Fruit in keeping with repentance
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Matthew 3:5-8 says, “Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”
John came to prepare the way for Christ. As he was teaching the people and baptizing them, many of the Pharisees and Saducees came to be baptized as well. The Pharisees and Saducees were Jewish sects that were usually battling and fighting over different beliefs. Neither group had both the correct doctrine and the correct heart to go along with it.
As they come to be baptized, John confronts them and commands that they must bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Repentance is a change of life and a change of mind. John was telling these people that baptism was useless to them unless they were willing to change their evil ways and live right.
Becoming a Christian is an important step in being right with God. Yet one part of becoming a Christian is repentance or changing our wicked ways. If we become a Christian, yet still live like the world then our Christianity is meaningless and helpless to save us.
Verses teaching that repentance is necessary to be saved.
Acts 17:30-31
Acts 2:38
Luke 13:3, 5
