Fruit Study: Edition #2 - Fruitcake

Well, since I looked at the Sin List in Galatians, it would only be fitting to follow it up with The Fruit List, which was actually started back in 6/4/2006. So, I will restart the series and begin with edition #2. (Edition #1)

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

And with that, I created this:

This is a graphic that will help me along the way in this series. Each day I will focus on one of the "fruit's", much like I did on the "Sin List". With this series, it should be less (time) than the sin list, simply due to the fact that there was a list of 16 for the sinful stuff and only 9 on this list.

So, what is the importance of fruit? Scripture says that being fruitful is important for salvation.

Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Fruit is tied to repentance. If I repent, I should have something to show for my repentance. Whether it be actions or a lack of action (as in no longer doing a certain sin), there should be fruit to be able to tell something has changed.

Matthew 7:15-23

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

So, by their fruit, I will recognize them. If they produce good fruit or bad fruit, I will be able to see and dissern what kind of "tree" (person) they are and whether I want to associate with that person or not. And it is good to know what person you hang out with simply because I struggle with certain company. And if I know I struggle with this person or that, I should count the costs before I devote time to them. Johnny Out.

Back to Home