“Bring Forth Fruit Unto God” (Rom 7:4)

“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.”

The resurrection in your soul happened, so that you can bring fruit unto God. He didn’t join you and I to Christ to live in sin, but to live to Him who died for us and rose again.

It is a hellish lie that we’re saved to serve ourselves, since we’re forgiven. We are saved, if we are, to serve God BY the death and resurrection of Christ, so that what happened to Him happened to us: we DIED to the old life at Calvary, and we’ve got newness of life from God, now (Rom 6:11). Take no gospel that doesn’t make you obedient and holy by grace. The gospel isn’t a “lesser” holiness, which makes obedience unnecessary; the GOSPEL gives a man life, which reveals itself in obedience to Christ’s commands.

You were born WICKED the first time, but by the new birth, you’re holy. The BELIEVER is joined to Christ and alive from the dead, so I have the strength of “no condemnation”, the help of God. I’m not on my own to fight my lusts, but the God who rose from the dead REIGNS over me graciously, to do His will, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom 6:14). I’m accepted, and as accepted, I have everything that I need.

I’m to believe this is true and practice it ZEALOUSLY (Rom 7:6). I grieve for those who learn “doctrine”, but it doesn’t impact their life. We are prone to believe a part of God’s word, rather than the whole thing, but when we take the whole counsel, we see FORGIVENESS and holiness, both. God doesn’t do one or the other, but He gives both always, and there is nothing else to live for, but God’s will, “for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (Rom 6:19).

If it required strength from us, then it couldn’t be done, but this is faith:

1. Faith BELIEVES the gospel, and by faith, the gospel is worked in my life. Faith believes what God says, and then what God says is in me.

2. Do you believe that you’re to be holy because you are holy… that the fact that Christ DIED and rose again is the FACT of your forgiveness and sanctification? If so, then be who you are and never promise yourself peace in sin - “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom 6:22). Use the weapons of your warfare to war with the sin that’s in you, and never let your past failures keep you from believing now, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (vs23).

We’re such that we say, “I can’t be perfect”, so we don’t try to live godly. It is BETTER to say, “I can’t be perfect, but day after day, I will do what I can. I will grow in the areas I’m reproved of God, trusting Him for forgiveness and cleansing!” The same sins you are forgiven of, as they come to your mind, are the sins that He’ll help you conquer. He didn’t reveal evil in us to say, “I forgive”, and then leave us slaves of lusts, but He forgives and gives holiness simultaneously to all that believe.

Do you believe this? Do you believe that Christ’s death has earned your obedience? If so, then you have life, and you’ll experience it more abundantly. Everything else is lies from Satan and the flesh, and it profits you not.

“Gifts to the Poor” (Esther 9:20-22)

“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor” (vs22).

Justification by faith produces love to my fellow man. If I’m loved FREELY, then God’s power will make me love. He never JUSTIFIES without sanctifying too, so that FORGIVENESS produces a loving and forgiving people.

Will you change your character? Will you be better as husband or wife? Then look to justification FROM all of your sins, and get the Spirit’s power to honor God, and you’ll love, serve, and honor God in your conduct - “And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God“ (Eph 3:19). He LIBERATES us, so that we can serve Him. He SAVES us, so that we can save others in newness and freeness of life.  If you will be happy, then don’t do in your strength; get God’s strength to His promised children, and you’ll have power to treat people better than you do.

God’s gospel PRODUCES love - “And when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, You have rightly judged” (Luke 7:42-43). Do you have it? It comes by faith, it works by faith, and it is maintained by faith; faith is what keeps our works from becoming bondage and self-righteousness. We DO because we believe what we’ve been given by God.

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“Conceive Seed” (Numb 5:28)

“And  when he has made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.  And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.” (vs27-28)

Fruitfulness comes by the trial of self-examination, as we are discerned before God. If we are true believers, then the Lord will bear record that we are His children, we have REPENTED from sin, and He will give us the FRUIT of repentance, faith, and assurance, which is GOOD works, more faith, and MORE assurance, so that we’re BLESSED by examining ourselves, whether or not we are believers - “Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates“ (2 Cor 13:5). If you are true, then examination helps you, and if you are not true, then discern it now and be saved.

There is no reason to perish when God HEALS filthy sinners; you and I can be saved today. There is no reason to quit God because He has REVEALED your sins; He forgives, and He gives holiness by forgiveness only, for “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“ (1 John 1:9).  Fellowship with God in the blood of Christ, and you’ll be FORGIVEN and cleansed; He will not let you down .

I ask you, “Examine yourself and see where you are with God by repentance and faith”. Do you believe that you can live as commanded by the grace of God, the blood of Christ, and the Spirit’s power? Then you shall. Do you believe that you must obtain power to obey God?  If so, then you will, freely, by the blood of Christ and the promises of God through prayer, faith, and by the word. Do not DESPAIR, but enter into this examination for your good; it will be BETTER for you to have made sure of your election by works in this life, than to live in doubt, “hoping for the best and wishing upon a star“, but missing Christ.  Even true believers hurt themselves by not taking stock… but by the gospel, in remembrance that we’re but dust, God causes us to REPENT and make sure of ourselves with God, giving us the FRUIT of assurance, which is love, joy, peace, the fruit of the Spirit.