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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Faith and Fruit, continued
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (Hebrews 6:9)
What is the fruit of the Christian life? What is the evidence that Christ is abiding in us and we in Him?
The fruit is the moral image of Christ revealed in our personality (Romans 8:29). The fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, generosity, good will, faithfulness, teachableness, self-control, humility, the fear of God, brotherly kindness (Galatians 5:22,23; II Peter 1:5-8).
We accept Christ by faith, receiving forgiveness of our sins and right standing in God's Presence.
Then we build on that framework of right standing by walking in Christ, loving Christ, praying, reading the Word, obeying God, assembling regularly with fervent brothers and sisters, giving of our money, forgiving others when they hurt us, and practicing all the other Christian behaviors. We do not earn salvation by such behaviors but we do exhibit the Life of Christ in us, and this is salvation.
God's righteousness is the Life of Christ in us.
What if there is no evidence of the Life of Christ in us? If there is no evidence of such fruit then we are not abiding in Christ. Our faith is not taking hold on God as it should. Our "faith" may be little more than a mental assent to the facts concerning Christ and redemption.
Righteousness is behavior that pleases God. Part of new-covenant righteousness is faith in the Gospel of Christ. An equally important part of new-covenant righteousness is the change into holy behavior that results from the forming of Christ in us (Galatians 4:19).
If our faith is of the right kind a change into Christ's moral image will take place. Faith will bring about the desired results. The Seed of Christ will grow in us if we keep it in a healthful environment (Luke 8:15).
Paul, writing to the saints in Galatia, climaxes his explanation of the true Christian salvation by stating:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
The believer who embraces the Lord, sharing each day in the death and triumphant resurrection of Christ, reveals in himself or herself both the faith and the fruit that go together to form the true salvation that God has given to us in Christ our Lord.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [conduct] and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (II Peter 3:10-14) (from Kingdom Concepts)