“So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:7-9

Apparently John never took a preaching class in Bible college or seminary. Calling out listeners as a “brood of vipers” hardly endears an audience. After all, those listening have taken the important step of listening, as opposed to those who didn’t show up at all. It’s like berating the Resurrection Sunday crowd for only showing up once a year.

Cutting to the heart of the issue, John clarified that response is essential to hearing. A symbol of contrition - water baptism - is a meaningless ritual without appropriate change. In practical terms, John went on to outline appropriate actions (3:10-14): share out of abundance, be honest in business dealings. Repentance before God is evidenced in one’s relationships with others.

“Bear fruits in keeping with repentance” is a timeless principle. Our confidence must not be in our spiritual ancestry, nor even in our past spiritual practice. Yesterday’s righteousness does not serve the present. Obedience in the moment is the true priority.

An ever-present temptation is to find smug satisfaction in self-righteousness. It is much too easy to rationalize that we are better than the blatant sinner who is unpretentious in their lifestyle. Surely God favors the imperfect saint over the hardened sinner. This grading-on-the-curve mentality, however, is dangerous. “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one” Romans 3:10-12; Psalm 14:1-3). The best of us are still the worst without grace and forgiveness.

“Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.” A lifestyle of humble gratitude, expressed in practical benevolence, evidences a truly changed heart and life. “you will know them by their fruits” Matthew 7:20.

What is our life crop revealing?

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