The Parables of Jesus - The Barren Fig Tree

Today, we are going to see together what Jesus teaches about repentance, but especially the question of the fruit that is produced by a genuine and sincere repentance.

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Pastor Karim

Transcript

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If you need Bibles, we have in the back some. I will display the verses anyway, but it's always good to have a Bible. A physical Bible. Praise God. Lord, we just want to submit to you, to your Holy Spirit. Just uh enlighten us through the Spirit. And we just want to be focused on your word. Thank you for what you have given us today to understand, to take it from. Your words are living words. You are giving this word for us to be edified, to be strengthened, but also, and most of it, understand who you are, how loving you are, how holy you are, how righteous you are. So Lord, bless this congregation. Thank you for using me as an instrument. We all pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Praise God. So today we are going to see together what Jesus teaches about repentance. But especially the question of the fruit that is produced by a genuine and sincere repentance. When Jesus calls us to believe in order to be justified and saved by the grace of God, there is also a step of faith and a visible transformation that confirms this faith, that confirms our faith. It is this change of direction, this turning away from our former life, and turning toward God. This is what the Bible calls repentance. Not that we are saved by works, but solely and entirely by justification through faith in Jesus Christ. But this faith must be visible and evident in each one of us. Otherwise, this repentance cannot bear fruit that remains. So that our transformation may become a living testimony to the glory of God. For if this is not evident in our lives, we do not have the full assurance of salvation and must therefore seriously examine our hearts, lest we remain separated from the presence of God. Yes, a change of direction must take place in our lives. It's a must. But only through the work of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. If indeed he lives within us, it must not come through human methods, habits, or techniques, I would say, even skills from the world that we have learned before we knew God. Those things that once brought glory to ourselves in the eyes of the world, and allowed us to live independently from God. But only the work of the Holy Spirit within us can truly be manifested as we humble ourselves and put on the old self, as the Apostle Paul teaches, in order to put on the new self and thus bear fruit that brings glory to God. Amen. But before we read the parable, we will first look at the context, as usual, in which Jesus is speaking, who is addressing, and then we will consider the application that is given to each one of us today. Amen. So let's first read the verse just before. No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Isn't a strong statement? Jesus is speaking to a crowd that has gathered to listen to him. And he addresses a subject that the Jews and the religious leaders knew very well, which is repentance. I would say the Old Testament and even the New Testament, it's all about repentance, coming back to God. This was already a familiar message because even John the Baptist had prepared the way before Jesus began his earthly ministry. But it was also a message that had been proclaimed throughout all scriptures, as prophets after prophets called the people of God, as well as the nations that dishonored his holy name. For what? To return back to the true God, rather to idols made of wood and stone, and to repent of their continual disobedience. Here the word perish is a strong word. Yet it is full of meaning. It shows that Jesus was not speaking about love according to the standards of this world. No, he was not talking about love. He was talking about perishing. But he was talking about another love. A love according to the kingdom of God. A love that warns people of the consequences of sin. Idolatry, and every form of rebellion against God. A love that calls men and women to abandon their own ways and walk in the ways of God. And here the word all also reveals the seriousness of his statement. He didn't say you, you, you, he said all. Everyone is concerned by this warning. Because no one can claim to be righteous before God by his own efforts or believe that he has no need of repentance. It also reminds us that there is only one way of salvation. Jesus Christ Himself. The way that leads to the Father. And furthermore, in the chapter 12, just before that, Jesus speaks about division. He came to bring a division that becomes visible to those who turn away from their sins through repentance. Later in the chapter, he also calls many of them hypocrites. Because they fail to recognize the time of God's visitation. God is here through Jesus. So, yes, Jesus speaks about love. But love of the truth. The love that is not considered in this world. A love that comes from heaven. Jesus stood before them, revealing the kingdom of God and fulfilling the law and the prophets. But yet many refused to see who he truly was. So this warning is found throughout the whole Bible. In fact, it lies at every heart of the gospel, of salvation, and the good news of Jesus. Genuine faith always leads to repentance from the heart. So, what is repentance? It is important for us to understand both the biblical context of its application for us today. Repentance is a voluntary and visible response toward God. We are called to turn away from our sinful ways. That is, from those paths that separated us from God, defiled our hearts, and stood in opposition to his will. Those ways that glorified ourselves than our Heavenly Father. However, this repentance is only possible through the divine and sovereignty work of God the Father. Brought about in us through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Yes. Amen. So in the scriptures, we first see repentance in connection with salvation. The salvation, the repentance