"Bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8).
"The word of God came to John" (Luke 3:2). And this is the word that came to him: "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance." The word we need to hear. It is not my word. It is not even John's word. It is God's word.
Advent is a period of preparation. A time of repentance. But that really doesn't fit with the decorating, the parties, and the eating that these days before Christmas are known for.
But I remember hearing once that the ball ornaments on the tree represent fruit. In other words, the Christmas tree is a fruit tree. A tree that bears good fruit. The very thing God is calling us to be. Because "every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Luke 3:9).
And so this Advent and Christmas be like the Christmas tree. Be the tree. A tree that bears good fruit - the fruits of repentance.
What is left is to ask and answer two questions.
First, what is repentance? A very good definition is found in the Augsburg Confession of 1530 (the cornerstone confession of the Lutheran Church). It reads:
"True repentance is nothing else than to have contrition and sorrow, or terror, on account of sin, and yet at the same time to believe the Gospel and absolution (namely, that sin has been forgiven and grace has been obtained through Christ), and this faith will comfort the heart and again set it at rest. Amendment of life and the forsaking of sin should then follow, for these must be the fruits of repentance, as John says, 'Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.'"
The second question is, what are the fruits in your particular case?
In Luke 3 the common people ask John, "What then shall we do?" Then the tax collectors, and then the soldiers, ask the same thing. The word do in their question and John's word bear ("Bear fruits") are in Greek the same word. What they're saying is, "What then shall we bear?" "John, we're soldiers. What are the fruits of repentance in our case?" "We're tax collectors. What are the fruits in our case?" "We're regular people. What are the fruits in our case?" And John gets into the particulars.
Are you a spouse? What are the fruits in your case? "Husband and wife love and honor each other." Are you a person who comes across other people? What are the fruits in your case? "Do not hurt or harm your neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need." Are you a child, a son or daughter? "Do not despise or anger your parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them." Are you a member of this congregation? "Do not despise preaching and God's Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it."
Are you a Christian? Be the tree. A tree that bears good fruit - the fruits of repentance. Amen.
