“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:1-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fruit of repentance - good  works (are not basis of our salvation but evidence of our salvation)

1. Why repent? (turn back to God) -- because we are born in "sin"
   • Because the kingdom of god is near 
     1. Sins forgiven - you belong to kingdom of god
     2. If sins are not forgiven - judgment comes 
   • What sin to repent?
     • Sin of pride -- make us feel as if we don't need god, and we feel we can handle our life on our own, our destiny is on our hands 
       • But you can't control your tomorrow, your cells, your emotions --> but evidence shows it all 
       • Pride makes us feel: we need God but also we need xxxxx (dilute the need of God)
       • If we do not turn back to God in our sinful state, we will start to harden (spiritual indiscretion, numbness) to God's counsel  --> we cannot sense spiritual problem anymore, satan's threat anymore, danger of sin anymore 
     • Only repentance brings man to the mercy of God (satan is afraid when you repent, because God's mercy is on you)
     • Do we have the spiritual discernment of sin? 
       • Sin clings to you uninvited (no one wants it in life, but even though we don't invite it, it actively penetrates our life -- though we are victim of sin, but god can heal us, you can seek treatment. So don't let sin remains to destroy you, fight the sin by seeking refuge in God) ---> we can resist sin by coming to the grace of god
   • How to deal with sin?
     1. First step - repent, instead of embracing 
2. What kind of repentance?
   • A radical (extreme) one! 
   • Dont feel just sorry (remorseful), but no fighting spirit to overcome it ( and dwell in it)
   • True repentance - sorry, but by the grace of God, you want to fight the sin by being transformed by God (you pray until your heart is transformed, you really have:
     • Real hatred of sin and real need for god 
     • A shift of entire direction (not just an action)
     • You don't care about the consequences anymore(like you want the cancer treatment so much you are willing the face the score of being hairless etc, because you want the vicious root/cancer cells to be removed so much)
   • God delights in your radical repentance = 
     • until you want Jesus only (not just smooth sailing life)
     • Until you beg Jesus to accept you 
     • To the point of death (dying to self)
       • Meaning --> you have no more pride
     • Repent - (cease trusting everything we are by birth, but to turn to god's grace)
       • You don't think you are ab's descendants, pastors kids .. That you are very great
       • No human condition can earn you God's grace except by His will
       • Don't be complacent (take for granted, we are blessed etc... But are you bearing fruits of repentance today?)
   • Confession of sin
     • Bring it to light before god --> only then can it be cleansed --> forgiveness --> salvation (eternal, and trouble of this life)
3. Fruits 
   • Outward 
   • Danger of shallow, false repentance 
   • Unless there is a change in heart, spiritual nature --> you can't tell true repentance
     • God's truth weighs more than your conditions, how others see of you
     • If you value God's r/s with you more than anything else, even if you bear the consequences of sin, you will not feel suppressed but relieved -->because of the joy set before you (more reconciled with God), you are motivated to scorn the shame (take the pain)
   • Fruit is tied with r/s with God
     • Do you bear fruits? Not how hard you work but how close you are with God.
   • ““What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.””
     ‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:10-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬
     
   • What fruits? 
     • Acts of mercy 
     • Keep the commands of god 
     • **starts first from the change in heart (realising you need to follow God -->  only then it translates to outward action)

1. HS : born again 
   • HS is the sure guarantee of our relationship with God (seal of deposit)
   • Empowerment 
   • Gifts - of evangelising, preaching, being virtuous, generous.....
2. Fire 
   • Burn and purify 
   • Burn - judgment
   • Purify - sanctification 

Gospel is not about pleasant stuff, it also tells us judgment and blessings. 

Bible gives us warnings.. But it is not a bad thing, it gives us the right spirit to live on today. When you can still hear the warning, it means it is not too late to turn back to God, and restore with him.