The Proof Is: Much Fruit

Friends,
To belong to Christ, we must follow Him –which means we must listen to Him and then obey what we hear. Most people can do this for a while, but it is only if we continue to do this over time, that we show ourselves to be His true disciples. (John 8:31-35 / Luke 8:13,14 & 9:62)

How do we show this? In other words, how do we prove we are Christ’s true disciples? …proving that we belong to Him? …proving that we are citizens of His Kingdom and will inherit it forever? Answer: We bear much fruit. As Jesus says, “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” (John 15:8) But the fruit must be righteous fruit, fruit in keeping with repentance, fruit of the Spirit, fruit that lasts, fruit that furthers the Gospel, fruit that brings men to God, and fruit that glories God.

There is fruit that is the opposite of this. Jesus calls it “bad fruit” in Matt. 7:17 and He says it is produced by bad trees who are those who, though they may look sweet, are inwardly ferocious wolves. (v. 15) These, He says, are those who do not do God’s will and who teach falsehoods (same verse), even in the name of Jesus and while calling Him “Lord” (v. 21,22), but whose end is banishment (v. 23) to the fire. (v. 19)

There are only two kinds of trees (people) –good and bad. There are only two kinds of fruit –righteous and wicked. The bad tree is controlled by the sinful nature while the good tree is controlled by the Spirit. The first reaps destruction, the latter reaps eternal life. (Gal. 6:7-9) Those who teach differently, mock God (v. 7) and deceive themselves and others with empty words (Eph. 5:6), for God’s Word states plainly: “No immoral, impure or greedy person… has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (v. 5 & see also 1 Cor. 6:9,10 & Rev. 21:8)

The person who is expecting to inherit eternal life must be bearing much fruit to God. For if we were truly united with Christ in His death (Rom. 6:3-7), then we have “been freed from sin” (v. 7) and have been “united with Him in His resurrection.” (v. 5) For “The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.” (v. 10) We then, as well, are to “count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God” (see v. 11) so “that we might belong to another… [Christ] in order that we might bear fruit to God.” (7:4) Therefore, if we are alive to God, we will bear fruit to God. However, if we are still following sin, we are bearing fruit for death. “For when we were controlled by the sinful nature… we bore fruit for death.” (v. 5)

The death being spoken of is eternal death, for all humans die physically, even those who belong to Christ. The contrast is eternal death versus eternal life. (Rom. 6:23) If we sin, we are slaves to sin (v. 16), and slavery to sin leads to death (same verse), while obedience leads to righteousness. (same verse) Being a slave to righteousness leads to holiness (v. 19,22) which leads to eternal life. (v. 22) However, we cannot be slaves to both sin and righteousness, for either one or the other is our master. (v. 16,20,22 & see tomorrow’s post…)

The contrast is made, as well, in Rom. 5:21, for it says, “…just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life…” This “death” means eternal death –that is, condemnation (v. 16-18), but now that we have been set free from sin’s rule (6:6,7), grace rules through righteousness –which brings us eternal life. (5:21 again)

Now, does grace have reign, rule, mastery, or control over us if we are not slaves to righteousness? No, it does not. For grace does not have reign and rule through sin! In other words: Being a slave to sin forfeits grace! (See also Heb. 10:26,27) For by being controlled by the sinful nature, a person is bearing fruit for eternal death (Rom. 7:5 again) –not eternal life!

Paul asks that if by being under grace, we can allow ourselves to sin. (6:15) His answer? “By no means!” (same verse) Then he launches into the warning of being a slave to the one we obey “–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness”. (v. 16) “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin [--used to be!--], you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.” (v. 17) Let’s note that the “form of teaching” –meaning “the correct doctrine”, is what is critical to be obeyed. A false teaching won’t save (Gal. 1:6-9), for it is only by the true Gospel that we are saved (1 Cor. 15:2), and this, only if we hold firmly to it. (same verse) “Otherwise, we have believed in vain.” (See same verse)

So, what is the proof that we belong to Christ? It is that we bear much fruit (John 15:8) –the good “fruit of righteousness” (Phil. 1:11) that we are to bear unto God (Rom. 7:4) by being “pure and blameless until the day of Christ.” (Phil. 1:10)

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

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