Luke 3:8 - Growing Repentance. [updated]
Luke 3:8 - Growing Repentance. [updated]
Luke 3:8 (NKJV) Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and
do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'
For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham
from these stones.
Luke 3:8 (NIV) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 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.
Luke 3:8 (NLT) Prove by the way you live that you have really
turned from your sins and turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're
safe--we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change
these stones here into children of Abraham.
Luke 3:8 (MSG) It's your life that must change, not your skin.
And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as 'father.'
Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there--children of Abraham
are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants.
CONTEXT
John the Baptist Prepares the Way - Luke 3:1-20
John Preaches to the People - Luke 3:7-20
COMMENTARY APPLICATION
Do not trust in your religious ancestry, however good it may be;
you must personally have a right relation with God. [Ryrie SB]
Many of John's hearers were shocked when he said that being
Abraham's descendants was not enough for God. The religious leaders relied
more on their family lines than on their faith for their standing
with God. For them, religion was inherited. But a personal
relationship with God is not handed down from parents to children. Everyone
has to commit to it on his or her own. Don't rely on someone else's
faith for your salvation. Put your own faith in Jesus, and then
exercise it every day. [Life Application SB]
Repentance opens the way for relationship with God. Repentance
has two sides--turning away from sins and turning toward God. To be
truly repentant, we must do both. We can't just say that we believe
and then live any way we choose; neither can we simply live a
morally correct life without a personal relationship with God, because
that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of
any sins God points out, and put your trust in him alone to guide
you. [Life Application SB]
Faith naturally leads to action. Confession of sins and a
changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead (James
2:14-26). . . . Repentance must be tied to action, or it isn't real.
Following Jesus means more than saying the right words; it means acting on
what he says. [Life Application SB]
The repentance God calls for will result in a change of behavior
that is ongoing in one's life. [Andrews SB]
Many have taken the position that they cannot sin because they
are sanctified, but this is a delusive snare of the evil one. There
is constant danger of falling into sin, for Christ has warned us to
watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. If we are conscious of
the weakness of self, we shall not be self-confident and reckless of
danger; but we shall feel the necessity of seeking to the Source of our
strength, Jesus our righteousness. We shall come in repentance and
contrition, with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness, and learn
that we must daily apply to the merits of the blood of Christ, that
we may become vessels fit for the Master's use. ST05-19-90
He who is truly penitent does not forget his past sins, and grow
careless about them as soon as he has obtained forgiveness. On the
contrary, the clearer the evidence he has of divine favor, the more he
sees to regret in his past life of sin. He loathes, abhors, and
condemns himself, and is more and more astonished that he should have
continued in rebellion so long. He renews his repentance toward God, while
he grasps more decidedly the hand of Jesus Christ, and finds that
repentance is a daily, continued exercise, lasting until mortality is
swallowed up of life. He who thus repents, appreciates the righteousness
of Christ as above silver and gold, above every earthly tie and
affection. ST11-26-94
See Commentary on Matthew 3:8 and 2 Corinthians 7:10
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
A Better Way to Live: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com
