Fruit That Bears His Image

Michael E. Wood
March 3-7, 2011

(Matt. 7:21-23) Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

(2nd Tim. 1:12-14) …But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

There is coming a day in which God will separate the wheat from the tares; the sheep from the goats. The gifts of God are without repentance, but not all gifts are an evidence of the salvation that belongs to God alone through Christ alone for the glory of God alone.

The infinite, Almighty God of all, determined to save a people made up of every nation, tribe, and tongue before the foundation of the world through the sacrifice of His Son to display His Own glory through all eternity. On an individual basis this display begins at the moment of conversion. As the Holy Spirit, by the merit of the atoning work of Christ, removes from us a heart of stone and gives to us a heart of flesh from God the Father; our character is transformed immediately. As new born babes formed by the grace of God through the gift of faith we desire the sincere milk of the Word of God, and we grow thereby. In our infantile and childish stages, those without, and even those within may be hard pressed to see much difference, depending on which particular part of the pit of destruction we were delivered from.

If from that part of the pit of pride of accomplishment and morality there may be very little outward immediate noticeable change. If from that part of the pit of pride in immorality outward change may be immediate and obvious.

Some merely move from one part of the pit to another, without understanding their inherent nature of sin with which they were born. But then the true reality is it is not what is seen of men on a temporal basis, but what is seen of God on an eternal basis which matters. It is His character which is on display through the lives of those whom He has redeemed for Himself

He calls us to examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith. Do we see the fruit of the Spirit growing from the Root of Christ alone by the means of grace He has called us to be partakers of; even though it may seem ever so slow? Do we truly enjoy God for who He Is? Does our heart cry, to God alone be the glory?

Not everyone that saith, “Lord,
Look what I’ve done for You.”
But those through mercy and the blood
Of Christ have been made new.
For not all those who wear His Name
Will hear from Him, “Well Done.”
But only those He’s known before
All time, His race will run.

In vanity so many think
Acceptance will be found
And trust the light that they believe
Is truly solid ground.
But in the end; “Depart from me”,
God’s judgment they will hear.
“I never knew you”, nor did you
In reverence know My fear.

Though God be pleased in us to give
Great gifts to make Him known,
His character is greater still
By which His love is shown.
For as we grow in knowledge
By His grace we shall display
The fruit that bears His image
And will stand against that Day.

Oh may our speech come forth from Thee
That others know Thy Majesty,
That with us they may hear Thy voice
And follow Thee as all rejoice
To know Thy wisdom You make known
Through Jesus Christ upon Thy throne,
As through Thy written Word we hear
Thy upward call, and draw us near.

And as Your Spirit thus applies
The truths of which Your grace supplies,
We shall be more transformed each day
Though now our outer man decay.
We thank You that You have made clear
Your beauty is what shall appear.
For on that grand and glorious day
All will know Thy truth; Thy Way!

To God Alone Be The Glory!