There is an inherent good that expresses itself naturally from the sincerely repentant heart. That the good that this repentant heart does is the fruit of having seen in its own sinfulness and the actions that arise from it and humbly admit and submit to God’s goodness and righteousness, His mercy and grace.
Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-20 (3:10) (Is 43; 65; Ez 11:19; 18:31; 36:26) John the Baptist and those who would respond to his call. Now that we have repented, “what then must we do?”
A life changed, repented, going a new way, it will act naturally. (Matt 3:8; Luke 3:10-14)
Then, there is a power that makes one truly righteous, that the sincerity of one’s love is even more profound than the repentant heart, and that is the love of the humble and empowered heart that has not only been repentant, but transformed at the humble and gentle hands of Jesus - having been loved, we now love, and we love with a power of the Spirit of Love that has poured into each and every, all, who have received, Jesus.
The humility of Jesus, submitting Himself to a repentant act, and this, the the hands of one of His own (sinful) creatures, was not concerned about how the masses would perceive Him, but in fact, would see it as more important to demonstrate the nature of the Kingdom, and the King of kings, Himself, humility - humble obedience, even at the expense of His reputation as sinless.
Matthew 3:13-17 ; Luke 3:21-22 – and Jesus, came too, to be baptized…
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
There is a love that comes from that power, empowered to love as Jesus loves. That now natural expression of love is Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, in us, working in, on, and through us
Romans 5:1-5 - the humble and submissive heart, loved, now empowered to love, naturally.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Galatians 5:13-14,16,18,22-25 “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ...…22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
This is the season to express these truths, to be what we have been made to me, now, naturally, as we have been “born again” (John 3:1-21) and therefore a “new creations” (Ro 6:4; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10 “creatures” (2Co 5:17), not what we were, but now what and who we are, because of whose we are.
Therefore, we love deeply, with a sincere love, that does good, because have been made good and therefore are good - that is - righteous in Jesus, by His Spirit.
And therefore - can - love, and love, this way, the Way of Jesus.
