WILL ALL BELIEVERS BEAR VISIBLE FRUIT?

One sister asked: “Is it possible to have true faith in God without a lifestyle that shows it?” This question doesn’t ask if we are saved by our lifestyle or good deeds? It is merely asking whether true faith or a new life in Christ will be accompanied by the fruit of obedience and an obedience lifestyle? Jesus addressed this very question:

·       “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 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. (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV)

According to Jesus, a true prophet or teacher will produce the appropriate fruits, as an apple tree which produces apples. (Notice also that the fruit don’t produce the apple tree, but the apple tree produces the fruit. Likewise, fruit doesn’t produce salvation but salvation produces the fruit. I merely mention this to point out that we are not asking about the cause of salvation but whether every saved person will produce fruit.) There are many other verses that conclude along with Jesus that a true faith and salvation will produce fruit – the evidence of a true faith:

• If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7)

• We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.  Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. (1 John 2:3-4)

However, this question about fruit is more nuanced. How? There are other verses that teach a good tree doesn’t always produce good fruit. Paul provided an example of ministers who had saving faith but were not always faithful to the Gospel:

• For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ… If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Cor. 3:11-15) 

Evidently, their faith was genuine. It was a saving faith, but their faithfulness was lacking. Others had saving faith, but they often failed to reflect this faith:

• For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.  That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.  But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.  Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. (1 Cor. 11:29-32)

It is disturbing to see that God had taken the life of some believers so that they wouldn’t suffer condemnation. We are also reminded of Ananias and Saphira, whom God had struck down (Acts 5)

How do we put these two sets of truths together? Scripture promises that there will be fruit of salvation but that it will be a mixed bag. For one thing, we all continue to sin:

• We all stumble in many ways. (James 3:2)

·       If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)

Clearly, Scripture does not teach that we will achieve perfection in this life but only when Jesus returns for us (1 John 3:2). Consequently, we can resolve what seems to be a contradiction by understanding that an apple tree will not always produce apples. On occasion, it will be barren or produce poor quality apples. Besides, fruit is only produced in season. Therefore, when someone claims to be a prophet or a teacher, he is also claiming to be in season. Therefore, he needs to be able to show adequate fruit, although an apple need not be dangling from every branch.

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was termed “righteous”:

·       …He rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard) (2 Peter 2:7-8)

However, Lot had been leading a compromised life. Not only had he chosen the sinful Sodom as his home, after it’s destruction, his two daughters had gotten Lot drunk to have sex with him – not exactly the best of fruit.

The Corinthian church had been quite carnal (1 Cor. 3:1). Paul reprimanded them because they were living, on occasion, as the world was living. However, they had saving faith

·        Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Although they were behaving as those who would “not inherit the kingdom of God,” they were different. They had saving faith. I would also assume that they had fruit, but their fruit was immature. In Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthian church, he was a bit more upbeat about their fruits, describing the brethren as “a letter from Christ delivered by us” (2 Corinthians 3:3). Their fruits were becoming more apparent.

God’s measure of fruit and of faith is gracious. Even though the Israelites were in full rebellion against both God and Moses when they heard the Egyptian chariots approaching (Exodus 14), God perceived fruit where we wouldn’t have:

·       By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29)

In God’s eyes, Israel had great faith. It led them through the Red Sea to safety. This act of obedience was also fruit.

I thank God that He sees fruit where we do not. Let this be a lesson for us to be slow to judge.