Colossians 1:10… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, (NKJV)

The Christian that is living a life that is worthy of their adoption into God’s family, is one who is “bearing fruit in every good work”… There is much in the Bible that talks about fruit; and what it means to bear both good and bad fruit… Jesus Himself gives us a clear picture about Christian’s who are bearing good fruit, because Christ abides in them with the Holy Spirit…and they abide in Christ…

John 15:5… “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  (NKJV)   It is clear from this passage, that without Christ living with-in the believer (Galatians 2:20), they cannot bear good fruit… The opening scripture speaks of good fruit as good works done for the Lord…  This is proof that Christ is alive and working in the life of an obedient Christian… The actual bearing of good works done for the Lord, is evidence of a Christian’s salvation; not what a person has to do in order to become a Christian…

I wrote the other day, about God using scripture to open the eyes of those who have been blinded by Satan, to the truth found in the Bible…2 Corinthians 4:4…  Many churches teach that a long list of self-righteous works done in the name of/or for the Lord…are needed to have sins forgiven by God… These righteous works like having to go to church every week, or being baptized as an infant, or having to receive Holy Communion, are clearly self-righteous works, and we are warned by Jesus Himself, that these works won’t forgive sins… The following scripture should be eye opening to those who falsely believe that these good works done for the Lord, will allow them entrance into “the kingdom of heaven”…

Matthew 7:21-23… “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  (NKJV)  …{The dead, with these false beliefs, are being diverted to hell}

In this companion piece of scripture, the Bible again teaches us that salvation is not about works done in the name of the Lord that will forgive sins… Salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ…Ephesians 2:8-9… For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (NKJV)

The sinner must submit to the “will of My Father”, to be graced with salvation…and received into “the kingdom of heaven” as a Christian, and a child of God… This forgiveness of sins is obtained by a sinner believing in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord, their Master, and their Savior…and is accomplished by understanding and obeying the gospel of Christ…(see the writing yesterday explaining the gospel of Christ to plant the seed towards salvation)…

Jesus goes on to describe what will happen to the people (branches) that believe their fruit of good works are done to become a Christian, this way, in…John 15:6… If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  (NKJV)   These branches gathered and burned describe people who will die before they obey the gospel of Christ; meaning they will die with un-forgiven sins…John 8:24…

Heavenly Father, I pray Your Word would cut right to the bone, with the truth about good works found from Your Word…Hebrews 4:12… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  (NKJV)

I pray Lord, that all readers understand that their good works done in Your name, will not forgive them of their sins… I also pray Lord…that Your children understand they must be producing the fruit of good works done for the sole purpose of glorifying Your name, as evidence that they are indeed pleasing You…  I pray for these good works to be done to glorify You, by all of today’s readers…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills