A Patient Grace “Give it More Time.”

Introduction

We need to be give them another year.

Luke 13:2-3 (NKJV) 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all [other] Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Jesus teaches to repent or perish. What does it mean to repent? Means turn around.  You lived on way before repenting and another way after.

1 – Repentance is a lifestyle

in the same way that faith is a lifestyle. Positively turning to Christ. Sanctification is not a one time action and neither is repentance.

2 – God is patient

although this ultimatum stands God is patient. ἄφες – aphiēmi “let alone”

The parable ends open ended. Jesus is the vinedresser. He is the one who says “give them another year”

Our God is merciful, gracious, and longsuffering towards us.

3 – Gods patience with us allows us to be patient to others.

We measure success differently than God does.  1 Corinth 13 when you see love replace with Christ or God. God is okay with slow moving grace. Pray against our own hearts getting hard and thinking we deserve salvation.

Its not easy but we have to be a give them another year kind of people because Christ is patient to us.

Repent and turn to Christ. Believe in the Lord and you will be saved.

Luke 13:6-9 (NKJV) 6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 “Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize [it.] 9 ‘And if it bears fruit, [well.] But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”