The Fruit of Works

Saturday, April 16, 2022

The word in Hebrew for fruit is p`ree. When we talk of faith, grace, and works, believers argue; "I don't have to produce works, I am beyond works, or I'm into grace, not works." Believers talk about works as if it is a curse word, a negative or mechanical thing. They miss what the Bible says that we were redeemed to be a people zealous for good works. The key is to look at the works that God calls us to do as fruit. A branch doesn't argue about whether it can be a branch without producing fruit. A branch doesn't tell another branch, "Don't get into fruit, brother." The branches don't look down on fruit as something that it has to do on its own apart from the tree. You are a branch and Messiah is the vine. Abide in Him and He in you, and you will bear fruit. There is nothing bad about good works, just be sure to produce them as fruit--the fruit of being joined to God and receiving from Him. A life without good works is fruitless, but a fruitful life is joy.

From Message #913 - The Great Faith/Works Debate