“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;”-{Matt 3;8}.
This is the beginning of a new life. The realization of one’s sin and rebellion of sin and a change of mind about self God and submitting to Him as Sovereign King to rule over you and save you.
As an apple tree produces “apples,” an orange tree produces oranges,” so there is spiritual “Fruit,” that a life of repentance towards God is manifested.
REPENTANCE;
“The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign…
According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Louw & Nida) the word repentance means, to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness. …It is a gift that God gives to us and true repentance leads to eternal life…
Literally, it is a Greek word meaning “change of mind”. Yet the full meaning is somewhat more. In the New Testament, the word metanoia is often translated as “repentance”. But this kind of repentance is not about regret or guilt or shame; it implies making a decision to turn around, to face a new direction.”
John the baptist preached repentance.
“Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.” -{Acts 13:24};
Jesus preached repentance before and after the cross.
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”-{Matt 4:17}And commissioned His followers after HIS Resurrection to go forward and preach likewise, “…and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”-{Luke 24;47}. Note the necessity of repentance for forgiveness. No repentance, no forgiveness.
Peter preached repentance
…“Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”-{Acts 2:38}. “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time”-{Acts 3;19-21}.
Paul preached repentance.
“Having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30). NOTEwho is declaring Repentance should be preached,”GOD!”
“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ” (Acts 20:20-21 ,
Later Paul was before King Agrippa, his message “I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring . . . even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:19-20). ”
While many want to “accept” Jesus, they do not want Him to rule over them and will not repent which in the book of Revelation is to fail to Glorify Him through refusing to repent towards Him. Still rebellious internally against Him!
What is the alternative to Repentance?
“There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” -{Luke 13:1-5}. Unless you repent…you…will Perish!
We too were once like that, rebellious towards God, “But God…” convicted us and granted us, and those who obey His command to repent, He sets spiritually free and it begins with you doing a U turn… u turn from self rule to God and submit to Him and submit to His Son to rule over you and save you from self love, self rule, the penalty and power of sin, the wrath of God and the control of satan!
Repentance and faith is where life begins… and then the fruit of repentance, of a changing life is evident as it is producing a new life under a new authority, The LORD Jesus. For example if I asked you,” when is a thief no longer a thief ?” you may say when they stop stealing… But God says,“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” When they stop stealing and start working in order to give to the one in need! That is the “FRUIT OF REPENTANCE.”Instead of living to get they are living to give lovingly for His sake!-{Read Eph 4:28}.