True Faith: Evidence Through Spiritual Fruit

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound distinction between true faith and mere profession of faith, as illustrated by Jesus' metaphor of good and bad trees. This metaphor serves as a powerful reminder that our spiritual state is revealed by the fruit we bear. Just as a good tree produces good fruit, a life transformed by genuine faith in Christ will naturally yield spiritual fruit. This is not about earning salvation through works, but about the evidence of a living faith that manifests in our actions and character.

We delved into the historical context of this teaching, recalling the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther's pivotal assertion that justification is by faith alone. Luther challenged the Roman Catholic view that justification could be lost through mortal sin and regained through penance. Instead, he emphasized that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers the moment they place their faith in Him, covering their sins and granting them peace with God. This righteousness is not our own but is a gift from Christ, and it is this alien righteousness that justifies us before God.

However, the question of works remains significant. While works do not contribute to our justification, they are necessary manifestations of true faith. A faith that does not produce good works is not a saving faith. This was highlighted in the Lordship Salvation controversy, where the debate centered on whether one could accept Jesus as Savior without acknowledging Him as Lord. True faith, as Luther stated, is never alone; it is always accompanied by the fruit of good works.

We are called to examine our own lives and the fruit we bear. Are we like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, showing leaves but bearing no fruit? Or are we like the tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in its season? Our actions, our love for God's Word, and our delight in His law are indicators of our spiritual state. Let us strive to be fruitful, reflecting the treasure of goodness stored in our hearts.

Key Takeaways:

- The metaphor of good and bad trees illustrates the importance of bearing spiritual fruit as evidence of genuine faith. A life transformed by Christ will naturally produce good works, not as a means of earning salvation, but as a manifestation of true faith. [08:08]

- Martin Luther's assertion that justification is by faith alone challenges the notion that works or sacraments can contribute to our salvation. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers, covering their sins and granting them peace with God. [13:12]

- True faith is never alone; it is always accompanied by good works. The Lordship Salvation controversy highlights the necessity of acknowledging Jesus as both Savior and Lord, as a faith that does not produce fruit is not a saving faith. [19:03]

- Our spiritual state is revealed by the fruit we bear. Like the tree planted by the rivers of water, we are called to bring forth fruit in its season, reflecting the treasure of goodness stored in our hearts. [22:42]

- We must examine our own lives and the fruit we bear. Our actions, love for God's Word, and delight in His law are indicators of our spiritual state. Let us strive to be fruitful, reflecting the treasure of goodness stored in our hearts. [29:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:19] - Types of Logical Fallacies
- [03:52] - Jesus' Two Alternatives
- [05:20] - Standing in the Kingdom of God
- [06:20] - Profession vs. Possession of Faith
- [07:03] - Good Trees and Bad Trees
- [08:39] - The Protestant Reformation
- [10:33] - Roman Catholic Justification
- [12:57] - Luther's Gospel of Faith
- [15:31] - Righteousness of Christ
- [16:21] - Lordship Salvation Controversy
- [19:03] - Faith and Works
- [21:06] - Knowing by Their Fruit
- [23:33] - The Ungodly and the Chaff
- [28:09] - Good and Evil Treasures
- [30:38] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 7:17-20 (ESV) - "So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."
2. James 2:17 (ESV) - "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
3. Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) - "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Observation Questions:
1. According to Matthew 7:17-20, what is the relationship between a tree and the fruit it bears? How does this relate to the concept of true faith? [07:03]
2. In the sermon, how does the metaphor of good and bad trees illustrate the difference between true faith and mere profession of faith? [08:08]
3. What historical context does the sermon provide about Martin Luther's view on justification by faith alone? [08:39]
4. How does Psalm 1 describe the person who delights in the law of the Lord, and what imagery is used to depict their spiritual state? [21:06]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of trees and fruit in Matthew 7:17-20 help us understand the evidence of genuine faith in a believer's life? [07:03]
2. What implications does James 2:17 have for the relationship between faith and works in the life of a believer? How does this align with the sermon’s message? [19:03]
3. How does the historical context of the Protestant Reformation, as discussed in the sermon, influence our understanding of justification by faith alone? [08:39]
4. In what ways does Psalm 1:1-3 challenge believers to evaluate their spiritual health and the fruit they produce?

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are more like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, showing leaves but bearing no fruit? What steps can you take to become more fruitful? [25:16]
2. How can you ensure that your profession of faith is accompanied by genuine possession of faith? What practical changes might this require in your daily life? [06:20]
3. Consider the role of good works in your faith journey. How can you cultivate a lifestyle that naturally produces good works as evidence of your faith? [19:03]
4. In what ways can you delight more in God's Word and meditate on it day and night, as described in Psalm 1? What specific practices can you implement to achieve this? [21:06]
5. How can you examine the "treasure" stored in your heart to ensure it reflects goodness and not corruption? What actions can you take to align your heart with God's will? [29:04]
6. Think about a time when you relied on your own righteousness rather than the righteousness of Christ. How can you shift your focus to trust more fully in Christ's imputed righteousness? [13:41]
7. Identify one person in your life who might be struggling with the concept of faith and works. How can you support and encourage them in their spiritual journey this week?

