Transcript

Luke 13, let’s go there. Today we will finish looking at this section of particular narrative where the Lord is speaking to his apostles and to this great crowd of people. Once again, he has said many startling, piercing, powerful things. I’m convinced the Lord is purposing to aright these people’s thinking; they’re thinking in terms of a human view of his Messiahship, his ministry, “the salvation he would bring.” He’s trying to change that, revert that to an upright position, that is, so that they would rightfully see that he came as a spiritual Savior to save them from the wrath of God that was upon them. That’s something they didn’t really see or grasp or understand.

So, we come to the last part of this particular section and this is verses 6-9 of Luke 13. It says in verse 6 of Luke 13,

“ 6 And He began telling this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, “Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?” 8 And he answered and said to him, “Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.”’”

I’ve entitled this message “Bear Fruit or Perish.” That’s the pointed message Christ is giving to this crowd on this day. Now, in this particular section, he has already given a very pointed message around two recent tragic crisis events: there was a mass massacre where the Prefect of Rome had Jews massacred while they were given their sacrifices at the altar there in Jerusalem; and to pile up indignities and blasphemies, they actually had the blood of those martyrs mixed up with the sacrificial blood they were offering so they profaned the holy ordinance of Israel. It was just a graphic and powerful violent message that the Governor was sending to these Galilean Jews. And these guys report that incident to Jesus and Jesus instead of condemning Pilate or saying that those particular Jews somehow were more sinful and more evil and that’s why that happened to them, turns it around and points the message to the people who reported it and everyone else listening and said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” That was a powerful and startling word and then Jesus brings up another crisis and tragic current event and says, “Remember when the tower in Siloam fell on that group of people and tragically killed all of them?” He says, “Do you think those people were worse sinners than all the rest of the men in Jerusalem? Do you somehow in your warped unsound theology believe that these tragic things happen to people because somehow they’re more wicked than others?” He says, “No, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

So, we saw some powerful lessons on repentance and that being essential for salvation. The word “repent” means “to change your mind.” Unless you get your mind rightside up instead of upside down, you’re going to all perish. The upside down-ness, if you will, of their thinking was that their Jewish ritual and religion and keeping good works would somehow merit heaven for themselves. He said, “You’re going to have to change your mind on all that. You’re going to have to get rid of all of that and come to the recognition of your woeful offensive, depravity and just condemnation before a holy God and that God has sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who I am, to redeem you and that’s the only way you can be saved. Unless you change your thinking back aright, you’re all going to perish.”

So, that’s one side of the coin, if you will, of true redemption or salvation: repentance. Now he comes to our text today where he brings this parable to bear where he in effect says, “Not only must there be evidence of true repentance, there must be evidence of true fruitfulness. There has to be some fruit there or you’re going to perish.” I’m not in any way suggesting that our Lord is teaching a works salvation. Far from it, men are saved by grace through faith alone but the faith that saves is never alone. That’s the point he’s making.

So, let’s take these lessons or this particular lesson, if you will, from a common event of the day. They were all familiar with vineyards; they were all familiar with fig trees or vines and vineyards. They were all very familiar with the fact that if a man owns a vineyard and plants a vineyard, he expects to get fruit from that vineyard so Jesus takes this common practical event to teach this very essential and powerful lesson. First of all, let’s note it is a fruit-bearing tree that the Lord is referring to. In verse 6a, it says, “And He began telling this parable: A man had a fig tree.” Now, when I say it was a fruit- bearing tree, at least that was the nature: it was a fig tree that should bear figs as its fruit. So, first of all, this fig tree is planted on the property of this vineyard owner. It’s his ground; it’s his land; it’s rightfully and fully his. Then he planted it in this ground that he owned. He had it planted of his own free will and power to do so. The Scripture says it had been planted, that is, in his own ground. I think the emphasis here is that there is every reason, every just reason for this man to feel full rights and ownership over this fig tree and to expect the fig tree to produce fruit for him and bring him pleasure. There could just be no argument about that; he has full authority and full right to expect fruit from his endeavors, fruit from this particular tree and pleasures from it.

