Bearing Fruit

[LynnAnne]

Bearing Fruit means showing qualities of Christian character…

True Christians are known by their fruit. As are false prophets. In Matthew 8:15-20, Jesus teaches us how to recognize each:

(NIV) Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
​

Just being ’saved’ or being ‘a believer’ is not enough (James 2:19). In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist told the people to ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’. Repentance means to confess and also to change your ways.

http://www.christianforums.com/
In John 15:1-17, Jesus teaches about ‘the vine and the branches’. He instructs us to “go and bear fruit - fruit that will last” (verse 16, NIV). In this teaching we learn that Christ is the vine and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers. But those who become unproductive will be separated from the vine.

Galations 5:22-23 tells us: …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… (NIV)

Galations 6:4 says that we should each test our own actions. Let’s examine our lives and determine what type of fruit we bear. We witness even when we dont realize it.

Questions to ask ourselves:

• Do my actions match my words?
• Do others see my faith in the way that I treat them?
• Do I actively serve and help others?
• Am I helpful, encouraging and loving to those around me?
• Do I feel happy and peaceful?

It would be so beautiful to see all Christians nationwide to become so Spirit-filled and bearing their good fruit in their daily life, and in one accord.. that the whole world would have to look and say “Those people are truly blessed! I want what they have! That is the God that I want in MY life!”

Don’t you agree?

 

[LamorakDesGalis]

Very good, those are great questions to ask ourselves and one another.

 

[Beasley]

Bearing Fruit means showing qualities of Christian character…

True Christians are known by their fruit. As are false prophets. In Matthew 8:15-20, Jesus teaches us how to recognize each:

(NIV) Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
​

Just being ’saved’ or being ‘a believer’ is not enough (James 2:19). In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist told the people to ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’. Repentance means to confess and also to change your ways.

http://www.christianforums.com/
In John 15:1-17, Jesus teaches about ‘the vine and the branches’. He instructs us to “go and bear fruit - fruit that will last” (verse 16, NIV). In this teaching we learn that Christ is the vine and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers. But those who become unproductive will be separated from the vine.

Galations 5:22-23 tells us: …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… (NIV)

Galations 6:4 says that we should each test our own actions. Let’s examine our lives and determine what type of fruit we bear. We witness even when we dont realize it.

Questions to ask ourselves:

• Do my actions match my words?
• Do others see my faith in the way that I treat them?
• Do I actively serve and help others?
• Am I helpful, encouraging and loving to those around me?
• Do I feel happy and peaceful?

It would be so beautiful to see all Christians nationwide to become so Spirit-filled and bearing their good fruit in their daily life, and in one accord.. that the whole world would have to look and say “Those people are truly blessed! I want what they have! That is the God that I want in MY life!”

Don’t you agree?

Whose fruit is it? The fruit of the Spirit. We don't produce these things by human will. They are produced in us by God as we grow in grace and knowledge of Him. 2 Pet 1 is a great passage on how fruit is produced in the believer.

 

[LamorakDesGalis]

Whose fruit is it? The fruit of the Spirit. We don't produce these things by human will. They are produced in us by God as we grow in grace and knowledge of Him. 2 Pet 1 is a great passage on how fruit is produced in the believer.

2 Peter 1:5-8 is one of my favorite passages:

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.

When Peter said "add" he didn't mean to start with the first in the list, then once that is down go on to the second, then the third, etc. What Peter meant was that all these qualities are to be added simultaneously, all at once. This is similar to a singing choir whose different parts come together in harmony.


Lamorak Des Galis

 

[LynnAnne]

I appreciate the Scripture references - what a beautiful explanation of spiritual maturity! I was actually just studying on that this week (Hebrews chapter 6) so that goes along very well with the theme of my studies.

I get very excited about the smallest revelations from the Word... but the more I read (and spend time around seasoned Christians) the more I realize just how big the picture really is.

It's funny how many times I have read certain books of the bible, or even just certain verses - yet here I am at 33 years old reading it with renewed interest and getting so much (more) out of it... as if I am reading it for the very first time!