Today's Readings: OT - Genesis 2 / NT - Matthew 3
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ... Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham." ~ Matthew 3:2, 8-9
A sin-sick world has ways to soften every possible transgression or evil action. Adultery is an "affair", lying is to "misspeak", stealing is "misappropriation". So it seems, the less offensive the wrong appears, the less correction is needed, if at all. The popular preference is redefinition, rather than repentance.
The world of John was no different than our world. Even the religious elite had ways to redefine their conduct and pose as righteous people. John saw through their charade and called them to a visible change from being vipers to becoming virtuous. Spiritual fruit would only come from true repentance.
Paul the apostle was commissioned by the Lord ... "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’" (Acts 26:18) Becoming a Christian doesn't come from terms of redefinition, but from turning to God in repentance.
" We cannot simply say a prayer or walk down an aisle and use that to claim that we have been saved if our lives give no evidence of having been changed by God and if we have not repented of our sin and given them up." ~ William Law, A Serious Call
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