(8)  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 

Luke 19:8

Explanation:

Zacchaeus responds in a way that we must emulate here.  How so?

1.  He calls him Lord.  He acknowledges Jesus as authoritative.  He believes that how He is about to respond is in keeping with what Jesus would desire and even demand.

2. He repents.  Repentance is a change in mind.  He used to see people as a means to enrich himself through taking advantage of them.  Now he sees his role as being a blessing to people through his prosperity. 

3. He brings forth fruit in keeping with repentance.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  Not only does his thinking change, but His behavior does as well.  He divests himself of a part of his riches in helping those in need and doing what he can to restore the ones he took advantage of in his life. 

Application:

These three are sequential.  Once he acknowledges Jesus as Lord, He takes on Jesus’ perspective.  When he does the fruit of his hands in works follows the change of mind and heart in repentance.

The same should be true with us.  If we say that we have repented, there should be fruit in keeping with that repentance.  Good works always follows faith.

(8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

We are not saved by good works, but we are saved unto good works. 

(18)  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:18

If we have faith, and there has been repentance, there will be fruit in our lives in keeping with that repentance.

Response:

Does your fruit show that there is a good root?