Now, when you look at this, the text says in verse 6 that he came looking for fruit but he found no fruit on that fig tree. All the way through this, I want to make two applications. First of all, I think there is clearly an application for Israel as a nation but clearly there is also application for everyone else. I get a little bit amused at some interpreters of Scripture whereby they are so focused on the nation of Israel being the fulfillment of everything that they somehow excuse the rest of us from these clear teachings and warnings from our Lord. Well, it is true, there is a lesson here for Israel but also there is a lesson for everyone else. For example, pointing to the fact that this has particular reference to Israel is the fact that God often referred to Israel as his vine or his vineyard. In the Old Testament, he numerous times refers to Israel as his fig tree so Israel is God’s plant or God’s tree.

It is God who called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees to leave that land and become the father of a great nation that would be his favored, elect people. I don’t know how the rank Arminians deal with the truth of the Old Testament when they claim that God doesn’t elect certain ones to salvation. How in the world can you deal with God’s choosing of Israel if you reject the doctrine of election? Abraham had done nothing good or bad. God speaks to him and says, “Come and I’m going to make of you something.” As a matter of fact, Abraham had failure after failure, weakness after weakness, sin after sin. Scripture records that. He wasn’t chosen because he was worthy, he was chosen because of God’s providential choice.

So, the point is, God chose Abraham to be uniquely and specially his man, to be the father of nation. Now, he cultivated and grew his people by the providence of letting Joseph journey to Egypt. Joseph through a series of providential events becomes exalted to the highest authority in the great nation of Egypt just under the Pharaoh himself. Through a series of events, his family comes to Egypt and there in Egypt the nation prospers while in Egyptian bondage but becomes a great nation within the overarching slavery, if you will, of Egypt. Then, through Moses, he has them led out of Egyptian bondage. Through Joshua, he leads them into the Promised Land. In other words, God did this, God arranged this, God provided for this. These are God’s people and God has every right to expect these people to bear him fruit and to bring him pleasure. Totally, absolutely and completely.

He sent them the fathers. He sent them the prophets. They have the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. A couple of cross-references that talk about how he viewed them as his vine or his fig tree: Hosea 9:10, “I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.” So, he’s saying from the very beginning, you were my promise of fruit-bearing, something that would bring glory to me, something that would magnify who I am in the earth. Then he goes on to say, of course, but you failed. Then Jeremiah 2:21, “Yet I planted you,” that’s Israel, “as a choice vine, a completely faithful seed.” Now, here’s the point: just like this man in this parable of this fig tree in Luke 13, Israel had no excuse. God did everything right: he provided for her; he nurtured her; he developed her; he prospered her; he sent her the truth, prophets and teachers and fathers and evangelists, if you will. But she didn’t bear him any fruit.

But anyway, that’s what we have here. We have this fruit-bearing tree planted by the owner of both the vineyard and the tree itself. Now, let’s go secondly: notice it is a fruitless tree. A fruitless tree. In verse 6 again, we’ve already referred to it once, it says, “And he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.” Again, there’s a clear reference here to Israel. God looked to Israel to find true godliness. God looked to Israel to find true righteousness. God looked to Israel to find in their hearts a cherishing love for him and a joying in his law. But he finds none of that fruit. Haggai 2:19, “Is the seed still in the barn?” What does the prophet mean? What he’s saying is this: where’s the fruit? “Israel, I see no fruit. I’ve done all this for you. I own you completely. I’ve done everything proper and necessary for you to grow and flourish and bear fruit and bring me glory and bring me pleasure and it’s like you guys didn’t even get the seed out of the barn. You haven’t even started to plant the plant itself with the seed. You’re so derelict in your responsibility.” He says, “Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on, I will bless you.” So we get a little glimpse of sovereign grace there at the end. “I’m still going to bring a blessing on my people even though, Israel, you failed me completely.”

Now, not only does this apply to Israel this, of course, applies to all mankind. I want you to look at Romans. Would you do that? A familiar text but we need to look at some of these basic theological concepts. Look at Romans 3. Turn there with me. Romans 3 and let’s look at verse 9. Notice how God here lumps all of the Jews, Israel and all of the Gentiles together in this responsibility before him and this statement by him that all are complete failures in bearing true fruit. Verse 9, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all,” that’s Jews and Gentiles, “have turned aside, together they’ve become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving. The poison of asps is under thei lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law,” here it is, Jew and Gentile, “so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.” What is he saying? In every way you’ve borne no good fruit. In every way, shape and fashion. As God looks down on mankind, he takes his favored chosen people, Israel, then he takes all of the Gentile world and sees there is no one who does good, not even one, that every mouth may be shut and all the world become accountable before God. Fruitlessness. No fruit.

