STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

1/25/2009 ~ Fruits Worthy of Repentance


"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, ..." ~ Matthew 3:8

John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ.
~ To humbly bring people to the righteousness of God.
○ Honestly ask, is your conduct for God or self?


"... do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' ..."
~ Matthew 3:1-12


All will come to one or the other:                           

1. Blessed by the Spirit of God        
2. Punished by judgment of His Son

~ Beware of being proud and accusing others
while maintaining a false sense of righteousness.


RIGHTEOUS = PENITENT SINNERS

PROUD = LOST

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 13:5


... nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.
But you were washed, but you were sanctified, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 6:9-11


Bonded to His church is victory over sin.
~ Deception can be excessive if it is born of self.


"... unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." ~ Matthew 5:20


Going to heaven is not so casual; it will require huge effort of each heart.

... this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,
and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple ..." ~ Luke 18:9-14


BETTER THAN OTHERS = DECEPTION

Christ called the pompous crowd by how God sees them:

"Brood of vipers!" ...


... Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
"Brood of vipers! ... ~ Matthew 3:7


"... hypocrites! ..."   

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! ..." ~ Matthew 23:29-33

                   "... of your father the devil, ..."

"You are of your father the devil, ..." ~ John 8:44

One must realize positive change toward what God would will.

... who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. ... ~ Acts 19:18-19

... walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ... ~ Ephesians 4:1

What actions are done to change from previous sins ...
... in order to follow God?


... believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth,
from the greatest to the least of them. ... ~ Jonah 3:5-9


It should be immediate; one’s turning from sin
and crying out for God’s mercy.

Can you say, “I was wrong, I am sorry” over “They deserved it.”
What change have you made to draw closer to God?
○ When have you overcome sin?
~ Sin can bring personal disgrace and is embarrassing to admit.


Blessed is the man who endures temptation; ... ~ James 1:12

Fruits Worthy of Repentance = Serves Christ

"... no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." ~ Luke 13:1-3

No further warning is coming to that which has already come.
We all need to repent of those things against God.


"... whoever does and teaches them he shall be called great
in the kingdom of heaven. ..." ~ Matthew 5:17-20


Action, not complacency, is what God calls for.

"... in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it
from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ..." ~ Matthew 5:27-30


Repentance is hard but important.
◎ One has to get it done for salvations sake.
◈ Sin holds one back from serving Christ and going to heaven.
Exclude those things that tempt you.


EXAMPLES:
 DRINKER
  Proverbs 20:1     Proverbs 23:21
  Ephesians 5:18    1st Peter 4:3-4
  Romans 13:12-14      Hosea 4:11
  Remove it from your Home,
  do not go to bars or liquor stores.
  Use self control to Quit.
  Put on Christ. Love God first.
 PORNOGRAPHY
  1st Thess. 4:3-5    1st John 2:17
  Colossians 3:5             Titus 3:3
  James 4:1-4      Revelation 9:21
  Remove it from your Home,
  do not buy it, turn from its’ desire.  
  Use self control to Quit.
  Put on Christ. Love God first.
 THIEF / LIAR
  Psalm 10:8       Zechariah 5:2-3
  1st Peter 4:15     Proverbs 19:9
  John 10:10       Revelation 21:8
  Return it from your Home,
  Stop doing it. Ask for help. Give.
  Use self control to Quit. Ephesians 4:28
  Put on Christ. Love God first.
 CAUGHT IN SIN
  Ecclesiastes 7:20 ; Eccl. 12:14
  Romans 14:23        James 4:17
  1st Cor. 4:3-5      1st John 2:16
  Stop doing it. Ask for help. Pray
  Commit to Quit it. Assemble more.
  Put on Christ. Love God first.

Do you apologize to God?

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 7:10


Be Accountable to God = Repentance

... of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ... ~ Hebrews 6:1-2


God wants more than just faith, He wants action through belief.
Actions in themselves are not good enough for our salvation
but God searches the heart of man looking for diligence and
a good conscience concerning His once delivered Word.

One must love God more than self to go to heaven.


... walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every
good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ... ~ Colossians 1:10


... let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent, ... ~ Philippians 1:27


~ Steadfast Action.

"And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for
I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. ..." ~ John 12:47-48


A judgment of fruit or lack of it is coming ...
Do we bear the fruit God calls for?



 

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