Both the Old and New Testaments have a lot to say about fruit and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ certainly pulled no punches when discussing fruit. Here are a few examples:
Matt 3:8-10 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. This was spoken by John the Baptist and repeated later by Christ.
Matt 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. This was spoken by our Savior.
John 15:1-6 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Scripture can't get any plainer than this. Followers of Christ will produce good fruit and it is not optional. In my two previous posts on 1 Cor 6:9-10 and Gal 5:19-21, I hope it has become apparent that continual practicing of sin in an unrepentant manner is not an acceptable performance of those who will be inheriting the kingdom of God. What kind of fruit are you producing and does it really matter? What should this fruit look like? Let me describe it as other-worldly if you will. It is not anything like what is happening in most of the lives of Americans today, even professing Christians. We have bought in to the world system when the Bible reminds us that we are just passing through and if we love the world, God is not Lord and Savior. Spend a little time with me as I comment and define what the "fruit" of the Holy Spirit should look like in the believers' lives. I hope you realize that these comments are directed at me as well as you. I struggle daily with the flesh and indulge in my favorite sins way too much! Here we go.
Gal 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
- Love - this is agape love as described in John 15:13. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. More than likely this type of sacrifice will not be required of us but this shows the limits of our love - unlimited, if you will. John MacArthur states in his commentary "A person who thinks his love is great enough to sacrifice his love for fellow believers but who fails to help them when they have less extreme needs is simply fooling himself. ....having a habitually unloving spirit toward fellow Christians is reason for a person to question his salvation". The thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians has a lot to say about this subject. We should all think about what this chapter says moment by moment. Remember that love is not an option, but a command. It is an action, not simply an emotion. I fear that in todays' society, we too often confuse love with lust.
- Joy - this word is used over 70 times in the New Testament. Again, sometimes we confuse joy and happiness when joy goes much deeper than being happy. Again, MacArthur describes it well. "Joy is the deep-down sense of well-being that abides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and the Lord". In James, we read: James 1:2-3 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. It doesn't say that we will necessarily be happy when going through various trials, but our joy will see us through if we are genuinely walking with God.
- Peace - Again, this fruit of the Spirit has very little, if any, relationship to circumstances. Paul speaks to this in Phil 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. We are not talking about peace as the absence of war but as the super presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our world may be crumbling but our Savior still provides peace and this must be exhibited to others. They should be astonished by our peacefulness in the midst of our agony, thereby, knowing that something supernatural is going on. This is God's peace given to his elect.
- Patience - would like to skip this one due to the high level of conviction that covers me whenever I think of how short of the goal I fall and how much rotten fruit I produce in this area. Our patience must be shown as we endure injuries inflicted by others. This patience must be shown with tolerance and long-suffering amidst a calm willingness and acceptance of the circumstances. As mentioned, this fruit is lacking in me and, perhaps, many others. Ever heard of "Road Rage"? Only one small example that easily comes to mind when I think of patience. Patience ties directly to our salvation as Paul writes in Rom 2:6-8 He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
- Kindness - is a tender concern for others and may include giving up our rights. This is not politically correct and as Americans, it has been drilled into us for decades by the ACLU and others that "we have our rights". Kindness was best exhibited by our Savior and given to us by the Holy Spirit. Here are a couple of examples from the Old Testament. Zech 7:8-9 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, Prov 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
- Goodness - is to be desired and manifested to those with whom we come in contact. It has to do with moral and spiritual excellence that is know by its sweetness and active kindness. Again the Bible explains itself better than any words of mine. Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Ps 27:13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Rom 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. Like all of the other fruit, our goodness must be applied on a daily basis.
- Faithfulness - always reminds me of the song "Great is thy Faithfulness". God is faithful even when we aren't. Rom 3:3-4 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar. This part of the fruit of the Spirit pertains to loyalty and trustworthiness. God in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, has shown us what faithfulness should look like and we are to emulate our Savior. Rev 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, Rev 2:10 Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Gentleness - might be better translated as meekness. In fact, other translations use "meekness", "humility", "gentle behavior". In the volume "Synonyms of the New Testament" by R. C. Trench, when speaking about the Greek word prautes, he writes: "Gentleness does not consist in a person's outward behavior only; nor yet in his relations to his fellow-men; as little in his mere natural disposition. Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. MacArthur states "In the New Testament prautes is used to describe three attitudes: submissiveness to the will of God, teachableness, and consideration of others". This characteristic as well as the following one is not used to describe God in the Old Testament as the other seven are. Col 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Eph 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- Self-control - finally, got to one that I've conquered! NOT! This refers to constraining passions and appetites (not just food which is my great struggle). 1 Cor 9:25-27 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. Paul is not just talking about athletes so us couch-potatoes don't get off the hook. We all need more self-control. Don't you love the way Peter seems to say AMEN to what Paul has just written. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit inspired both of these writers to say almost the same thing. 2 Peter 1:5-11 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Contrast this to the passages in 1 Cor 6:9-10 and Gal 5:19-21 which identified the behavior that would prevent persons from entering the kingdom of God. In this last passage, provision has been made for entrance into the eternal kingdom for those who practice these qualities that lead to godliness.
In closing, Paul reminds us that no one would make laws against these character traits and stresses that if we live by the Spirit, we must walk by the Spirit. What kind of fruit are you producing or are you producing any fruit at all? Contact me if you have comments or need help. I try to be a good listener but you have to talk louder as I get older................. Sorry for the length but scripture is to be shared and never returns without accomplishing God's purpose.
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