The Production of Fruit

It is natural for a tree to produce fruit. I am convinced this is one reason God uses this analogy to describe a Christian’s good works (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Titus 2:11-14). The fruit is the natural product of the tree. You do not get lemon trees from orange  trees by hanging oranges on them. Therefore, growth in Christ is more like gardening than construction. In gardening the growth comes from the life in the plant. No amount of gardening can make a dead plant grow. But it is the job of the gardener to give the plant the right environment in which to grow and to protect it from things that hinder growth.

Now it is clear from Scripture that salvation is by grace through faith (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5), apart from anything we can do to earn it (Galatians 2:21; Titus 3:5,6; Romans 11:6). But the result of this is God’s power working in us to change us (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 1:3; Colossians 1:29). We have become, by grace, the kind of tree that produces good fruit. But we have a choice whether to cultivate or resist God’s work in us (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; Romans 16:12-14). Also, there exist things that oppose  this work (Galatians 5:17; 1 John 2:15-17; Ephesians 6:10-13). Therefore, growth in Christ is a process that takes place over time and requires our effort (Philippians 3:12-16; Hebrews 12:1,2; 1 Timothy 4:7,8). We need to remember that, as in the garden, the real power is not from us, but is given to us (John 15:5; Romans 8:3,4; 2 Corinthians 3:5,6). But if we nurture it, it will produce the qualities of real obedience in our lives (Galatians 5:22.23; 2 Peter 1:4-11; Colossians 3:10-17). However, we need to do so trusting in God’s power and not in our own ability (Psalms 127:1,2; Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 40:31). 

And this fruit will be an evidence to others that we are followers of Christ (Matthew 7:15-23; 13:18-23; James 2:14-26). The issue is not our working to be saved, but salvation resulting in a transformation of our life. Good works show others that God is at work in us. And good works are the natural result of real faith in Christ. Where, then, do we draw the line? Do we conclude someone is not a Christian if they do not live a totally spotless life? In this, I think it is helpful to look at the example of Lot. Lot in the Old Testament did some clearly  sinful things (Genesis 13:5-13; 19:1-38). But Peter calls him a just man, meaning he was saved (2 Peter 2:7,8). Peter also says that Lot was tormented inside over the sin he observed in Sodom. Lot could make sinful choices, but he could not be at home in sin. But we need to recognize that salvation has not set us free to live in sin, but to serve Christ (Galatians 5:13,14; Romans 6:15-18; 12:1,2).    

Carnality in Perspective

The Corinthians have a reputation. They have become almost synonymous with carnality. Yet it is interesting how they are described at the beginning of 1 Corinthians. They are described as saints, people not lacking in any gift, and objects of God’s faithfulness (1 Corinthians 1:1-9). This is said in spite of their behavior as chronicled in the rest of the book. We see divisions, lawsuits, sexual immorality, and fighting over things of a marginal nature. Yet it is despite these things that the Corinthians are so described. Now I do not want to deny that God is at work in us to change our behavior patterns (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:10). Also, it is clear Paul wants to encourage the Corinthians to grow up spiritually so that they might not continue behaving as they have been (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 5:6-8; 6:19,20). But that does not change how Paul addresses them. 

 

To see the basis for this, we have to start with the fact that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5; Philippians 3:9), based on what Christ has done (Colossians 2:13,14; 1 Peter 2:24,25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). But salvation should not be seen as a door we enter, with everything after that based on our performance. Rather, we always stand before God on the basis of grace (Romans 8:31-39; 5:1,2; Galatians 5:1). Therefore, we are to regard ourselves as completely supplied in Him with what we need to live for Him (Colossians 2:10; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 3:5,6). Nor do we approach Him with fear, but with confidence that we are His children (Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:15-18; Hebrews 4:16).

Why then should we live for God, rather than simply indulging our own desires? The answer is because we love God in response to what He has done for us (1 John 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Romans 12:1). In this, it is helpful to remember a person cannot scam God. This is because God knows the heart (Romans 2:16; 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 21:2). The individual with genuine faith will not simply continue on in their old manner of life (James 2:14-26; 2 Peter 2:7,8; 1:9). But the new life is not a life of drudgery, but a celebration of what God has done for us (Romans 14:17; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Philippians 4:4). Because who we are in Christ does not depend on what we do, but on what He has done.

God Is For Us

Sometimes, as Christians, we can feel like we are behind the eight ball. We can have money problems, career problems, marital problems, and all kinds of other problems. We also can think in terms of our corporate problems as the church. We are ridiculed and often despised by the world. But we need to remember that God is for us (Romans 8:34,35; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 5:4). This does not mean it will always be easy; in fact, we are told we will have problems (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 1 Peter 4:12,13). But if we are still going to go through troubles, in what way is God with us? The answer is that God works our problems together to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-30; 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Further, God intends to bring us through these struggles to stand before Him in glory (2 Corinthians 4;17,18; Romans 8:18-25; 1 Peter 5:9-10). But sometimes if we are not careful, we can start to wonder if God has deserted us or if He is even real. But we need to focus on the big picture: who God is and what He has done for us. In this, it helps to focus on the Cross and what God has done there to take away our sins (Romans 5:6-8; Colossians 2:13.14; 1 Peter 2:24,25). But there can be a deeper problem.  

There is a danger of our seeing what happens in our life as being based on our performance. We feel that if we work hard and try to do the right thing, God will reward us with a trouble-free life. But does this stack up Scripturally? Quite often it is those obey God who go through difficult lives: for example, Job, Jeremiah, the apostle Paul, and, of course, the Lord Jesus Himself. Now the Scripture does say that God can discipline us for our disobedience (Hebrews 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 11:29-32), but when God does this He acts as a Father, to restore us not to discard us. But Scripture repeatedly rebukes the idea that all tribulation is the result of sin (Job 1:8; John 9:1-3; Hebrews 11:35-40). Rather, genuine believers are to understand that they are righteous in God’s sight based on what Christ has done (Romans 8:33,34; Philippians 3:9; John 3:18) and that He will bring us through to the end (Romans 8:29,30; Philippians 1:6; Jude 24,25). Nor should we focus on our own inadequacies . For God has promised to make us adequate, not necessarily to accomplish what we want, but what He wants (2 Corinthians 3:5,6; Colossians 1:28,29; Philippians 4:13). For it is only as we get the broader perspective of trusting in God for what He is doing in our lives, rather than focusing on how our lives have fallen short of our expectations, that we can trust Him--that He is for us in spite of circumstances.