Biblical Repentance/The Fruits of Repentance

From Gospel Translations

Fruits Will Always Follow Repentance

In conclusion, let us consider the fruits which always follow genuine Biblical repentance.

John the Baptist warned his hearers, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Mat 3:8). And the Apostle Paul told King Agrippa that his message to the Jews and to the Gentiles was “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Act 26:20). So from these two Scriptures we learn that true biblical repentance will show itself in the believer’s life by its fruits. Let us look then at some of these fruits. As we do, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to His precious Word and that He will open and search our hearts. May the Lord show us if these fruits are being produced in our lives by the Spirit of the living God.

A. Repentance Results in a Real Hatred for Sin

First, the fruit of true Biblical repentance in our lives is a real hatred for sin as sin and not merely hatred for its consequence, which is separation from God in hell forever. This hatred is not against this or that sin, but hatred of all sin, and particularly of the root itself which is self-will. In Ezekiel 14:6 we read, “Thus saith the Lord God; repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abomina-tions.” We do this with a hatred for them and a loathing of ourselves. This is set forth in Ezekiel 20:43: “Ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.” You see, the change of mind which God requires, the change of mind which God is pleased with, is a real hatred for sin as sin against God. Therefore, I ask, do you and I have a hatred for sin in this manner? If not, then we have not brought forth the fruits of true Biblical repentance.

B. Repentance Results in a Godly Sorrow for Sin

Second, the fruit of true Biblical repentance is a godly sorrow for sin. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 reads, “Ye sor-rowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner...for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.” This sorrow consists of grief for having despised such a God, for having rebelled against His au-thority, and for having been indifferent to His glory. It was a sorrow such as this that caused Peter to go out and weep bitterly over denying his Lord (Mat 26:75). And a sorrow such as this causes us to weep bitterly over our sins because they are against God. We are made to cry like David, “I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” (Psa 51:3-4).

Have you thus sorrowed for sin as being against God? This fruit of true Biblical repentance causes us to “crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal 5:24) and to follow God in Christ with all our hearts. Only this kind of sorrow for sin is genuine.