Evaluating The Fruit of our Lives
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Introduction
Introduction
We come this morning to the end of our look at Luke’s record of the Sermon on the plain, where Jesus is teaching his disciples. And keep in mind that the teaching in this section really is directed towards those who would claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ. What Christ is doing as he teaches his disciples is that if they claim to be his followers, then there is a radically different pattern of life that is to be demonstrated in their lives.
No person who comes to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation from sin, can continue with life as is. No person who is in Christ will continue to look just like everyone else in the world looks. Christians are distinct in their conduct, because their conduct will be radically shaped and formed through a true understanding of who Christ is, and a true understanding of the Gospel message.
The Gospel changes people. Those who were once lost in darkness and sin, driven by selfishness, driven by a desire to live for self and to please self, have now been transformed by the Gospel transformation in their hearts so that they are oriented towards a life lived to the glory and praise of the Almighty God who created this world.
That has been what Christ has essentially taught throughout this sermon - particular evidences of a radically altered life. But as he draws to the close of this sermon, he’s going to drive the point home to his disciples in a most powerful way.
Sometimes when we come to the Scriptures, we’re encouraged through words that demonstrate great compassion and kindness; words that describe the mercies of God. Sometimes we are confronted in our sin as the Scriptures touch on these particular struggles that we face in life. In our present passage, we will be confronted with a very real question that needs to be answered by those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
And so, even as we hear the words of Christ, let us test ourselves, so that we may take appropriate action!
The Gospel message never calls us to test ourselves in order to condemn us, or to put us in a position that is without hope. Rather, the Gospel calls us to test ourselves, so that we may take appropriate action; so that we may avail ourselves of the means of grace; so that we may take up our responsibility in the Lord Jesus Christ, and so live a life that brings glory to Him, and blessing to us.
As we consider Christ’s words here, notice firstly with me…
1. Consider the Fruit of your Life (vv.43-45)
1. Consider the Fruit of your Life (vv.43-45)
Jesus begins in these verses with this sobering remark in verses 43-44...
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
In the NIV, the first word that transitions the previous section is omitted. The word “for” is in the original. In other words, this flows directly out of what he has just said concerning a person being self-righteous - they have a beam in their own eye that they ought to be removing, but they are failing to do that. In then he delves into this section about a good tree and a bad tree, and the fruit that can be expected to be found on these trees.
And so, that is the context. But he starts here by presenting his disciples with a picture that would be very easy and simple for all to understand. And the simple reality is that when you look at a tree, you will be able to tell the kind of tree that it is.
One thing that I’ve come to learn about and accept about myself is that I’m not very good at identifying plants and flowers. If you were to bring me to a plant / tree / shrub that didn’t have any fruit on it, but only had leaves and branches, I would most likely not be able to tell you what the tree was.
But as soon as the fruit grows on the tree, well, it becomes a different story. It’s easy to tell what kind of tree is planted and standing before you when the fruit is hanging off the tree. In fact, it would be impossible to argue with someone about the kind of tree that it is if there was fruit on it. You see the fruit, and you immediately know the kind of tree.
Imagine how foolish it would seem if you were standing in front of a peach tree, loaded with peaches, and the chap standing next to you starts to argue that this isn’t a peach tree, it really is an apple tree. It’s utterly non-sensical. It cannot be. And so the analogy that Christ uses is pretty clear, and pretty obvious.
But verse 45 really gets down to the implications of this. As Christ goes on, he then applies the analogy to the lives of his hearers.
45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Immediately Christ makes the connection to his hearers, and he says to them inessence that they will be producing certain kinds of fruit in their lives. And depending on the fruit that will be seen in their lives, you will know what kind of person they are. Just as it would be foolish to stand in front of a particular fruit tree, and argue that this fruit tree is in reality another kind of fruit tree altogether, so it would be foolish to argue that although my life is producing certain kinds of fruit, I’m really of another kind.
Notice that the distinction that is being demonstrated here is the “good man” as opposed to the “evil man.”
Here is the great distinction between all people in the world. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that there are essentially only two groups of people in the world - those who are rightly called “good” - and those who are rightly called “evil.”
But we must understand and see the broader Scriptural teaching on this matter. We cannot use any basis or set of criteria in order to determine the good or the bad. As we will see in a moment, there is fruit that will flow out of the man who is truly “good,” just as there is fruit that will flow out of the man that is truly “evil.”
And the determining factor of this will utlimately be those who are in Christ - those who have been born again - and those who are not in Christ - those who have not been born again.
