By PASTOR MARK MOLINA
Living Waters Church
Pastor Mark Molina
Repentance. What should it look like in my life? What should it look like in the lives of others? Is saying the words, “I’m sorry” enough or should there be more? The answer to that question is, “Yes.” There should be more. Our lives should have the “fruit of repentance.” We should be living discernibly different after truly repenting from our sin. Let’s look at biblical examples to gain a better understanding.
“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’ They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you? She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.’” (John 8:1-11 NASB)
In this story, we see several things. Jesus, a man of prayer, was coming from His place of prayer. His desire was to teach the people of the character and heart of God. We see the religious leaders, coming in the knowledge of law, to bring accusation and demand justice. The specific sin, as expressed here was adultery. The Old Testament law states, “If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife…the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10 NASB)
In accordance with the law, the religious leaders were partly correct. The law required stoning. However, the law clearly read, “If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife…” In the above story only the woman was brought forward. If she was caught, as it says, “in the very act of adultery” then according to the law, the man should have been stoned as well.
This is important because we see here two groups of people that needed to repent. First, the two caught in the act of adultery. Second, the religious leaders who twisted the law for their own gain. They were trying to trap Christ with their own misguided judgments.
In Jesus’ response we see the truth about our own lives. He who is without sin, let him be first to throw a stone. The men all left from oldest to the youngest. Not one of them repented for his actions. Not one of them acknowledged his personal sin in conduct and behavior.
After all of her accusers left, Jesus told the woman to go her way and sin no more. Grace forgave; however, truth required a changed heart and a changed life. The scripture tells us that the law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Not just grace that says, “I forgive.” But also truth that requires, “Go your way and sin no more.”
The twisted message of grace without truth says, “Well the person said they were sorry, so it doesn’t matter how they act.” Jesus provided forgiveness but also required the fruit of repentance. If there is true repentance, then the life lived will reflect the words spoken.
Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:20 NKJV) Repentance should be discernible. Jesus required change of conduct without fear and hesitation. We should too.
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