This is a picture of total depravity. Whereas in the totality of your being. I have a brand new baby grand-daughter and I want you to know, she’s precious and sweet. She hardly never cries but I want you to know that she came into this world with a heart that is totally depraved. In every aspect of her being, there is no true and genuine joy for God. There is no true and genuine love for God. There is no true and genuine rejoicing or treasuring in God. All, all are accountable for their fruitlessness. All you’ve got to do is give a baby a few years and they’ll grow up and begin proving they have depraved and sinful hearts. Don’t you listen to the shallow, mealy-mouthed, watered-down theology of this present age that tends to bring man up as more worthy and bring God down as if he’s not truly holy and just. If man is not so bad and God is not so holy then why did it take the death of his Son to remedy our sin issue? It took it because we are that sinful. Jesus says here in this parable, there is a man, he owned the land, he owned the vineyard, he owned the tree, he had it planted, he had every right to expect fruit and pleasure from this tree and he did not get any. It was a fruitless tree.

The third thing we see in this parable is that it was a favored tree. Here we see an unusual, very special amount of undeserved favor paid to this tree. I mean, this is costing this vineyard owner money. Any and every vineyard owner who had a tree like this would quickly get rid of it and plant another one that would bear fruit in its place but for some reason, there is no profit-bearing motive here but for some reason there’s an unmerited favor for this tree. Look at verse 7, “And he,” that’s the vineyard owner, “said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’” It has no right to even have a place on the earth anymore. Cut it down.

Look at verse 8, “”And he,” that’s the vineyard keeper, “answered and said to him,” the vineyard owner, “Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer.” We’re not told why but for some reason the vineyard keeper said, “I know there’s no justifiable reason to show any special favor but, sir, if you would just allow me another season to do some extra special work.” I’m sure the vineyard owner could have said, “yes,” but at the end of the season I’d have a tree, if it’s a transplant, it may be ready to bear some fruit and this thing has proven it’s not going to bear any fruit. But the vineyard keeper prevails on the vineyard owner. Even though it has been three years, it’s already had more than enough time to produce. Once again, a reference to Israel. Decade after decade, century after century has passed and God has sent prophet after prophet after prophet, teacher after teacher after teacher, faithful teaching and leading father after father after father to the nation of Israel and she has had radically more than enough time to turn herself to true loyalty, fidelity and fruit-bearing pleasure to God and she fails.

It was past time to cut her down and replace her but there is a vineyard keeper who comes and intercedes and says, “Undoubtedly,” by the context, “yes, you are right. Fully right. This tree should be cut down and destroyed and replaced but if you will just let me have another shot at it.” Why would he have favor on this tree? Look, as far as vineyard keepers go, it doesn’t matter if the tree looks pretty, it needs to produce fruit. Nothing desirable about this tree. Nothing whatsoever. Nothing about this tree bringing this vineyard owner pleasure. It was a burden and a drudgery and a financial drain to him. But the vineyard keeper says, “Sir, if you’ll just hold back for one more season I’ll do something special. I’m going to dig around the roots. We’ve tried trimming the leaves up. We’ve tried pruning the limbs. We’ve applied insecticide to the trunk. None of that external stuff has done this fig tree any good but if you’ll let me, I’m a special vineyard keeper. If you’ll let me, I want to get down to the root of this tree’s problem. If you’ll let me dig around the roots, put in some fertilizer, let’s see what might happen here.”

Well, the vineyard keeper is a picture of Christ. Christ is the vineyard keeper and Christ is saying that all past attempts of religion and ritual in the Judaistic system of religion was nothing but addressing the leaves, the limbs and the trunk but Christ, the all-wise vineyard keeper is going to go to the very heart of the problem: the roots. The very nature of this tree is going to have to be addressed and I want to tell you something: Christ and Christ alone can change the problem. Everything else is just fashioning the leaves. Everything else is just a little pruning of the limbs. Everything else is just a redecorating of the trunk. Only Christ can transform the roots and that’s what every man and every woman and every boy and every girl must have to stand right before God: they must have a root transplant in their lives. I mean, you can labor on the leaves, you can trim the twigs, you can cut back the limbs, you can support the trunk but all of that is of no avail if the roots are bad.