Devotional

Day 1: Genuine Faith Bears Spiritual Fruit
A life transformed by genuine faith in Christ will naturally yield spiritual fruit, as illustrated by the metaphor of good and bad trees. This metaphor serves as a powerful reminder that our spiritual state is revealed by the fruit we bear. It is not about earning salvation through works, but about the evidence of a living faith that manifests in our actions and character. Just as a good tree produces good fruit, a life rooted in Christ will produce good works as a natural outcome of true faith. [08:08]

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Reflection: What specific actions or habits in your life demonstrate the spiritual fruit of your faith in Christ? How can you nurture these habits to ensure they continue to grow?


Day 2: Justification by Faith Alone
Martin Luther's assertion that justification is by faith alone challenges the notion that works or sacraments can contribute to our salvation. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers, covering their sins and granting them peace with God. This righteousness is not our own but is a gift from Christ, and it is this alien righteousness that justifies us before God. Understanding this truth frees us from the burden of trying to earn our salvation and allows us to rest in the finished work of Christ. [13:12]

Romans 4:5-6 (ESV): "And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works."

Reflection: How does the understanding that your righteousness is a gift from Christ change the way you approach your relationship with God? In what ways can you rest more fully in this truth today?


Day 3: Faith and Works in Harmony
True faith is never alone; it is always accompanied by good works. The Lordship Salvation controversy highlights the necessity of acknowledging Jesus as both Savior and Lord, as a faith that does not produce fruit is not a saving faith. While works do not contribute to our justification, they are necessary manifestations of true faith. This understanding calls us to examine our lives and ensure that our faith is active and alive, producing the good works that naturally flow from a heart transformed by Christ. [19:03]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you see a disconnect between your faith and your actions? How can you begin to align your actions with your faith more closely today?


Day 4: Revealing Our Spiritual State
Our spiritual state is revealed by the fruit we bear. Like the tree planted by the rivers of water, we are called to bring forth fruit in its season, reflecting the treasure of goodness stored in our hearts. This calls for a continual examination of our lives to ensure that we are living in a way that reflects our faith in Christ. Our actions, our love for God's Word, and our delight in His law are indicators of our spiritual state. [22:42]

Psalm 1:2-3 (ESV): "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Reflection: What specific actions or attitudes in your life reveal the current state of your spiritual health? How can you cultivate a deeper love for God's Word and His law?


Day 5: Examining the Fruit We Bear
We must examine our own lives and the fruit we bear. Our actions, love for God's Word, and delight in His law are indicators of our spiritual state. Let us strive to be fruitful, reflecting the treasure of goodness stored in our hearts. This involves a daily commitment to living out our faith in practical ways, ensuring that our lives are a testament to the transformative power of Christ. [29:04]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: What specific fruit of the Spirit do you see most evident in your life? Which one do you feel needs more cultivation, and what steps can you take to nurture it today?

Quotes

"Are you a sheep who belongs to the sheepfold of the good shepherd, or are you a false professor who is still numbered among the goats, even though you appear regularly in the household of faith every Sunday morning? Are you truly a regenerate person? Are you in a state of grace, or are you faking it?" [00:05:24]

"Jesus warns again and again about those who are quick to confess him with their lips while at the same time their hearts are far from him. So it can boil down to this this morning: are you a Christian, or are you not? Are you in a state of justification, or are you not?" [00:06:31]

"A good tree does not bear bad fruit, or this can also be translated, a rotten tree does not produce good fruit. That is to say, if the tree is rotten to the core, that which will come from that tree will be rotten as well. Nor does a bad tree produce good fruit." [00:07:06]

"Martin Luther made the declaration that the just shall live by faith, and that to be justified in the presence of God occurs by faith and by faith alone, not by faith mixed with good works. In the Roman Catholic system, justification was thought to begin at baptism as a sacral act administered by the priest." [00:08:48]

"The gospel of the New Testament promises at the very second you put your trust in Jesus Christ, all that he is and all that he has becomes yours. And Paul writes, being justified then we have peace with God and access into his presence, just as Abraham was counted righteous the moment he believed God." [00:13:00]

"The only righteousness by which I will ever be determined to be righteous in the sight of God, said Luther, was a righteousness that is extranos, apart from us, aside from us, an alien righteousness, a righteousness that doesn't properly belong to me. I haven't performed that; I haven't achieved it." [00:14:24]

"Justification is by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. That is, the only kind of faith that saves you is a legitimate faith, a living faith, not a mere dead profession of faith. And so if you have faith, even though the works that you produce out of that faith don't count a fig towards your justification, nevertheless they are necessary manifestations of that true faith." [00:19:00]

"If you have no affection, if you have no love for the word of God, that would be a sure indicator that your soul has not been changed. You are still in your sins; you are still altogether carnal, with no spiritual life in you. But the godly man delights in the law of the Lord and meditates at it day and night." [00:22:03]

"Jesus used that as a prophetic object lesson to describe not fig trees, but people who give the appearance of fruit but have no fruit. And we're called to be fruit-bearing trees in season and out of season. Nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush." [00:27:22]

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. It's interesting that the Greek word here for treasure, it's the word thesaurus, from which we get the English word thesaurus." [00:28:11]

"Jesus is telling us what a man treasures in his heart determines what he is. And so I closed this morning by asking you to examine your own hearts, to look at the bank account that is hidden from eyesight, to examine the own thesaurus that you have in your soul." [00:29:32]

"Is it the vocabulary that demonstrates and manifests the fruit of true faith, or is it the vocabulary of the lie and the false profession? I can read your faces, but I can't read your heart. Only God can read our hearts, and only God knows what's in that storehouse." [00:30:04]

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Transcript
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