What IS 'Good Fruit' scripturally speaking?
'You will know a tree by its fruit' is a very simple way to tell if something looks good, or if it's God...but what is your perspective of 'Good Fruit'? is it Biblical?
See, a lot of people think of the fruit of the Spirit.
'22But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law' Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)
These are fruits of the Spirit, according to Scripture.
There is another kind of fruit, it's called the fruit of righteousness.
'9 And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight,
10 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin];
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized]' Philipians 1:9-11 (AMP)
The Word for 'righteousness in the greek is 'dikaiosuné'
'1343 dikaiosýnē (from 1349 /díkē, "a judicial verdict") – properly, judicial approval (the verdict of approval); in the NT, the approval of God ("divine approval").'
'1343 /dikaiosýnē ("divine approval") is the regular NT term used for righteousness ("God's judicial approval"). 1343 /dikaiosýnē ("the approval of God") refers to what is deemed right by the Lord (after His examination), i.e. what is approved in His eyes.'
This type of righteousness clearly has to do with judgement, discernment, or evaluation according to the context as well. Judgement within the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:12-16, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 5).
So there are two types of fruits, according to Scripture. the fruit of the Spirit is derived from love, an outward expression of God's compassion and mercy.
The fruit of righteousness is derived from holiness which is an outward expression of righteous character. God's (Christ's) character that comes from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.
You will find elucidation on these two types of 'good fruit' in 1 John 3 (v 1-10).
The Apostle gives 2 imperatives to clearly identify the nature of a child of God.
1. They practice righteousness. The Word used for righteousness is the same word used in Philippians 1:9-11. To distinguish and discern good from evil, according to God's standard.
2. They love their brothers and sisters. This is the imperative of love. So, someone who only preaches on 'love' (i.e 'compassion') is not offering full counsel revelation.
'Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment' John 7:24.
Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees.
We can conclude that bearing good fruit also includes testing and approving what is approved by God, according to His Word (1 John 4:1-6).
This is called testing the spirits. The Bible never says to test people. It never says to test man. It says to test the spirits. It's all spiritual.
This is why a lot of Churchfolk are overly sensitive. They are still conflating the soulish (natural) with the spiritual (supernatural).
The Old Testament confirms this. Only man judges by outward appearances alone. God looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7).
Two types of fruit. Only 1 is really talked about (fruit of the Spirit). This leads to a very lopsided and inaccurate portrayal of Christ's divine nature. I hope it is clear that there are 2 types of 'Good Fruit'.
We can stop labelling Scriptural judgements as 'religious', 'pharisaical' 'critical' 'divisive' or 'judgemental'...because that is religious. We are Biblically permitted to distinguish good from evil. In fact, not being able to do this (accurately) is a sign of immaturity. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
Jesus said that the Sword of the Gospel divides (Luke 12:49-53).
'For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart' Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
I have said all of this to say, 'Good Fruit' is not just a moral outward appearance of something that looks good. It's also something that God approves of in His Word, by His Spirit.
Good fruit is not limited to healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead. (Luke 10:20).
'Good Fruit' can be you operating in your Biblical discernment and acting on it. This is called 'the fruit of righteousness'. It comes out of a deep love and devotion to God, rather than man.
