Urgency of Repentance: Bearing Spiritual Fruit

 

Summary

In our study of Luke 13:6-9, we delve into the parable of the barren fig tree, a profound teaching from Jesus that underscores the urgency of repentance and the necessity of bearing spiritual fruit. The parable tells of a fig tree planted in a vineyard, which, despite receiving the best care and soil, fails to produce fruit. The owner, frustrated by its barrenness, instructs the keeper to cut it down, but the keeper pleads for one more year to nurture it, hoping it will finally bear fruit. This narrative is a vivid illustration of God's patience and grace, yet it also serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual barrenness.

The context of this parable is crucial, as it follows Jesus' teaching on the tragedies in Jerusalem, where He emphasizes the need for repentance to avoid perishing. This parable amplifies that message, urging us to recognize the urgency of turning to God. The fig tree represents those who have been given every opportunity to grow in faith but remain unproductive. It challenges us to examine our lives for evidence of true conversion, which is marked by the fruit of repentance and good works.

Conversion is not merely a profession of faith but a transformation evidenced by a changed life. The parable warns against complacency, reminding us that God's patience is not infinite. We must not presume upon His grace, thinking we have endless time to repent. Instead, we are called to respond to God's call now, recognizing that today may be our last opportunity to turn to Him.

The parable also highlights the role of the church as the vineyard where believers are nurtured. Just as the fig tree was planted in the best soil, we are placed in the church to receive the means of grace. It is here that we hear God's Word, which is the primary means by which faith is nurtured and grown. Therefore, we must remain in the community of believers, seeking God earnestly and allowing His Word to transform us.

Key Takeaways:

- The parable of the fig tree illustrates the urgency of repentance and the necessity of bearing spiritual fruit. It serves as a reminder that God's patience, while immense, is not without limits. We must not delay in turning to God, as today may be our last opportunity to repent and believe. [06:38]

- True conversion is marked by a transformation that results in the fruit of repentance and good works. It is not enough to merely profess faith; our lives must reflect the change that comes from being born of the Spirit. This transformation is evidence of genuine faith and assurance of salvation. [15:13]

- The church is the vineyard where believers are nurtured and grow in faith. It is within the community of believers that we receive the means of grace, primarily through the preaching of God's Word. We must remain in the church, seeking God earnestly and allowing His Word to transform us. [11:01]

- We must not presume upon God's grace, thinking we have endless time to repent. The parable warns against complacency and challenges us to respond to God's call now. We are urged to examine our lives for evidence of true conversion and to bear the fruit of repentance. [27:01]

- The parable emphasizes the role of God's patience and grace, yet it also serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual barrenness. We are called to take advantage of the opportunities God gives us to grow in faith and to bear fruit, recognizing that His patience is not infinite. [26:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Introduction to the Parable
- [01:02] - Context of the Parable
- [02:17] - Prayer for Understanding
- [03:04] - Influence of George Whitfield
- [04:07] - Theme of Conversion
- [05:39] - Necessity of Repentance
- [06:38] - Urgency of Repentance
- [08:14] - Doctrine of Seeking
- [09:30] - True Repentance
- [11:01] - Role of the Church
- [12:09] - Fig Tree in the Vineyard
- [14:23] - Bearing Fruit
- [16:40] - Justification and Faith
- [18:10] - Examination of Fruit
- [19:15] - Personal Anecdotes
- [25:13] - Plea for Patience
- [26:09] - Amplification of the Parable
- [27:01] - Call to Immediate Repentance
- [28:07] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 13:6-9

