response in Luke 3:11-14 (English Standard Version, 2001/2016), offered the characteristics of a changed way of thinking and what it presents as in a community with hierarchal systems of authority in place. John said that if you had more than you needed, share it with those that did not; that included material possessions as well as food. John addressed the tax collectors; they were a reviled group of individuals because of their greed and collaboration with the Roman occupiers. He extended to them that they were not to abuse their authority by taking no more from the people than what they were authorized to take. It was a call to be honest and merciful for those in authority. John continued, that if you had the brute military force and authority that comes with that position, that there should be no extortion or false accusation used to make gain for oneself, and instead, to be content with what one had, and that was to be a way of life. These statements were a stunning response to the toxic traits of the community that John was now addressing. Furthermore, the pinnacle of Johns motive for requesting the characteristics of a changed way of thinking was the One for Whom he was preparing the way—Jesus.
Repentance: For This Is The Reason—Sonship
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that Jesus, the divine embodiment, had not come to John to repent and receive forgiveness. Instead, was there to inform Johns call to a changed way of thinking and attach Himself to a new way of living, as the perfect example and the very means to achieve it. In keeping with repentance, you are in followership to Jesus and no longer the forefathers, and this would result in a radically changed way of living, reconciled to the Father. This is what John demanded to see that would qualify as an individual’s genuine repentance. It was a changed life, oriented toward Jesus and informed by the voice of the Father that says we are His beloved with whom He is well pleased.
References
English Standard Version (2001/2016). English Standard Version. https://www.esv.org Original work published 2001
G3341 - metanoia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3341/kjv/tr/0-1/
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