What is a Christian fruit?

[momtogirls5]

I have grown up in a church my whole life. I have always heard about a believers fruit. I never really thought much about it. I know how to use it in a sentence. I can use it in context of subject. I can look at fellow believers and say " they show such fruit".
My time in the word this morning has brought me to Matthew 5-7. As I read threw Gods word I find myself asking, what is this fruit? Starting in Matt.7:16 speaking of false prophets, then talking about every good tree, good fruit, bad tree, bad fruit.
I know in Galatians Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit. I have often just thought that that is the fruit mentioned in scripture. But then I wonder how does that fruit apply to a false prophets fruit. If he didn't come with the appearance of the fruit of the spirit then he would be more detectable.
Does the question make sense? I hope so.
Thanks,
Lenni

[Brother Ben]

The concept of fruit bearing is used to explain different facets of the Christian life. Below are several passage (not all,) that refer to fruit bearing.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

This one, in context, is talking about the fruit of false teachers, but can also be used in a secondary sense about false professers. Just as false teacher eventually start turning up some questionable manifestation, so the false professers does too.

-------------

Jhn 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Jhn 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jhn 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.

If a person is indeed abiding in the vine, that is to say, they have been born again through the finished work of Christ on the Cross, then they will produce fruit based on their connection with the True Vine, Jesus. If a person does not ultimately abide in the vine, and cease to produce fruit, then there is some question about their eternal status with God.

Ahh! One may say, so can you lose your salvation??? If you can lose what you have, or claim, then you might. Peters said,

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

...and Paul said,

Hbr 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Hbr 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

Hbr 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

There needs to be a certain fear of God in our practice. We are not saved by works (fruit,) but the are evidences that we are vitally connected to God through Christ and His work of sanctification is working in our life. There is no room for this false teaching that one can say a prayer and lived a totally unchanged life and still have confidence that Heaven is their home. I know everyone has different struggles, this is a reality in Christian life, but never give in to the lie of the devil and say, I give up. Run to Jesus. Hang on the horns of the altar and cry out to God for His grace and mercy.

Jhn 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

------------------

Gal 5:16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


Again, here we see the fruit of the Spirit of God at work in the life of a true believer. I have heard some say that true believers have all of these things present in their life. All I have to say to that is that is not very realistic. This is what we should strive for, yes, but this passage is like a check list. How am I doing? Where do I need to work. Voila! A Heaven-sent check list to go done. God gave us His word to help us along and give us some guidelines.

----------------

Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that winneth souls [is] wise.

Last, but not least, the very important fruit of being a soul winner. I don't care what your creed, name, doctrines, statement of faith, by-laws, etc., say, the clear command of scripture is to be a soul winner. We are required to tell, God will do the saving. If you are saved, your tree will grow soul saving fruit. It is your job to put it out there fou unbelievers to pluck.

Bro. Ben