As you know, I enjoy getting on my tractor and mowing stuff down. It’s amazing what I can run over with my bush hog. Right now, the blade on my bush hog looks like a safety pin from running over stuff I should not have been running over. Literally, it does. But, you know, I’ve found when I mow some of that stuff down and sometimes I run over a sapling this big around and just chop it up and I’ll go back over it until I have crunched up the leaves, the limbs, the trunk. I mean, it’s gone. But if it’s warm weather, I can wait 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 weeks and go back out there and do you know, from that old blasted stump, there’ll be little suckers sticking up everywhere we call them. There was one trunk and now there’s 12-15 new ones coming up. Why? Why after all that I did? I tore up expensive equipment mowing this stuff down and I go back a few weeks later and it’s multiplying on me. Why? Because I didn’t address the roots. They’re still there.

You see, in this tree, in this parable, had a real root issue. Psalm 51:6, “Behold you desire truth,” now listen, “in the innermost being.” God says, “I desire you to be right in the innermost part of your being, your roots.” “And in the hidden part you will make me no wisdom.” John 7:38, “He who believes in me as the scripture says from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” Listen to me: you can paste onto your life all the cosmetics of every ordinance, every sacrament, every ritual religion can possibly give you, you can tag on in the energy of your fallen, depraved humanity good ethics, good morals, good behavior and fool most people but you can’t change your heart. You can’t change your root problem. Only the all-wise vineyard keeper, Jesus, can do that.

So, in summary, this vineyard keeper came to the vineyard owner about this fruitless tree and he said, “Sir, if you would just hold back your wrath for one more season. If you’ll let me, I’m going to address the root problem,” and then he says, “I’m going to put fertilizer on it.” That’s a unique thing there and I don’t want to go too far on the analogy here but I just think I have to. John 14:16 and John 14:26, Jesus said, “I’m going to give you another helper and he will be with you forever. The helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send to you in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” I think Jesus is in effect, when he tells the vineyard owner and he puts himself in this parable, he’s the vineyard keeper, and he says, “I’m going to go address the root problem and I’m going to put in fertilizer.” I believe that’s a powerful picture of the new birth, the transformed heart and the Holy Spirit coming in and bringing new power. That’s what fertilizer does, it brings new energy, new nutrient. But this isn’t just any fertilizer. This just didn’t come down from the heavens when it rained. The vineyard keeper came, opened up the root ball and applied the fertilizer. It’s a picture of the ministry of Christ in salvation.

Lastly, not only was this a fruit-bearing tree though it had failed miserably but secondly, it was a fruitless tree. Not only was it a favored tree because although it had done nothing to deserve another chance, the vineyard keeper said, “Let me do some special work on it.” Lastly, this is a tree that has a fixed probation. It’s a tree that has a fixed probation. You know what probation is. If you get in trouble and break the law and commit some crimes, often one of the approaches is that there are certain penalties and the court puts you on probation. It means you have a season of trial. You’re going to be watched for a while and you’ve got to do certain things in keeping with this probation: you’ve got to perform certain deeds; do certain things; stay away from certain places. There are all kinds of conditions. I mean, you’re on trial and you’re going to be watched for this season of probation and if you fail, then the full weight of the law and the law’s penalties are going to come against you. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen here.

Look at it, if you will, in verse 9. The vineyard keeper said, “Give me another season with it. I’m going to do something special.” Verse 9, “And if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.” Now, if you will, I think it’s proper to take Jesus from the image of a vineyard keeper, now he becomes a probation officer. He said, “Let’s give it one more year to test it. It’s on trial, watch it. After I’ve given it special favor, we’ll give it just a little more time and see what it does.” You see, Jesus is the final Judge of all things. In John 5:22, the Bible says, Jesus speaking, “For not even the Father judges anyone but he has given all judgment to the Son.”

