In this message, I reflect on John the Baptist’s call to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance,” reminding us that repentance is more than words—it is a life changed by God’s grace. Sin is not something to manage or excuse, but something Christ came to remove, at the cost of His own life. From the cut-down stump of Israel, God brought forth Jesus, the true Branch and the source of new life, who was cut down for us so we could live. Through Baptism and repentance, the Spirit continually calls us out of sin and into a new life that bears good fruit—faith, hope, love, and peace—as we are prepared for Christ’s coming, now and in glory.