Different Things God is teaching Me

DOES YOUR FAITH & MINE SHOW FRUIT?

Christ did not lay down His life for you & me SO THAT we would stay content in remaining the same and never growing.

"And Christ died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." ~2 Corinthians 5:15

Not only are we to believe in Christ as our salvation, but also we are to bear fruit to the Father's glory.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; for without Me you can do  nothing. By this My Father is glorified, that you BEAR MUCH FRUIT; so you will be My disciples... As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and  that your joy may be full... You did not choose Me, but I chose you and  appointed you that you should GO AND BEAR FRUIT, and that your FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN, that whatever you ask the Father  in My name He may give you." ~John 15:5, 8-11, 16

To be clear, we are not to bear fruit in order to EARN OR BUY OUR SALVATION; Jesus already bought it with His perfect life and His shed blood. (See Hebrews 9:11-15, 10:11-25) Rather, FRUIT IS THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED, the OVERFLOW OF HAVING BEEN TRULY TOUCHED BY THE SALVATION AND LOVE OF GOD.

Yet what of my constant sins and failures; does that mean I am not truly saved? Well for one thing, answer that question with another question: Are you practicing sin or stumbling/striving/wrestling with sin? God is not for those who practice sin, (see Galatians 5:19-21 & 1 John 3:10) yet as the Man of Sorrows/Jesus, He is our Companion, Comforter & Redeemer in our battles and struggles with it. (See Hebrews 2:17-18 & 4:14-16, Proverbs 24:16, Psalm 37:23-24)

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’“ But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You  wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.‘ For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." ~Matthew 25:24-29

"Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are  the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." ~Philippians 3:17-21

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was  accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." ~James 2:14-26