So, Jesus sets this big probation period and it is not going to be offered. There’s quite a firmness in the vineyard keeper’s words back to the vineyard owner. Up in verse 8, the vineyard keeper is so benevolent and kind and gracious and is giving unmerited favor toward this tree but in verse 9, it’s like he says, “But, sir, I fully agree with justice. After this last chance, after this special favor, if there is still no repentance and true fruitfulness, then I’m with you 110%, cut it down. Cut it down.” I get so grieved with what I see in pulpits being taught by so-called theologians, where they so water down the person of Christ to make him more favorable to wicked men. I want to tell you, Jesus gives his life and more that you might be saved but if you pass up that favor, Jesus with righteous joy, will crush you in judgment. Did you hear that? It is righteous and joyous for Jesus to save because he paid for your judgment on the cross. If you do not take the favor God gives you through Jesus Christ and his merit on the cross, then it is righteous and just for you to deserve the eternal penalty of your sin. And Jesus administers both.

So, if there is not fruit in keeping with godliness, if that doesn’t come out, then the tree is going to be destroyed. But I think there’s a note here we need to make: it’s good to understand that this tree is already under probation. This tree is already in trouble. It’s not like we’re starting off brand new again and the ground is full nutrient and we’ll just see how it goes. Oh no, no, no, no. Three years it’s already failed. Three years it’s already disappointing. It fully deserves to be cut down. I mean, the fact that there’s another chance doesn’t mean that, “Oh, we’re starting over again.” Absolutely not. I mean, the clock is ticking. It’s 11 o’clock already. Twelve o’clock is coming. Jesus just comes at the eleventh hour and says, “One more try.” Jesus said in John 3:17, “If you’ve not believed in me, you are condemned already.” You’re just awaiting the verdict to be pronounced. Young persons sitting here under my voice, you’re condemned already. Sir, you’re condemned already, right now. Yes, there’s been a gracious unmerited favor cast toward you in the person of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and offers for all who will repent and believe to come unto him but you’re under condemnation right now and so is this tree. The verdict to destroy it is done. The vineyard keeper just said, “Give me one more year before you do.”

Now, again, who does this apply to? I think it clearly applies to the nation of Israel. Israel had the fathers. Israel had the prophets. Israel had the Scriptures. Israel had the ordinances. Israel had the temple. And yet she did not bear fruit. Then Israel is sent the very Son of God from heaven and she crucified him. So, in 70 AD, Titus of Rome marches through Jerusalem and destroys everything. That’s a partial fulfillment of this prophecy. Then in Acts, if you will, 18:6, “But when they resisted and blasphemed,” this is the Jews responding to the ministry of Paul, “he shook out his garments and said to them, Your blood be on your own hands. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” There is a point when God said, “Okay, I’m through fooling with you. You’ve borne me no fruit. I gave you special favor. I’m turning my apostolic gospel ministry away from Israel and to the Gentile world.” Is it not that way still to this day? God’s church has prospered not among the Jews but among Gentiles. Another partial fulfillment of this prophecy.

But there is an application to all of us. Now, here’s what you’re hearing in many modern Baptist and evangelical churches. It’s a very man-centered message so it’s not a true gospel message at all. Here’s what it is: I have my own vineyard, I own the ground, I am my own tree and I want to have a fruitful life that gives me pleasure and gives me profit and Jesus comes to help me out in doing this. That’s the man-centered view. Listen: it’s not your vineyard. The earth is God’s vineyard. You are not your own god. God formed you in your mother’s womb. You are God’s tree. And God has every right and all authority and absolute justly desires, listen, and demands from you: bear fruit that reflects of me and gives me pleasure or the day is coming when you will perish.

Bear fruit or perish. That’s Jesus’ message here. Bear fruit or perish. There is a fixed time of probation. The vineyard keeper said, “Give it one more season and then let’s cut it down.” You’re in the “one more season.” You’re breathing, you’re taking up space on God’s earth and in unmerited favor, he’s given you another season. But there’s a fixed time when he’s going to cut you down and destroy you if you’re not bearing the fruit. “Wait a minute, Pastor, I thought this thing was salvation by grace through faith.” Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Do you realize today as I speak this morning, there are millions and millions of evangelical and Baptist people who believe that because when they were in vacation Bible school they repeated a prayer that somehow they’re getting into heaven? Now, they may be getting into heaven but it’s not because they repeated a prayer. It’s because they had a heart change that was reflected by perhaps a prayer that came out of their lives but their lives also have begun to bear fruit which proves the authenticity of the conversion. There are millions of those who at a youth camp somewhere got very emotionally stirred and walked to the front or did something but the fruit of their life isn’t there. Jesus did not say at the end of this parable, “If you prayed a prayer you’re going to heaven.” He did not say, “If you walked to the front, you’re going to make it into heaven.” He said, “If there’s not fruit, cut it down. Cut it down.”