Observation Questions:
1. What is the main issue with the fig tree in the parable, and how does the owner of the vineyard respond to it? [00:32]
2. How does the keeper of the vineyard propose to address the issue of the barren fig tree? [00:46]
3. What is the significance of the fig tree being planted in a vineyard, according to the sermon? [12:09]
4. How does the parable of the fig tree relate to Jesus' earlier teachings on repentance and the tragedies in Jerusalem? [01:37]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the fig tree symbolize in the context of the parable, and how does this relate to the concept of spiritual fruitfulness? [12:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the urgency of repentance, and why is it important not to delay this decision? [26:41]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church functions as a vineyard for believers? [11:01]
4. How does the sermon differentiate between true conversion and mere profession of faith? [16:02]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel spiritually barren? What steps can you take to nurture spiritual growth and bear fruit? [18:57]
2. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of repentance. Is there something in your life that you need to repent of today? How can you take action on this immediately? [27:01]
3. How can you actively participate in your church community to ensure you are receiving the means of grace and growing in faith? [11:01]
4. Consider the concept of true conversion. How does your life reflect the transformation that comes from being born of the Spirit? [16:02]
5. The sermon warns against complacency. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you have become complacent? What changes can you make to address this? [27:01]
6. How can you help others in your church community who may be struggling with spiritual barrenness to find ways to bear fruit? [13:36]
7. Reflect on the role of God's patience and grace in your life. How can you show gratitude for this by living a life that bears spiritual fruit? [26:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Urgency of Repentance
The parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9 serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of repentance. The fig tree, despite being planted in a vineyard and receiving the best care, fails to produce fruit. This symbolizes individuals who have been given every opportunity to grow in faith but remain unproductive. The owner’s decision to cut down the tree highlights the consequences of spiritual barrenness. However, the keeper’s plea for one more year reflects God’s patience and grace, urging us to recognize the urgency of turning to God. We must not delay in responding to His call, as today may be our last opportunity to repent and believe. [06:38]

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV): "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been delaying repentance? How can you take a step towards turning to God in that area today?


Day 2: Evidence of True Conversion
True conversion is not merely a profession of faith but a transformation evidenced by a changed life. The parable challenges us to examine our lives for the fruit of repentance and good works. It is not enough to simply profess faith; our lives must reflect the change that comes from being born of the Spirit. This transformation is the evidence of genuine faith and assurance of salvation. We are called to bear the fruit of repentance, demonstrating the reality of our conversion through our actions and attitudes. [15:13]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: In what ways does your life reflect the transformation that comes from true conversion? Identify one area where you can demonstrate the fruit of repentance today.


Day 3: The Church as a Nurturing Vineyard
The church is depicted as the vineyard where believers are nurtured and grow in faith. Just as the fig tree was planted in the best soil, we are placed in the church to receive the means of grace. It is within the community of believers that we hear God's Word, which is the primary means by which faith is nurtured and grown. We must remain in the church, seeking God earnestly and allowing His Word to transform us. The church plays a crucial role in our spiritual growth, providing the support and encouragement we need to bear spiritual fruit. [11:01]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you actively engage with your church community to nurture your faith? What steps can you take to encourage others in their spiritual growth?


Day 4: Avoiding Complacency in Faith
The parable warns against complacency, reminding us that God's patience is not infinite. We must not presume upon His grace, thinking we have endless time to repent. Instead, we are urged to respond to God's call now, examining our lives for evidence of true conversion and bearing the fruit of repentance. Complacency can lead to spiritual barrenness, and we are called to remain vigilant in our faith, continually seeking to grow and mature in our relationship with God. [27:01]

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV): "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Reflection: Are there areas in your spiritual life where you have become complacent? How can you reignite your passion for growth and avoid presuming upon God's grace?


Day 5: Embracing God's Patience and Grace
The parable emphasizes the role of God's patience and grace, yet it also serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual barrenness. We are called to take advantage of the opportunities God gives us to grow in faith and to bear fruit, recognizing that His patience is not infinite. God's grace is abundant, but it requires a response from us. We must embrace His patience and grace, allowing it to transform our lives and lead us to repentance and spiritual growth. [26:09]

Romans 2:4 (ESV): "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

Reflection: How can you actively embrace God's patience and grace in your life today? What steps can you take to ensure you are not taking His grace for granted?

Quotes


"and yet at the same time even though I follow the texts of the Book of Luke seriatum nevertheless I find that I have a pattern and an emphasis in my own preaching and that not by accident but partially influenced by men such as Edwards and the rest and that's the theme of conversion because I'm profoundly concerned that everybody who is in this church and in this congregation that everybody comes as a visitor my concern is that they are truly and thoroughly converted to Jesus Christ" [00:04:33]

"and conversion which requires the presence of saving faith contains within it the need for authentic repentance that's why in last week's tax Jesus said to those who were befuddled by the tragedies that had come to Jerusalem said to them unless you repent you will all likewise perish can we pause for just a second it may not be the pause that refreshes but perhaps the pause that terrifies it was Jesus who said unless now that little word unless introduces a necessary condition for some consequence to follow" [00:05:47]