that accompanies faith in Jesus Christ. It's called the sabantific faith. The repentance that goes with faith for salvation. And this repentance is producing a godly sorrow, convicts us of sin before God, leads us to acknowledge our guilt, and drive us to turn to Christ in order to receive forgiveness and eternal life. Godly sorrow. But there is also the continual repentance that does not end. And this from for every day in our lives, until the end. It remains present throughout the daily life of the believer until the end of his earthly journey. Every day, Lord, forgive me. This is repentance. This is the continual repentance that brings us back to the path of God and to his will. Whenever we stray, it leaves us to put the death of our whole nature so that the Holy Spirit may continue his work of transformation within us. From glory to glory. Until we are conformed to the image of Christ. So this was the context and the introduction to understand the Bible. First of all, I want to share one verse which is summarizing a little bit this context. It's in the Epistle of Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 7, 8 to 10. The Apostle Paul writes in the second letter this passage. Let's read it together. For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you. Though only for a while, as it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffer no loss through us. And this verse is very important. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. Whereas worldly grief produces death. Amen. To regret is different. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry is a feeling. It's just an emotional and worldly feeling. The Bible never says sorry. Never. So after considering this context, let's see the parable. And it's all this parable. A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it and found no. And he said to the vine dresser, Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should I use up the ground? And he answered him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around and put on manner. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good, but if not, just cut it down. Amen. We will now take this parable verse by verse in order to better understand what Jesus is teaching us here. And he told this parable: a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, and he found none. So here we have a parable that simply tells a story representing God, his people, and more particularly, his people set apart for his glory. A people who were expected to bear fruit and not remain barren. But here it's not the case. The man represents God who planted a fig tree, that is the people set apart for the accomplishment of God's redemption plan through Jesus Christ, which is Israel. This fig tree was planted in a vineyard, representing the covenant promises given to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and to all God's people throughout the generations. So the fruit is what distinguishes one tree from one another, right? It reveals the nature and it manifests what is intended to produce according to the order established by God's creation. Right? The fruits that should normally have grown in this tree represents the fruit of genuine repentance. It is the fruit produced by those who have been touched by the message of Jesus, stood before the people of God. This message has drawn the people to the Father. This is what it has to produce: being close to the Father. As they see Jesus in their midst, they are led by his Spirit to return to him with a sincere and authentic repentance. You hear the message. You are touched by the message. You are convicted by the message. And then you turn to God and you repent and you follow Christ. The primary focus here is not the fruit of the spirit. As it is manifested in the life of the believer. But rather the fruit that reveals a person belonging to God. We are not talking about the fruits of the spirit. We are talking about the fruit of the genuine repentance, which is different. It is though Jesus stood before the people of God, and yet, just as in the previous passage, they neither understood who he was nor why he stood before them. But Jesus was there among them, revealing the kingdom of God, fulfilling the law and prophets, and bringing them the solution, bringing them the answer to believe in him, to follow him and repent. Yet when he came looking for fruit, he found no. And he said to the vine dresser, look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit of this fig tree. And I found no one. Cut it down. Why should I use up the ground? Why? The vine dresser here may represent Jesus, the one sent by God, but also those who would later be called by Christ and entrusted with responsibility of proclaiming the gospel. And here the concept of the three years in Scripture is often associated with particular periods of time in which God acts, accomplishes his purposes, and manifests both grace but also judgment. So if we follow this interpretation, first Jesus comes looking for fruit, that is a harvest from the fig tree representing Israel. Yet there is nothing together. There is no. This shows that God in his mercy had sent Jesus Christ to his people. But they were not ready to hear or receive his only begotten son. Who had come to bring the kingdom of God to earth? The solution, the Messiah. But also the command to cut down the tree, if it remained fruitless, shows that the absence of repentance from the heart ultimately leads to judgment. So the issue here is not works that save, but the obedience that flows from genuine faith in the gospel. This call to bear fruit was not new. Even before Jesus began his earthly ministry, John the Baptist was already calling Israel to bear fruit and keeping repentance as the center. The problem was not a lack of warning from God, but a persistent refusal to return back to God. So once again, Jesus speaks about the fruit that comes from genuine repentance, the kind that follows him by faith and not by sight. As faithful servants, disciples, and ambassadors of the kingdom. Furthermore, occupying the ground without producing fruit symbolizes the