Contrast of Works and Fruit

Galatians 5:19-26

Trees produce shade. Some trees produce far more than others. They cool the air as a result of evaporation from their leaves. By breaking the fall of raindrops, putting roots into the ground and leaves on top of it, and by diverting the wind, trees prevent erosion. These are some of the things trees do for us. They are their works. Every tree can do these things these things to some degree.

Many trees also produce fruit. Only certain kinds of trees can produce a specific fruit. For example, only an apple tree can produce apples and only a banana tree can produce bananas. The fruit is a characteristic of the tree. It cannot be produced by any other means. Imitations and substitutes may be attempted, but they are not fruit, and will not have the same nutrients, or taste. By examining the fruit, one can clearly see what kind of tree one is looking at. Jesus said this principle can be used to identify false prophets.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20)

Jesus did not say you could identify them by their works. A yew tree provides shade, cooling, and erosion resistance in similar measure to an apple. You can eat and enjoy the fruit of the apple tree, but the Yew’s fruit is very deadly. You better check the fruit, rather than the shade. A false prophet can do good things, but be spiritually deadly. An unsaved man can do many of the things a Christian can. Looking at their works will never give a conclusive identification, although certain works should be conspicuously absent from a Christian’s life.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

These are actions that should not be present in a Christians life. Before we were saved, we did those things, but after Salvation we should not I Corinthians 6:9-12 tells us that we have been cleand of these things and set apart from them, and made right. While we can still do them., they are not beneficial, and we should not let them control us.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

By contrast, the Spirit filled man will identified by a specific set of characteristics, the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

A Spirit filled man will be characterized by a love like that described in I Corinthians 13:4-8, demonstrated as described in I John 2-5. Joy and peace will be his normal state. Patience and lack of anger are his response when things go badly. He goes out of his way to avoid hurting others, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He is good. He acts in faith, not trying to force things to happen. He allows others to have their way, rather than insisting on his own, and he exercises self control. He has reckoned himself dead to sin, and doesn’t allow it to take over his life, so sin is not a factor. He has a whole different attitude than other people.

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:25-26) If Christ has made us alive, we should be living each day accordingly. Our actions portray what our heart is filled with. If we appreciate what Christ has done, we ought to focus on him, rather than ourselves. That will change our relationships with one another. It is up to the tree to produce the fruit, but the soil affects the quantity and quality. We affect the results the Holy Spirit produces.