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Repent or Perish! Lk. 13:1-9

When you hear of a political uprising in some other country were many people are killed; Do you think they must be great sinners to suffer such a fate? Or if you hear of a natural disaster in your own town or country; Do you think God must be punishing those people? Are people who suffer such deaths worse sinners than others? Jesus gives us the answer. “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” vs.3 They are not any worse sinners than anyone else! We are no better than they! In the eyes of God, we are all guilty sinners. In the eyes of God, we all have a sentence of death hanging around our necks! “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rm.3:23 “None is righteous, no, not one.” Rm.3:10 “The soul who sins shall die.” Ezk.18:20 The Bible also says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rm.6:23“The wages of sin is death.” We work for wages. They are owed to us for our work. We have all done the work of sin. The wages we deserve is death! How can we flee from our fate? God offers us a free gift in the place of our wages! “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How can receive this gift of salvation? This gift is given to us by the grace of God when we repent! “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” vs.5 God enables us to be sorry for our sins. God enables us to turn from our sin to God, to turn from going our own way, to following Jesus and trusting in Him. We receive the gift of eternal life, forgiveness and peace!This new life in Christ will grow and produce good fruit. There are false Christians, they have never truly repented. “

He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. … Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Lk.3:7-11 True repentance changes the way we relate to God and our neighbor! Good fruit is an evidence of a true planting of God. After a tree is planted and cared for and has time to grow, it should produce fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Mt. 7:10-23Everyone is walking down a path today. Some are walking down a path that will lead to death and hell. Others have turned from the path that leads to death and hell. They have turned to the path that leads to life and heaven! As they walk that path to heaven, others can see the fruit of a Christ changed life. Others can see we are following Christ. Which will it be for you? The wages of sin or the gift of eternal life? Will you repent of your sins and trust in Christ for salvation? Will you bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Repent or perish! Which will it be for you? May you by God’s grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, receive the gift of salvation! To God be the glory. Amen.