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“Therefore, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.” Matthew 3:8  NASB

Worthy – John the Baptizer cut no slack.  He spoke like a prophet right out of the Tanakh.  His message to the scribes and religious leaders was something they recognized.  Measure for measure.  Put your actions on the balance scales and see if they are inherently valuable.  See if they weigh the same as the repentance you claim.

John solved an enormous riddle for believers.  How do I know if the Spirit is operating in someone’s life?  How do I know if God has truly transformed the person?  How can I tell if that person has really been forgiven?  The answer is as clear as the position of the balance beam.  Measure what is produced.  Look for the fruit of repentance.  If you find it, you can be sure that God is active in that life.  If you don’t find it, you are free to disregard anything that person claims.  God may yet deal with that individual, but you are not to be fooled.

The Greek text uses the word axios, from the verb ago, “to weigh.”  Axios is a measure of value.  It calls to mind a picture of the balance scales.  One the one side is repentance, on the other the fruit of a man’s life.  They should be of equal weight.  Axios is a measure of  inherent value, not attributed value (timios).  The weight of my works must balance repentance.  The added value of the work of Yeshua and the grace of God does not enter the picture.  This is my load to carry and it needs to be equal to the weight of guilt removed from me.  Didn’t Yeshua instruct Simon, the Pharisee, about the same idea?  “Her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much, but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”[1]

My friend Anthony was rescued from a life of drugs and crime by the direct intervention of Yeshua.  Released from prison in spite of what should have been a life sentence, he decided that his freedom was his own.  He got a boat and went fishing.  While he was waiting for a bite, the Lord said to him, “Anthony, do you think I rescued you from prison so that you could go fishing?  What are you doing here?  Get about My business!”  Today Anthony is a great producer of the works of repentance, putting his love for the Lord above everything else in his life.  The balance scales.  Those who are forgiven much, from them much will be required.

You might ask yourself how much you value what you have been forgiven?  Does your forgiveness blossom into the fruit of compassion for others, joy, peace, long-suffering patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control and steadfast reliability?  Repentance is a tree that produces fruits of many varieties, all of which reflect the character of the One who forgives.  If your works of repentance are missing some of the fruit, perhaps you haven’t taken real account of the depth of your forgiveness.

Topical Index:  worthy, axios, fruit of repentance, Matthew 3:8, Luke 7:47, Galatians 5:22-23