Judging Spiritual Fruit
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Matthew 7:18
A fruit tree may be beautiful and decorative and offer refreshing shade in the summer. But its main purpose is to bear fruit, and it is therefore judged by what it produces and not by how it appears. Similarly, anyone who claims to speak for God must be judged by his life, not merely by his appearance or words.
False prophets can sometimes deceive even genuine Christians. If you become careless concerning the Word of God, lazy about prayer, and apathetic about God’s kingdom, it is easy for you to be deceived by a clever, pleasant, smooth–talking teacher who only appears to be orthodox.
Therefore it’s crucial that you remain vigilant and well prepared. Bad fruit from a bad tree is simply not acceptable, no matter how good both may appear. It has to be examined carefully (see Heb 5:14). But for the mature believer, there is true assurance in Jesus’ words, “‘by their fruits you will know them’” (Mat 7:20). There is no need to be deceived if you look closely.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 252). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Man's purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. A fruit tree's purpose is to bear good fruit. Just as a tree which bears bad fruit is a bad tree, a man who does not fulfill his purpose is an inadequate, defective man. Both must be judged by what they produce, not how they appear. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Applications: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5). Make sure that you are bearing the fruit of righteousness and that Christ is in you. Study scripture so that you will know God's commands and obey them. Be conformed to Christ's image by submission to the will of the Lord. Otherwise, you will not be in Christ and "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:6).
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a longing to glorify God and enjoy Him. Pray for a submissive heart, soul, and mind, ready to be conformed to the image of Christ. Pray for continuous self-examination and self-confrontation, to ensure that I remain in Christ and that Christ will remain in me.
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Matthew 7:18
A fruit tree may be beautiful and decorative and offer refreshing shade in the summer. But its main purpose is to bear fruit, and it is therefore judged by what it produces and not by how it appears. Similarly, anyone who claims to speak for God must be judged by his life, not merely by his appearance or words.
False prophets can sometimes deceive even genuine Christians. If you become careless concerning the Word of God, lazy about prayer, and apathetic about God’s kingdom, it is easy for you to be deceived by a clever, pleasant, smooth–talking teacher who only appears to be orthodox.
Therefore it’s crucial that you remain vigilant and well prepared. Bad fruit from a bad tree is simply not acceptable, no matter how good both may appear. It has to be examined carefully (see Heb 5:14). But for the mature believer, there is true assurance in Jesus’ words, “‘by their fruits you will know them’” (Mat 7:20). There is no need to be deceived if you look closely.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 252). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Man's purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. A fruit tree's purpose is to bear good fruit. Just as a tree which bears bad fruit is a bad tree, a man who does not fulfill his purpose is an inadequate, defective man. Both must be judged by what they produce, not how they appear. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Applications: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5). Make sure that you are bearing the fruit of righteousness and that Christ is in you. Study scripture so that you will know God's commands and obey them. Be conformed to Christ's image by submission to the will of the Lord. Otherwise, you will not be in Christ and "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:6).
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a longing to glorify God and enjoy Him. Pray for a submissive heart, soul, and mind, ready to be conformed to the image of Christ. Pray for continuous self-examination and self-confrontation, to ensure that I remain in Christ and that Christ will remain in me.
Listen to this entry
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