“The Axe At the Root of the Tree . . . Cut It Down!”
Introduction. God began preparing the human race for the coming of His Son shortly after the creation as a promise to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:15). God continued adding details as He developed His “eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:8-11).
God’s Wonderful Promise of a Messiah. When God called Abraham and started the nation of Israel, He promised through his seed to bless all nations (Gen. 12:1-3). Moses revealed the Messiah would be another lawgiver like him (Deut. 18:15-18). David, after God’s own heart, was promised his seed would be a king who would reign forever. Long after Melchizedek ministered to Abraham, God swore an oath He would make His Messiah both king and priest on His throne (Ps. 110; Heb. 7). Isaiah revealed Him as a servant who would suffer and die for our sins (Isa. 53).
The Messenger Sent to Prepare. His coming and work were so important God promised to send someone to prepare people for Him. I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.” “I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming” (Mal. 3:1; 4:5). I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare your way before you.’” (Lk. 7:26-27 Isa. 40:3-5). This was fulfilled by John the Baptist. His success was great! Matthew said “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him” (3:5-6). Luke stated “the multitudes came out to be baptized by him.”
A Parable of Repentance and Fruit. John’s preparation for Jesus consisted of warning them of “the wrath to come” and demanding “fruits worthy of repentance.” These “fruits” were necessary to escape that “wrath.” John gave a parable for all to remember: “the axe is already laid at the root of the trees” and “every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Lk. 3:7-9). This axe is still there. Death will come suddenly and without warning and if there are no “fruits worthy of repentance” we will “die in our sins” (Lk. 13:3) and face the “wrath to come.”
Yet many trusted their relationship to Abraham as a class would nullify any need for personal consecration or repentance. As long as they believed this, John’s words fell on deaf ears. John removed any hope that a connection to Abraham could help them. “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”
We make a grave error if we think John minimized the relationship to Abraham. They were God’s people because of an oath sworn to Abraham. John’s point was subtler. Just as all fruit bearing trees are blest, but only as each produces fruit, so also all of Abraham’s seed are blest, but only as they produce fruit. Paul spoke of this later. “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham” (Rom. 9:6-7).
Christians Must Learn This Same Truth. Everyone “baptized into Christ puts on Christ” and is “Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:27-29). But we have a similar parable and a similar warning about the need for repentance and fruit.
On Jesus’ Final Night, He Used a Vine and Branches. Jesus revealed all disciples are branches. So although connection to the vine is critical, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered.” But what happens after is equally important! “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.” “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:1-8).
Paul Also Warned the Gentiles. At baptism “you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.” (Rom. 6:3-4; 11:17). Yet even in this exalted position Paul warned: “Do not become proud, but fear, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.” (Rom. 11:20-21)
Conclusion. Brethren, we are a branch in both the vine and the olive tree. Like the fig tree, we must bear good fruit. If not, we will be cast forth as a branch, broken off, and cut down. The axe is still at the root of the tree and we are being watched. Each day is a new day and we must bear fruit:
God’s Wonderful Promise of a Messiah. When God called Abraham and started the nation of Israel, He promised through his seed to bless all nations (Gen. 12:1-3). Moses revealed the Messiah would be another lawgiver like him (Deut. 18:15-18). David, after God’s own heart, was promised his seed would be a king who would reign forever. Long after Melchizedek ministered to Abraham, God swore an oath He would make His Messiah both king and priest on His throne (Ps. 110; Heb. 7). Isaiah revealed Him as a servant who would suffer and die for our sins (Isa. 53).
The Messenger Sent to Prepare. His coming and work were so important God promised to send someone to prepare people for Him. I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.” “I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming” (Mal. 3:1; 4:5). I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare your way before you.’” (Lk. 7:26-27 Isa. 40:3-5). This was fulfilled by John the Baptist. His success was great! Matthew said “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him” (3:5-6). Luke stated “the multitudes came out to be baptized by him.”
A Parable of Repentance and Fruit. John’s preparation for Jesus consisted of warning them of “the wrath to come” and demanding “fruits worthy of repentance.” These “fruits” were necessary to escape that “wrath.” John gave a parable for all to remember: “the axe is already laid at the root of the trees” and “every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Lk. 3:7-9). This axe is still there. Death will come suddenly and without warning and if there are no “fruits worthy of repentance” we will “die in our sins” (Lk. 13:3) and face the “wrath to come.”
Yet many trusted their relationship to Abraham as a class would nullify any need for personal consecration or repentance. As long as they believed this, John’s words fell on deaf ears. John removed any hope that a connection to Abraham could help them. “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”
We make a grave error if we think John minimized the relationship to Abraham. They were God’s people because of an oath sworn to Abraham. John’s point was subtler. Just as all fruit bearing trees are blest, but only as each produces fruit, so also all of Abraham’s seed are blest, but only as they produce fruit. Paul spoke of this later. “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham” (Rom. 9:6-7).
Christians Must Learn This Same Truth. Everyone “baptized into Christ puts on Christ” and is “Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:27-29). But we have a similar parable and a similar warning about the need for repentance and fruit.
- “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” 6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. CUT IT DOWN. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can CUT IT DOWN. Lk. 13:5-9
On Jesus’ Final Night, He Used a Vine and Branches. Jesus revealed all disciples are branches. So although connection to the vine is critical, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered.” But what happens after is equally important! “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.” “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:1-8).
Paul Also Warned the Gentiles. At baptism “you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.” (Rom. 6:3-4; 11:17). Yet even in this exalted position Paul warned: “Do not become proud, but fear, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.” (Rom. 11:20-21)
Conclusion. Brethren, we are a branch in both the vine and the olive tree. Like the fig tree, we must bear good fruit. If not, we will be cast forth as a branch, broken off, and cut down. The axe is still at the root of the tree and we are being watched. Each day is a new day and we must bear fruit:
- First, by having fruits of repentance by repenting of every sin, every day, as they occur.
- Second, by studying and learning the Word of God so we can produce the fruit of the Spirit.
- Third, by seeking opportunities to speak to the lost in order to produce fruit for the Lord.