Friday, March 9, 2018

The Stump Remains - Matthew 3:8-12

Matthew 3:8-12 ESV 


Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 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.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”


Man is like a tree that bears the fruit in keeping with its seed. He alone of all creatures on earth can change the fruit that appears on his branches. As a stand-alone tree he can choose to bear the fruit of repentance. 


He can then attach to the tree of life and bear the fruit of the Spirit. 


The tree of Israel has been cut down, though a stump remains. 


Isaiah 11:1-2

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

No comments: