Bring forth fruits proper for repentance. Matt 3:8
By your producing much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show that you are truly my disciples [true followers]. John 15:8
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. Mat 12:33
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Mat 7:19Are you a true follower of Christ? It is not enough to just say you believe in Jesus. If you believe in Jesus, then you believe enough to do what he commanded: his first and principal command throughout his ministry being, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand;" and the evidence of repentance is to bring forth fruit. Mat 3:8
George Fox was often approached by people pleading that they were saved because they believed in Jesus. Fox's response to them was: where is the evidence of your belief?
Jesus himself said: The evidence of belief of a true follower is to produce much fruit, John 15:8, The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (quietness and confident trust forever), patience (including long suffering, steadfastness, and perseverance), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, (including meekness and humility), and self-control (mastery of sensual appetites, desires, and passions).
This involves ridding yourself of the sinful nature which includes adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lack of restraint, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, arguments, jealousies, rage, selfishness, divisiveness, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelries [partying], and the like.
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh [sinful nature] with its passions and desires [lusts and affections]. Gal 5:19-24
Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Mat 7:19So, you must crucify your sinful nature to produce fruit.
In the Bible Jesus tells us six times we must take up the cross daily and follow (obey) him:
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23So, a true follower is one who has crucified their sinful nature and produced fruit.
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. Mat 12:33.
From the Word of the Lord within: "A good tree is a holy tree."
Bring forth fruit proper for repentance. Mat 3:8
By your producing much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified, and you show that you are truly my disciples [true followers]. John 15:8.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Mat 7:19We are all trees with corrupt fruit to start; but we must be changed to produce good fruit. Christendom would have you simply label the bad tree good, still producing corrupt fruit; but such trees will be cut down and sent to the fire, regardless of the label on them.
Look at what Jesus says in the next verses. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Mat 12:36-37. Notice, he does not make allowances for those who call him Lord, Lord. For we must be righteous as He is righteous, 1 John 3:7. We must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, Mat 5:48. We must be merciful as He is merciful, Luke 6:36. We must become pure as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3. But as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of conduct, 1 Pet 1:15. So that we walk as he walked, 1 John 2:6, and as he is, so are we in this present world. 1 John 4:17. There is no flexibility and no equivocation in any of these stated requirements.
Even Adolph Hitler said Jesus was his Lord and Savior. But he had no fruit. He was not a true follower. The Roman Catholic priests that killed 9,000,000 people for witchcraft in the Middle Ages said they were believers; they were baptized, prayed every day, took communion, and read the scriptures frequently. They were very holy murderers, because they had no fruit - only BIG thorns; they were not true followers.
If we are not seeking to produce fruit, our belief and faith is dead. As James said, faith without works is dead.
Jesus said, I tell you the truth, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. John 8:34.If you are a slave to sin, sin is your master; and Jesus can't be your Lord because you cannot serve two masters.
The principal work of a believer is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is within you and around you, as evidenced by fruit - the fruit of the Spirit - love, peace, joy, goodness, etc.
It is never too late to start producing the fruit of righteousness, making Jesus your true Lord and Master.
Jesus said: The Word of God [the words you hear Jesus speak to you, not the Bible] is the seed. And that [seed] which fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word, [the Living Word, Christ, speaking to you, not the Bible] keep it in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:14-15.People have heard him speak to them, but were distracted from persevering in further listening by the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life; therefore not producing fruit to righteousness. But some did bring forth fruit to perfection with perseverance.
The fruit (effect) of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness is quietness and confident trust forever. Isaiah 32:17
Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he takes away, and every branch that produces fruit, he purges it, so that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-3. (God scourges and disciplines us before we become sons. Heb 12:5-8)Jesus said: Because narrow is the gate and compressed is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Mat 7:14-16. If your teacher and preacher doesn't have this love, gentleness, self-control, kindness, peace, faith, goodness, and joy, you are being misled into the ditch and into captivity by a false prophet; this same test can be applied to false Christians.
Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:17-18.
Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, for his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9
Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Mat 7:19
Therefore by their fruit you shall know them. Mat 7:20
Paul said: No sexually immoral, or impure, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph 5:5.
The works of the flesh are manifests, which are: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lack of restraint, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, arguments, jealousies, rage, selfishness, divisiveness, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelries [partying], and the like; which I warn you before, as I have also told you in times past, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against these there is no law. Those who are Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh [the sinful nature] with its passions and desires [lusts and affections]. Gal 5:19-24
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light [the Spirit] is in all goodness, righteousness and truth;) prove what is acceptable to the Lord. Eph 5:8-10
Jesus said: By your producing of much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified, and you show that you are truly my disciples [true followers]. John 15:8So How do we produce fruit?
Bring forth fruits proper for repentance. Mat 3:7-9 and Jesus said: Abide [dwell, remain] 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. If a man abides in Me, and I in him, he produces much fruit; (love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control.) If a man does not abide in Me, he is thrown out like a branch, which withers; these branches are gathered up, cast into the fire, and are burned. John 15:4-6
Works without God's Love in us count for nothing. To produce fruit, is to possess God's love; then your works are in faith, which is energized and demonstrated by works through love. Gal 5:6. Faith must be evidenced by obedient works of love for God, which is obedience to the promptings of the Spirit of God's direction; such is the love of God. The first works of love for God are: a) to wait in humble silence as you listen and watch for His commands, and b) then to obey His spoken commands that you hear to repent from the sins He reveals in your heart. Notice! Paul agrees with James, who wrote, "faith without works is dead," James 2:20-24. But he who practices truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be shown to have been produced (effected, formed, prompted, energized) through God." John 3:21; such works are the only works that survive passing through the fire, which every man must go through.
Abiding is the key to success as a Christian. Studying the Bible only tells us what we must achieve and avoid. To know the truth, you have to be taught by Jesus himself, personally, about himself. His living words must abide in you. To abide in Christ, is to abide in his Light, in his presence, in his living word, (not read the Bible).
To abide is "to remain." We go to him and quietly sit waiting on him; and then we listen for him to speak to us and watch for what he shows us. When the Light appears, we spend time in the Light. His living Word penetrates us, separating spirit from soul, and the Light cleanses us by the blood of Jesus. As we repent, we are changed and receive more of His Spirit. As we receive more of his Spirit, he abides or remains in us too. We become the possessors of Christ, not just professors.
How do we repent? To start, John the Baptist said:
Think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct. Mat 3:2
Bring forth fruits proper for repentance. Mat 3:8
He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. [Give to the poor, share from your excess with those who are without the necessities of life.] Do not collect any more than you are required to. [Be honest in all your dealings] Don't take money from anyone by force, nor accuse anyone falsely; and be content with your wages. [Don't oppress people or accuse anyone falsely, don't lie, don't want more, don't complain.] Luke 3:10-14
Jesus said: Change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins. Mat 4:17How do we know from what else to repent?
Paul says: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and how to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Titus 2:11-12
Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people; and walk completely in the ways that I command you. Jer 7:23How do we access the grace of God to teach us what to deny?
Jesus says: Whoever comes to Me, and listens to My words [not the Bible - his living voice] and does [practices, obeys] them, .. is like a man ..who built a house securely.. on a rock. Luke 6:47-8. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:19. So we go to him, by being silent and listening; not reading, not talking, not praying, just quietly listening, and thinking his name - which gives us access to the power of God; and when he tells us to do something, like repent, we do it and obey.
We keep quiet to hear him because he said, Do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Mat 6:7-8
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. John 18:37The words we hear are words of eternal life, not the words we read or hear read from of the Bible.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life-giving. John 6:63
Take heed therefore how you hear. For whoever has will be given more; and whoever does not have, from his shall be taken even that which he seems to have. Luke 8:18
Remember therefore what you have you received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Rev 3:2-3Jesus came so he could destroy the devil and his works [sin] in us - if we let him.
For this purpose the Son of God is revealed [in us], that he might destroy [in us] the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8A prominent Early Quaker, William Penn, founder of the Pennsylvania, in his Introduction to George Fox's Journal states:
Repentance from dead works to serve the living God consists of three operations:
- to be shown the sin within you, (your habit, your error, or your desire to sin)
- to realize it and to have a godly sorrow for it, and
- a change for the future, (repentance).
Such repentance leads to justification; that is, forgiveness of past sins through Christ, the sole propitiation; and the sanctification or cleansing of the soul from the defiling nature and habits of sin. This justification is complete by:
- comprehending both justification from the guilt of the sins that are past, as if they had never been committed, through the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus; and
- and the person being made inwardly just through the cleansing and sanctifying power and spirit of Christ revealed in the soul, which is commonly called sanctification.
* A permanent, everlasting perfection, that protects you from ever sinning again.
Here are all the verses in the New Testament that refer to producing fruit to righteousness and holiness.
By your producing of much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified, and you show that you are truly my disciples [true followers]. John 15:8
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22-3
Bring forth fruits proper for repentance. Mat 3:7-9
I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man abides in me, and I in him, he produces much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. John 15:4-6. Abide, spend time waiting on Him, sitting in the Light, and you will produce much fruit. Without His leading and direction, anything we do counts for nothing.
And already the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Mat 3:9-11
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Mat 7:14-16
You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Mat 7:15-17
Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. Mat 7:16-18
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Mat 7:17-19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Mat 7:18-20
Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. Mat 7:19-21
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. Mat 12:32-34
When he saw a fig tree by the way, he came to it and found nothing on it, except leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you from this time forward !" And the fig tree soon withered away. Mat 21:18-20
When the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, so that they might receive the fruits of it. Mat 21:33-35
"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and given to a people who will bring forth fruits of it. Mat 21:42-44. (He is talking to the Jews, who would not produce fruit because they thought they were already righteous. But this applies to us to. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. )
Now no chastening for the present time seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been tried by it. Heb 12:11
Seeing a fig tree in the distance in leaf, he came to see if perhaps he might find any fruit on it. But when he came to it he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the time of figs yet. Mark 11:12-14. (The fig tree is the symbol of Israel.)
Then Jesus said to it, "Let no man eat fruit from you ever again." And his disciples heard it. Mark 11:13-14
And when the season came, he sent a servant to the vine dresser, so that he might receive some of the fruit from the vineyard. Mark 12:1-3
Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. And do not say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. Luke 3:7-9
The axe is already laid at the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Luke 3:8-9
"For a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Luke 6:42-44
For every tree is known by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do men gather grapes from a bramble bush. Luke 6:43-45
Then he told this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the keeper of the vineyard, 'Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down. Why should it cumber [use up] the ground?'... If it bears fruit, fine. But if not, then after that cut it down.' " Luke 13:6-10. Jesus is talking about his three year ministry in Israel, where none, except his disciples, were producing fruit. But it can apply to us too.
Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he takes away, and every branch that produces fruit, he purges it, so that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-3
Abide [dwell, remain] 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. John 15:3-5. You remain in him, by sitting quietly in the Light.
By your producing much fruit, my father is honored and glorified, and show that you are truly my disciples [true followers]. John 15:7-9
You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you, that you should go and produce fruit, and that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:15-16
Therefore, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you may be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, in order that we may bring forth fruit to God. Romans 7:4
For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin, which were aroused by the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death. Rom 7:5
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:19-23
(for the fruit of the light [the Spirit] is in all goodness, and righteousness and truth;) Eph 5:8-10
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Phi 1:10-11
This gospel brings forth fruit in all the world, just as it has done in you since the day that you first heard it, and knew the grace of God in truth. Col 1:5-6
We have not stopped praying for you... That you might walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing in all things, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, Col 1:9-11
Therefore by him, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Heb 13:14-15
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:16-18http://www.hallvworthington.com/whereisthefruit.html
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