April 1, 2025

Gleanings

Fruits of Repentance

Gerald R. Chester, Ph.D.

The forerunner of the New Covenant era was John the Baptist. He proclaimed a baptism for forgiveness of sins that was realized through the Christ’s first advent. John was the prophet who preceded and prepared the way for the Christ. In response to John’s announcement, his audience asked, “What shall we do?” (Luke 3:10). This same question was posed in response to Peter’s proclamation on the first day of the New Covenant era (Acts 2:37).

John responded:

"Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." (Luke 3:11 ESV)

This was a general response to all people. John then responded to two specific categories of people—tax collectors and soldiers—some of the most disdained people of the time.

Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages." (Luke 3:12–14 ESV)

The tax collectors were prone to overcharge and the soldiers were prone to extortion in return for protection. Overcharging and extortion are figures of speech called synecdoche, which is using a part to represent the whole or vice versa.^[1] Tax collectors could abuse people in a variety of ways. Overcharging was just one way and was used to symbolize the numerous ways tax collectors can misuse their position. Likewise, soldiers could abuse people in a variety of ways. Extortion was one way and represented all the many ways soldiers can be cruel and unjust.

John’s point was that words of repentance without the fruits of repentance (acts of righteous living) were hypocritical and, therefore, unfruitful. Baptism was an act of personal identification with a truth. But words without congruent actions were disingenuous. Therefore, John would not baptize any person until he saw real fruit manifested in their actions. This principle was consistent with teaching from Jesus’ brother James, who said:

As the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:26 ESV)

Dead works means no works. No works means no life and no truth.

The presumption that words and works can be bifurcated is a common false assumption. The redoubtable John Calvin who lived in the sixteenth century recognized this false thinking in his community. He wrote:

Hypocrites labor strenuously to prove themselves worshippers of God by the performance of ceremonies—paying no regard, however, to true righteousness. ^[2]

It is no different today. Many claim to know the Lord but disregard the actions that would validate their claim. However, Scripture is unequivocal on this point. James wrote:

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:21–25 ESV)

Being hearers of divine truth but not doers is deception. And claiming to be a disciple of Jesus but not seeking to continually mature in obeying Jesus’ commands is hypocrisy.

Some common examples of current hypocrisy in Christian communities include the following unhealthy habits and practices:

Baptisms based on a profession of faith without evidence of lifestyle transformation (words are believed; actions are denigrated).
Discipleship by programs (nonrelational discipleship tracks) that offer content but no true personal discipleship.
Defining worship based on outward actions displayed at a music event seeking a momentary emotional response, instead of recognizing worship as a lifestyle of living in Spirit and Truth everywhere, all the time, and in all circumstances.
Denying the Lordship of Jesus holistically by maintaining the Roman Catholic clergy/laity distinction that elevates some work (spiritual work) and denigrates other work (physical work).
Cultures of communities that support individual autonomy and volunteerism (non-covenantal, unaccountable individuals) soliciting volunteers for work in the Christian community (group leaders, service projects, and evangelism) instead of seeking the disciples who are called to the work.

The hypocrisy manifested in the above practices can be attributed to a wrong view of our relationship to God. Many people view relating to God based on quid pro quo. This means seeking to do something to please God so that he will reciprocate. Dudley Hall, president of Christian Living Ministries, calls this transactionalism, which is incompatible with sound Christian doctrine.

The apostle Paul spoke of the sound way to relate to the Father, that is, holistic obedience flowing from gratitude. He wrote:

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 ESV)

This means that Jesus’ disciples should seek to live holistically—in words and actions—aligned with his will, ways, and timing as they expressing thankfulness to the heavenly Father in everything.

Consequently, instead of the unhealthy habits and practices, as noted above, Dudley Hall offered the following examples of sound habits (fruits of righteousness) that should be true in a healthy Christian community:

Relational prayer, seeking to align with God. Prayer is an act of humility that helps us be humble, submitted, and teachable to the Father through his divinely designated human authorities.
Prioritizing teaching the Truth. The only sound basis for living is according to the Truth revealed in Scripture and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
True shepherding that aligns people with the will and ways of God. All shepherds should be seeking to guide the people of God into lifestyles of holistic obedience to the Word of God.
Covenant community as the basis for true Christian interdependent living. A covenant community is an independent group of people equally yoked in the Truth of the orthodox Christian faith and, therefore, living this faith holistically.

Words alone are inadequate to validate the condition of a person’s heart. Fruits of repentance are essential to reveal the truth. Faith without works is not real faith. This is the standard of Scripture and must be the standard for the body of Christ today.

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^[1] John Calvin, Calvin's Complete Commentaries (Kindle Locations 373565-373566), E4 Group.

^[2] ibid. (Kindle Locations 373553-373555).