As we consider this, there are a couple of important points that we must keep in mind. Firstly, every person that is born into this world is born as a sinner.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
And so there is no discussion and argument about the fact all men, in their natural state, are set against God, and live in opposition to His ways, and thus are rightly called evil and belong to the category of those who are evil. And the fruit that you will find in the lives of such people should rightly be called evil.
But the Scriptures also teach us that Christ came into the world in order to redeem a people for himself. Christ entered the world in order to transform hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. And this is what makes the radical difference in a person such that they become a new person.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
When a true transforming work has taken place in the heart of a person, they are going to begin demonstrating a radical difference in their lives in terms of how they live out their lives. There will ultimately be good fruit that flows out of their lives.
But notice then carefully where this transformative work takes place. Christ says here that the good fruit that comes forth in a person’s life, or the bad fruit that comes forth in a persons life, flows out of their hearts.
In other words, what is the nature of the person. The heart of a person is spoken of here as a kind of reservoir, or a storehouse. Jesus speaks about either “good” or “bad” being “stored up” within the heart of the person. Christ shows his disciples here that there is a certain kind of fruit that is being produced and stored up within them, and only that which is being stored up flows out of their lives.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
In this sense, we must consider what it is that is being treasured in our hearts. In this regard, we really need to ask ourselves what it is that we treasure in our lives. What are the desires of our hearts? And more importantly, is Christ, and honour for the Lord Jesus Christ, and submission to Christ, the greatest delight of my heart?
It is only when we find our true delight in Christ and in submission to Him for the glory of His name, that this good fruit will be able to come forth.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
One further thing to note from these verses is the way in which that which we speak, and the manner of our speech, the nature of our speech, is such a good indicator of that which is in our hearts.
Christ ends in verse 45 by saying, for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
James 3 is a pertinent chapter in this regard...
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Secondly from out text, we should...
2. Consider the Lord of Your Life (v.46)
2. Consider the Lord of Your Life (v.46)
As Christ continues in this sermon, he draws attention to the claim that his disciples would make that He is their Lord.
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
“Lord, Lord...” - semitism. Repitition to show some kind of affection. Jesus uses when speaks to Martha, Martha. And Also Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem. And to Simon - Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to sift you as wheat. This was a way of saying that you are really concerned, and intent…
What would the title “Lord” mean to those who were being addressed? It was a term of respect and honour. It could be similar to how we use “sir.” However, in this particular instance, it is clear that there is a greater level of attachment. Jesus was not speaking about people merely respecting.
There is the account of the leper with Jesus, who called Him “Lord.” This would refer to Jesus as the one to whom they owe their allegiance.
But could also be seen as referring to God Himself. Kurios… Gk.
but note in Luke - Kurios would most properly be seen as taking Christ to be the true Lord and Saviour.
When the angels announced the birth of Jesus in Luke 2 - they announced Christ the Lord as the Saviour.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Also in Luke, at the occassion of the great catch of fish, when Jesus would call
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
So there is clearly a high and reverential honour and esteeming of Christ Jesus that Jesus has in mind here when people come to him.
But note what Christ is now addressing with his disciples - why do you call me, “Lord, Lord...” in other words, why do you speak to me with a particular affection and closeness, and claim that I am your true Lord, but you do not do what I say that you should do?
Here is a pertinent question. It is a shame that there are many professing Christians who proclaim Christ as their Lord, and yet willfully live in a manner that is contrary to his ways.
Or they claim to have Christ as Lord, but live as though this is only relevant in their lives when it suits them.
In Matthew 7, the parallel account of this passage has Christ proclaiming that many will even claim to work powerful miracles and drive out demons in the name of Christ, but that he will say to them, away from me, I never knew you.
What does Christ mean here? What was Christ calling them to do?
Turn back to Luke 6:20ff...
In summary, the life that Christ had called his disciples to was a life of love.
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
The great command was to love God. The second, like it, to love ones neighbour.
It is impossible to live a life that is submitted to Christ while that life remains without love.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
When a person would cry out, “Lord, Lord...” he must of necessity be moved to love. God so loved the world that he sent his son in order to save sinners. Christ so loved the world that he gave up his own life, a life lived in perfect obedience to the Father, in order to save sinners. The man who claims to love this Christ who gave all for him, and yet remains unwilling to love others - even the sinners that persecute and turn against him, cannot claim this Christ as Lord.
The man who is in Christ will develop the fruit of a redeemed love. They will develop a heart after Christ’s own heart. They will develop a heart that is motivated by love and compassion and kindness and mercy.
The question we need to ask ourselves is this: is my life marked by love a deep love and affection for Christ? And is my life marked by a love for others?
As we go on in our text, it is essential, further, that you...
3. Consider the Foundations of your Life (vv.47-49)
3. Consider the Foundations of your Life (vv.47-49)
Christ moves in verses 47-49 from a picture of a tree, to the picture of a building.
