Faith, Works, and Fruit

I hope in even some small way I can benefit the reader. These have been my latest inspirations. I have raced trying to type them done before I finish the "honey do's" around the house for my wife. She went to town so I will have to get a move on so she can see progress  :)  Anyways I have been to busy providing a living to write much justice in Op-Noah, but by and by you will see more material. Thanks and feel free to send me your inspirations. Thank-you. JLT




I just quoted the verses out of James 2


What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. What is the real fruits and works of a "True Christian life? 


 Our weakness is really our strength because it is then that we trust less in our flesh and more in Jesus Christ.


So too much doomesday is really getting on the nerves because we are not here to trust ourselves to increase. We are so pre-occupied with our own personal neediness to accept  the promises of God to give us the grace to over come. We are spending to much time thinking we are improving our worth in God's eyes by acts of righteousness and fruits when in reality we are running around naked thinking we are clothed. My point is that God is looking for broken contrite hearts that can look upon humanity and see themselves as vile and wretched as anyone else if it truly were not for the blood of Christ.  And even with the blood of Christ we bow our head before the Lord and say, "Be merciful to me a sinner" Out that soul will come forth fruit with power. From good Samaritans to widows casting mites, to people digging up fields looking for precious pearls. Fruits will be noticed from these "changed people" that will super cede and eclipse the fruits of texting, clothing lapses, hair styles, etc. I do not one minute say these things are not fruits in one sense or another or are not worthy to ponder, but the are consuming way too much time and effort, when real issues are building up.






What are fruits?
My question is that Galations 5 and Colossians 3 define worldlinesss and it's spirits and also the evidences of a Spirit born of God.








We try to avoid the real cross of Christ and getting out of our comfort zones by settling for human bench marks and keeping status quo for our righteousness. It makes us appear to others our righteousness and yet we are hiding from doing more. We hide behind our "circumcision" on "things" issues versus visiting the widows and the fatherless.


Galatians 6: 12-16
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.




Christ spent so much time warning us to "clean the inside of the cup first"


Matt 23: 25-28


Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.


27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.




I have entered into a study of Colossians 2 and Galations 3 (and the book of James) as a result of Matthew 23
If you do not understand where I am coming from read those passages and ask yourself


1. What goals can I attain by human effort
2 What is the fulness of Christ in my life
3 Does it give me power
4 If not what hinders it


What is amazing is that God calls us often when we really did not know we needed him. We accept him and he changes us into a new creature. Instead of remaining in the potters hands we jump up and try to produce our own righteousness and our own personal rules to keep us "in bounds". As a result we loose power until we "wisk not that the spirit departed"


All the laws and the prophets hung on a few points. 
1 Love God with all thine heart
2 Love they neighbor as ourselves


A real Christian will also become a intercessor. Look at Moses, Abraham towards Lot, Joeseph and his brothers, Nabal's wife, Jonathon and David, the list would be an article in itself. That all points to Christ. And where does that leave us. Our famalies, our neighbors, the Church, the prodigals and how much time does that leave for self.....................txting.........cellphone problems.......internet...........To solve these problems is to replace them by looking towards the source of our power---Jesus Christ, the Resurrected. That is what is going to put the air into your boots to leap over the obstacles in your life. "Newness of Life" Rom. 6:4


For the Gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance 1 Thess. 1:5