Now, by all means, don’t stop urging men to call on the Lord in prayer to be saved. Amen? Don’t stop doing that but you must stop guaranteeing people that if they prayed that prayer, that’s all that they need to do to be assured of salvation. As a matter of fact, even asking people to pray a prayer is too much as far as a work because no work can save you. But if the work of the new birth has happened, the lifestyle should show an evidence of ongoing fruitfulness.

Some of you think today your greatest need is financial. There are some of you here that would say, “I’m just in ruins. I’m just in such dire straits financially. I’m headed toward bankruptcy. If I just could fix my finances.” Oh sir, listen, that’s a far, far stretch from your most serious need. Some of you would say this morning, “My great need is family. So many of my family don’t do right and there’s rebellion and there’s just wickedness and my heart is broken and I’m losing my marriage or I lost my marriage. If just my family life, in my marriage, that’s my greatest need.” Oh, listen to me ma’am, that’s far, far, far, away from your greatest need. Some of you would say, “Well, my greatest need is health. I’m just so tired and so broken down and there’s so much pain and I can’t function and I’m so weary. If I just had better health.” Listen to me: having good health is a far, far distance from your greatest need. Your greatest need is to know there’s been a transformation in me. Jesus called it being born again. There’s been a change in my heart. The Apostle Paul called it being quickened from the dead and I can see, fadingly, falteringly, not perfectly but I can see a new pattern of fruit-bearing in my life that’s pleasing to God and wrought by God and honored with God and in keeping with the word of God. And Jesus said, “If you see that kind of fruit, you can have some good assurance. But if there’s not fruit, let’s cut it down and throw it in the fire and plant a good tree in its place.”

Let me give you two pillars. You might just say two massive limbs on the tree of true fruit-bearing for the child of God. Are you ready? This isn’t hard. This isn’t hard. Two things that you say, “Those two things, I should begin to see resonating in my heart. Those are two things that I should begin to see in my life.” Two aspects: 1. a love for Christ and sound doctrine. Just something begins to work in you to when you hear the true biblical preaching of Christ, you’re drawn to it. You’re finding a deeper joy in it. Something just comes alive in you about it and conversely, when you hear false preaching of this more worldly humanized Jesus, it grieves you, it even brings anger in your heart. A love for Christ and sound doctrine.

If I could just add a footnote on the phrase “sound doctrine,” listen to me: sound doctrine always leaves you more humbled and God more exalted. Did you hear me? Sound doctrine always leaves you more humbled but God more exalted. If you go to happy, happy feel good church and you feel great and God’s just kind of your buddy to help you, you just heard false doctrine. Sound doctrine always leaves that man more humbled and Christ and God more exalted. That doesn’t mean you’re miserable. We’re weird creatures. Jesus said that blessed are those who mourn. Amen? There’s a mourning about what I see that I am and when I see who he is, but there’s a joy in knowing that he provided through his Son that I can be viewed as his son is. A love for Christ and sound doctrine.

Number 2: a love for the true church. A love for the true church. Now, why do I say it that way? Because there’s a lot of false church out there. It’s a little bit like going to a University of Alabama celebration party and we’re all just fired up about our team and our school and our coach, fired up about it, but doggone, about 60% of those folks are really Auburn fans. They just put on Alabama clothing and you don’t fellowship with them long until you realize, you know, they’re saying the right stuff but something ain’t right because their blood don’t boil like mine does about the Crimson Tide. I mean, I tell you, bless God, I’m like, “Wooo!” And they’re just kind of, “Well, that’s pretty good.” Something is wrong with these guys. They’ve got the clothes on but they don’t have the heart.

