But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt. 3:7-8).

Are you a little surprised at John’s statement? Or maybe a little indignant? Here is a group of important men, religious leaders, answering John’s call to be baptized – and then to be repulsed, sharply rebuked! What made John act that way? What did he mean by that phrase, bear fruits worthy of repentance?” Was he right? What, if anything, is the application for our generation?

JOHN AND THE PHARISEES
To help answer, we look first at John. He is God’s appointed servant to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Jesus will later say of him:“a prophet? Yes I say to you, and more than a prophet” (Matt. 11:9). John is God’s spokesman; whatever John demanded, were the demands of God.

What of the Pharisees? Did they truly need to bear fruits worthy of repentance? YES. They were indeed a “brood of vipers.” And everything they did was just for show! How seriously their lives needed those fruits. John was right as he made this demand.

GOD DEMANDS FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE
In Jerusalem, Peter preached to the Jews that they, “Repent therefore and be converted” (Acts 3:19). In Damascus, Paul declared to Jew and Gentile:“that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20). God’s order is: repentance – a change of mind – followed by fruits that are worthy of repentance. Without such fruits, any repentance is at best, momentary; at its worst, a mere sham.

At this stage we may well ask, “What produces repentance?” God has provided sinful man three strong motives: firstly, warnings of judgment (Luke 11:32); secondly, godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10); finally, the riches of God’s goodness (Rom. 2:4). Through the ages these have proved sufficient to change the hearts of men. These motives are not of a fleeting nature, but godly men and women are constantly warned that sin brings punishment, that failure should bring sorrow, that the riches of God’s goodness should cause us to serve Him with pureness of heart.
The Ninevites fasted and put on sackcloth (Jon. 3:5-9). In Jesus’ parable of the two sons only the one showed regret and went to work in his father’s vineyard (Matt. 21:29). The prodigal came to himself, resolved what to do, and did it (Luke 15:17-21). Zacchaeus purposed to give half of his goods to the poor and restore four-fold to any he had defrauded (Luke 19:8). Saul of Tarsus immediately began to preach the faith which he once tried to destroy (Gal. 1:23). The Ephesian magicians burned their books worth fifty thousand pieces of silver in the sight of all (Acts 19:19).

WHAT ABOUT TODAY?
What fruits worthy of repentance should Christians today produce? Here are some.

1. Be done with sin. “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:2). Work especially on those sins that so easily beset you and cast them away once and for all.
2. Love God more and more. Love Him with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind (Luke 10:27).      
3. Rejoice with thanksgiving. Your sins have all been forgiven. 
4. Worship steadfastly. Stop letting the world interfere with praising God.           
5. Let your light shine. Do all things without complaining and disputing. “. . . become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-16).   
6. Grow in grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18). Study (not merely read) the Bible daily. “. . . giving all diligence, add to your faith . . .” (2 Pet. 1:5-11).           
7. Put off the works of the flesh; put on the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26).    

FINALLY:
All who come to God must produce fruits of repentance. Without such fruits we are no better than the Pharisees and Sadducees. Without such fruits we are yet in our sins. Without such fruits we will be eternally lost in hell.

Are you bringing forth fruits worthy of your repentance?

Gene Tope is an evangelist at the Courthouse church of Christ meeting in Chesterfield, Virginia.