FRUIT IS NOT ACTIVITY.
IT IS CHARACTER.
YOU EITHER HAVE THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST GROWING WITHIN, WHICH EFFECTS CHANGES IN YOUR ACTIONS ON THE OUTSIDE OR YOU DO NOT.
IF YOU DO NOT, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BORN AGAIN. YOU DO NOT BEAR THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT AND, IN THE END, WILL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS IS THE ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION. YOUR JOY MUST BE FOUND IN HIM AND THIS WONDROUS WORK AND NOT IN YOUR PERFORMANCE AS A CHRISTIAN IN THIS LIFE.
"THE GREATEST ACT OF FAITH IS FOR ME TO LOOK INTO GOD'S WORD AND SEE ALL MY FAULTS, ALL MY SIN, ALL MY SHORTCOMINGS AND TO BELIEVE THAT GOD LOVES ME EXACTLY AS HE SAYS HE DOES." -paul washer
THE FRUIT FOUND IN CHRISTIAN'S LIVES IS NOT ACTIVITY. IT IS A RESPONSE THAT BEGINS IN THE DEEPEST RECESSES OF MY HEART, WHERE I HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE REVELATION OF GOD'S LOVE FOR ME, DESPITE ANY OF MY ACTIVITY.
I AM LOVED.
How very true!
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteGreat insight! I remember being caught in a trap of thinking I had to do this and that and impress God with my work. Filthy rags man. I'm glad Christ was patient with me. We are so prone to falling into a works based faith and seeing God's love as conditional. Thanks for sharing.
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