That’s the way it is in today’s world. As a matter of fact, that’s the way it was 2,000 years ago. These folks were, “Wooo, Jesus! We love Jesus.” But Jesus knew they didn’t really love the real Jesus. They loved what they wanted Jesus to be for them, they didn’t love Jesus as who he really was, sent from the Father. That’s why the closer he gets to the cross, the fewer followers he has. As he unveils more and more of what he truly is, more and more of them fall off but they all call themselves Jesus’ followers but that’s the way it is in this world. And you’ll find in this world if you’re really one of God’s fruit-bearing, genuine articles, you’ll find there’s just a lot of so-called church-going Christians that you just don’t…something ain’t right. It sounds right and it feels right but the more I’m around them, something isn’t connecting. I’m saying this because I went through years of this as a young Christian thinking that I was messed up and there can be some truth to that but I thought, “Why don’t I feel this oneness and this love and this unity,” and I had to learn another principle, that they’ll be many false sons in the churches pail but your love for true Christians soars when you’re around them. It’s special. It’s beautiful. It’s wonderful. And you’re drawn to it.

That’s why we’re seeing these church plants happen here and there and yonder. It’s folks who are saying and honestly I appreciate their humility. They’re not arrogant, they’re just saying, “We’re not finding anything that’s focused on Christ and sound doctrine and real spiritual fellowship and we long for that.” That’s a good sign. That’s a good mark. That’s a kind of fruit. Listen: all the other multi-faceted fruits of Christianity grows out of those two main trunk lines of love for Christ and sound doctrine and love for other true Christians. How are you doing? As Jesus gives the sobering warning today again? The wrath of God is on you but there’s a holding back for a season of favor you don’t deserve. If God consumed every unsaved person on earth immediately, today, right now and cast all of them into eternal wrath, righteousness would rejoice. It’s the right and good thing to do. The fact that there is a pushing aside of wrath for a season, a holding back of wrath for a season and contemporary favor and an offer is given, it’s an undeserved privilege. That’s what this parable is showing us. Three years it had been unfruitful. It ought to have been cut down but the vine keeper, in a love we don’t deserve, in love we can’t understand, in love we can’t comprehend said, “Just hold back a little longer and let me do something no one’s done with it. Let me change the roots, put in the fertilizer, the Holy Spirit, and see if we can’t get some real fruit finally out of all these beings created, Father, in your own image.” And you know what? Are you hearing me? God has a remnant around the world, a few faithful gospel preachers who are preaching it right and people are being born again.

The roots are being changed. The fertilizer, the Holy Spirit, is being put in. Far from perfect but they begin to bear fruit. They begin to find themselves loving God and sound doctrine. They begin to find themselves loving other Christians. It’s just the neatest thing they’ve ever discovered. And the Father is please, the vineyard owner. And the Son is pleased, the vineyard keeper. And then when we all get to heaven one day, those who are part of the true family of God, true fruit-bearers…by the way, if church life doesn’t mean much to you, you’re going straight to hell. Did you hear me? You cannot just have this light view of the body of Christ if it’s at all solid. Now, if it’s a typical country club, happy church full of lost people I understand that. I mean, but if a church is striving to be right and true to God and something in you doesn’t feel like I want to be a part of that, I want to help that, I want to serve there, I want to sacrifice there, I want to advance there, you are missing the fertilizer and the new roots.

Are you understanding what I’m saying this morning? Jesus said, “There’s been a favor extended far, far, far beyond what any deserve and there’s a fixed time when that’s shut off and those who haven’t shown the fruit of loving God and sound doctrine and loving the church, will perish.” That’s the way he leaves those people. How do you think they felt as Jesus said that and the next thing they see is what you see of me? They have no idea what he’s going to say next or where he’s going to show up next because he’s not a tame lion. He’s just a lion. Do you know him? No, no, no. Is the fruit there? Is the fruit there?

I’ll be honest, 20 minutes before I came out to preach, I was deeply grieved. Do you know how many millions are going to hell because somebody told them, “If you’ll jump through this hoop,” it’s nothing but silly, ungodly, unbiblical superstition but I can tell you this: if you go to hell under this ministry, you’ve been taught the truth. You’ve been taught the truth. But that doesn’t give me any joy. Oh God, would it be, that no one could sit under this ministry for a season and still miss heaven. Oh God, may it be.

Let’s bow together.