How better to begin but with our initial doctrinal statement on repentance:

“Repentance is the act of acknowledging one's sins and resolving to fully obey God. To repent means to change one's overall attitude from wanting to go his own way to wanting to go God's way. It begins when God opens one's mind to see himself in comparison with God and His law. True repentance is the first step toward reconciliation with God, and thereby toward ultimate salvation.”

Repentance is covered in the previous study of Ezek 18:31.  However, there is something being said in Luke 3:8 and Matthew 3:8 I wish to point out.

In these chapters of Matthew and Luke, we read of John the Baptist going about calling individuals to initial repentance but there is something in the wording that speaks to our continuing repentance throughout our lifetime in the Salvation Process.  Notice this commentary:

[Bring forth therefore fruits ...] That is, the proper evidence that you are sincere. Do not bring your cunning and dissimulation to this work; do not carry your hypocrisy into your professed repentance, but evince your sincerity by forsaking sin, and thus give evidence that this coming to Jordan to be baptized is not an act of dissimulation [to disguise one’s intensions or true feelings] . No discourse could have been more appropriate or more cutting.

[Fruits] Conduct.

[Meet for repentance] Fit for repentance; appropriate to it the proper expression of repentance.

(from Barnes' Notes)

The key word in this verse is “fruits” or conduct, meaning true action.  Repentance is not to be motivated by guilt or fear.  Repentance is not about proclaiming before God good intensions or a promise of better behavior.  It is about taking definite action to overcome sin.  Overcoming sin is a process of action steps and God wants us to be working that process continually.  With each action step in the process, we take a step away from sin and get one step closer to God and His righteousness.

Lesson 8: Instructions – Bring forth fruits fit for repentance
 
 1) Frequently refer to our doctrine on Repentance.
 2) Produce a plan [a process] of action steps to overcome sin.

 3) Review the Bible Study, "Stopping Sin Using the Wisdom of Solomon."
 4) Examine yourself frequently to insure your repentance is real.
 5) Each time you sin, invoke the action steps of your overcoming sin process.
 6) Pray continually for the strength of God to overcome sin in your life.
 7) Endure to the end as a repentant person.

See the sermon, "Claiming Victory"
See booklet, "The Pain and Joy of Repentance"
See booklet, "Why Should You Repent?"
See booklet, "The Three-Part Formula for Salvation"
See booklet, "SAVED BY GRACE?" (Or is there something we must DO to enter the Kingdom of God?)

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