fertility that the fig tree is expected to display. For a child of God, this fertility is seen in a transformed life, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, bearing fruit for the glory of God and the advancements of his kingdom. Amen. And he answered him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manner. The vine dresser asks his master not to cut down the tree, but to give it more time. Like Jesus interceding for the people of God. He asked the Heavenly Father to show patience so that his people might understand who He is and why He was sent. Manifesting God's mercy and compassion toward them. Jesus shows in this parable that he chooses to preserve, to keep and exercise patience, going all the way to the cross to demonstrate his ultimate love and sacrifice. So that those who follow him by faith may bear fruit worthy of repentance, out of conviction rather than mere religiosity. But this intercession echoes that of Moses for the people of Israel and Abraham for Sodom and Gomorrah. But despite this intercession and this additional time granted, God knows the heart of mankind perfectly. He knows that the human heart is naturally corrupt and that true repentance can only be produced through the divine work of the Holy Spirit. It is also interesting to note that when Jesus speaks this parable, his work on the cross has not been yet accomplished. And the Holy Spirit has not been poured out as he would be at Pentecost. God is still granting time to his people, while his perfect plan of redemption is unfolding through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good. But if not, you can cut it down. In this verse, Jesus shows us that judgment is a reality. For those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also do not sincerely repent with all their hearts. Experiencing that godly sorrow comes from the conviction of sin before God. Yes, once again, the cutting down of the tree also points us to the judgment that is to come. Yes. I say it again because this is important. Although God shows patience, mercy, judgment remains a certain reality. For those who persist in refusing to repent. John 15, 6 teaches us about Jesus again, saying, if anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and wither. And the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. It is a reality. But likewise the apostle Paul writes, but because of your hand and your impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath. When God's righteousness judge, judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works. So this warning emphasizes the urgency of responding to God's call today. For a day will come when the grace now offered will give away to the righteous judgment of God. Eternal life is possible only through the grace of God and his perfect sovereignty. We cannot by our salvation earn our salvation or pretend to possess salvation. Therefore, if this genuine repentance is not evident in our lives, we must seriously examine our hearts before God. Yet this godly sorrow ultimately becomes a source of joy and freedom. This is godly sorrow. It brings joy, tears of joy, and tears of freedom. When we are renewed and transformed by the Holy Spirit, we become conscious of the divine grace that has been shown to us. We are conscious about this unmerited favor of God. Then a deep gratitude springs from our hearts through praise, thanksgiving, and a life devoted to the glory of God, through the perfect work of redemption accomplished by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord came to save those who believe in Him. Drawn by the Father and sealed by the Holy Spirit according to his perfect will. Amen. So to conclude this message, thus Jesus ends this parable by leaving an open question. Before each one of us, when God looks at our lives today, does he find a fruit of genuine repentance? Or merely the outward appearance of religion? The fruit produced by a healthy tree, planted in a good soil and nourished by the work of the Holy Spirit, reflects the character of God. In the life of the believer, and bears witness to the transforming work of God. Bear witness. So several questions must be asked by each one of us today. Is my repentance genuine before God? Is my faith founded upon the truth of his word? Is there fruit in my life? Is it truly the Holy Spirit who is at work within me? Are we merely religious or genuinely following God by his grace? These are important questions. Fundamental questions. Each one of us has to answer genuinely, sincerely. With the Father. We should ask ourselves what is the condition of our hearts toward God? I just want to leave it there. Pause ten seconds. Is my repentance genuine before God? Is my faith founded upon the truth of his word? Is there fruit in my life? Is it truly the Holy Spirit who is at work within me? Are we merely religious or generally following God by His grace? Let us all stand together in spirit and truth, asking the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, to transform our hearts, and to lead us in obedience to his word for his glory. Amen. Let's close in prayer. Heavenly Father, Almighty and Sovereign God, we just want to thank you for your word, for your grace that enables us to know you and to worship you in spirit and in truth in this place. We know that you are a merciful and compassionate God. We ask you to grant us hearts of repentance and a deeper desire to follow you and also to depend upon you alone. We surrender every aspect of our lives into your hands, trusting you fully and walking by faith. Keep us, O Lord, in your narrow path, and continue to sanctify us, transform us into the likeness of Christ. We thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and the head of this church. To you alone be all the glory and all the praise for you loved us first and you gave your beloved son for us while we were still sinners, dead in our trespasses and sin. We pray all these things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah. I hope this message has blessed you. It's a good reminder. So we have a last song. Hallelujah. Let's worship the Lord one more time.