47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Some important things to note here...
“I will show you....” - Christ wants them to listen carefully… this is important.
“hears…puts into practice...”
It is not good enough to hear the words of Christ, to hear the teaching of the Scriptures… merely hearing doesn’t provide any form of stability in your life.
The key difference in the examples brought is - one puts the words into practice, and the other doesn’t. That forms the distinguishing feature bewteen the two courses of life that a man may be upon.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
“...foundation on rock…without a foundation...”
Christ here speaks about that which provides the stability and firmness of a building.
Without solid and firm foundations, what is built above, no matter how impressive, is unstable and at risk.
The matter being addressed - the life of a person… the manner of life...
6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
But we must read those verses in light of what Christ himself says. We must be careful that we do not make vain professions, and then fail to put the words of Christ into practice.
“…flood came… torrent struck...”
What is this referring to? It refers to the storms of life. The pressures of life. The struggles of life.
For the Israelites, the storm was being in a wilderness place.
For the rich young ruler, the storm was being told to sell all he had.
For the person whose hope is in their social interactions, the storm may be when their friends forsake them.
We place our hope and desires in any manner of things. And so easily our hearts ache for that to be a reality… we must be careful.
It is in the midst of the storms and challenges of life that we will be tested.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
Transformation only possible through Christ’s work in us.
Requires humility and submission to Him
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Repent and believe.
We cannot manufacture fruit. It doesn’t help to make fake apples, and go an hang them on a barren tree and then call that an apple tree. It’s not.
It also doesn’t help to hang fake apples on a real apple tree, if the tree is lifeless. It may be an apple tree, but it’s a dead tree.
We need to get down to the root.
The root is genuine repentance and faith in Christ, and submission to Him.
Evaluating these thiings… consider again the aspect of love… fruit...
Good fruit is marked by two things - love for God, and love for neighbour. In other words, if either of those is lacking, then it cannot rightly be called good fruit. At least not in terms of how Christ and the Scriptures define it.
Some people do all kinds of wonderful things. They show kindness and do acts that truly are wonderful. But if those acts of kindness and mercy are not directed at the glory and honour of the creator God, then it cannot be called good fruit.
Others, on the other hand, claim to love God, and they act in a pious manner, and speak all about the God that they serve. But there is not love that is evident in their own lives in terms of their actions towards others. They treat other people in a terrible manner. They are unkind, unloving and ungracious towards others. Such a person should not rely on their claimed “love for God”, because it is not a genuine love for God. A genuine love for God is worked out in a love for other people.
Three points need to be made about the sermon’s imagery of fruit and how we handle such a question. (1) Jesus’ remarks here are not designed to examine individual moments in life but the pattern of a career-long walk with God. This point is significant because everyone sins or perhaps even goes through a period of sin. Such people may deeply regret their failure afterwards, yet it can make them wonder if their “fruit” makes it impossible to say they know God. I received an e-mail recently from a counselor who asked me how to deal with three different teenagers who had the same problem. They were convinced that some sin they had committed was so severe it severed their relationship to Jesus to an unrecoverable level, even though they regretted it. The overapplication of a text like this with reference to a particular sin can do great damage particularly to someone who sensitively reacts to his or her spiritual failure.
(2) The text indicates that although fruit may not be a certain indicator, it can be a suggestive one. Paul was so concerned about the lack of Corinthian fruit that after a long period of time, he asked them to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). What raised the question for Paul was the incongruity between their walk and their claim to have a regenerated heart. But note how Paul raises the question. He does not state he knows the answer, looking in from the outside; rather, he raises the issue for their own reflection. There are significant pastoral lessons about how to proceed with the “difficult” cases here. Some believers do live “like mere men,” not because it is commendable or acceptable, but because they turn away from God for a time (1 Cor. 3:1–3). Such cases need to be challenged, but we must be careful not to ignore what Jesus warns in this sermon about judging as we seek to address someone in such a condition.
(3) Scripture does seem clear that regenerated people do bear some sort of fruit. Total absence of fruit, particularly love, does raise the question about the presence of regeneration and faith (Rom. 8:1–16; James 2:14–26; 1 John 3:1–9). We are not here confusing salvation by faith with salvation by works. We are not saying that works save. Salvation is by faith through grace, but that grace bestows a changed heart that accepts God as Father and responds at least to some degree to his presence. If the seed of new faith is present, it will sprout, though to varying degrees in different people. Jesus is instructing his followers to grow in him, to listen to him. Those who do will not have to worry about looking for fruit; they will be producing it by his grace. (Bock, D. NIVAC)