"and Jesus said unless that is if you don't do this if you don't repent you will perish no I can't imagine that there's anyone in this room who wants to perish and certainly doesn't want to perish at the hands of a holy God we don't want to perish we want to be spared we want to be rescued we want to be saved from that judgment now Edwards in Northampton when he preached frequently on this theme understood that in all probability there were people that came to his church and listened to his sermons every Sunday who remained unconverted" [00:06:42]

"and he also was convinced that unless the Holy Spirit changed the inclinations of their hearts through the supernatural work of regeneration they would never repent and they would never come to saving faith and so some of those people who were in the congregation who realized that they were unconverted and who knew that the only way that would ever be converted would be through the merciful Sovereign Act of God in his Saving Grace would say to Edwards what then can we do and Edwards developed a doctrine that was called the doctrine of seeking" [00:07:39]

"where he appealed to their enlightened self-interest he appealed to them to repent as far as they could in their unregenerate state now in theology we distinguish between two kinds of repentance there is the repentance that we call attrition that's the repentance that is motivated by a fear of punishment it's a repentance that is driven by a desire to get a ticket out of hell to be rescued from parish and it's the repentance of Esau it's the repentance of your little child when you catch him with his hand in the cookie jar" [00:08:23]

"and he says oh Mama I'm so sorry I'm so sorry please don't spank me that repentance is driven not by a genuine sorrow for having sinned and disobeyed you but an attempt to escape the consequences of punishment and Edwards understood clearly that attrition that kind of repentance would never ever lead to Salvation true repentance is the repentance that we call of contrition where our hearts are broken from our sin and we are awakened to the fact that we really have grievously offended God and our sorrow is real" [00:09:01]

"men and women of Faith who experience the repentance of contrition are people who are reconciled forever to almighty God but Edward said even though you're not inclined to True sorrow true contrition if you're looking for a ticket out of hell and that's all take advantage of your vested interests take advantage of your enlightened self-interest and seek after God and per Adventure he will save you what he was saying to those people was this if you're not sure that you're converted or if you're convinced you're not don't leave the church" [00:09:47]

"make sure you're here every Sunday we know that God Saves people outside of the church and sometimes in spite of the church and against the teaching of the church we know all of that but the main place where the means of God's Saving Grace are concentrated is in the church it is here where you get to hear the word of God and God uses his word as his primary means to bring people to Faith Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God God himself has chosen the foolishness of preaching as that method by which he will save his people" [00:10:34]

"so if you're unconverted don't take Sunday off and go play golf be here and Hope that under the preaching of the word of God you will be saved well Jesus continues his teaching about the need for repentance and the evidence of true repentance in this little Parable that he tells about the fig tree he told it like this he spoke the parable saying a certain man had a fig tree planted in his Vineyard now let's stop there why in the world would you plant a fig tree in a Vineyard a Vineyard is a place where you grow grapes not figs" [00:11:14]

"but to the ancient Jewish farmer his Vineyard was sometimes called his fruit field because the vineyard was the best place not only to grow grapes but also to grow other types of fruit so it was not unusual for the Jewish farmer to plant fruit trees as well as his Vines of grapes in the vineyard because there that section of his land received the best care and contained the best soil and so if you wanted to grow a productive fig tree the best place to grow it was in the vineyard just as Edward said if you want to grow a repentant sinner" [00:12:27]

"the best place to grow him is in the visible Church where the means of Grace are concentrated so in terms of agriculture God's means of Grace for this little fig tree we're best found in the middle of the vineyard but the man came seeking fruit on the fig tree figs on fig trees are usually concealed by the leaves and the foliage and are not evident from a distance and so the owner had to come in close to inspect this fig tree to see if there were any fruit on it but he found none pause again throughout the teaching of Jesus he was concerned" [00:13:27]

"that his people bear fruit and chiefly the fruit of repentance now classical dispensational theology had a doctrine of the work of the holy spirit that I think was not only seriously defective but fatally so it taught that in rebirth the Holy Spirit could bring a person to Salvation and to saving faith without that person's ever having been changed which theologically as far as I'm concerned is a manifest impossibility any human being who has been regenerated by God the Holy Spirit is by necessity a changed person" [00:14:04]

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Transcript
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