January 3, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke
Luke 3:7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
There is a false belief in the Christian world in which people think they can simply pray to the Lord to save them without there being any change in their life. In other words, people want Jesus but do not intend to live the Christian life once they have Jesus. We call that a false salvation without repentance.
Here is what false repentance looks like when one claims to be saved are are not. 1. There is no change in their life. 2. There is no remorse over sin. 3. Errors are justified rather than confessed. 4. There is repetition of sin. 5. One looks for others to side with their sin. 6. They blame others for there sin. 7. They embellish their personal righteousness to hide sin.
In our text John the Baptist told those who came to him for baptism to show fruits worthy of repentance.
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance,…
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
What are fruits worth of repentance and meet (equal) for repentance mean?
How would you show someone you are genuinely saved? 1. There will be a change in your life, it will be evident. 2. There will be remorse over sin. 3. There will be no justification of sin. 4. Sin will not be repeated. 5. One will not seek others to side with their sin. 6. One will not blame others for one’s sin, but accept it themselves. 7. One will not embellish their sin to make themselves look good.
When the crowd heard what John had said they asked, “What shall we do then?”
Luke 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
What John is saying is this, proof of salvation is choosing to live right after you are saved. It is living for righteousness sake because you are already saved not in order to get saved.
Anyone can say they are saved, born again, proving it is a different thing.
Bringing forth fruits meet for repentance cannot be done by simply saying your saved, but by evidence of salvation.
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You say you are saved, prove it.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
