In a recently debated hot topic thread I posted about seeking evidence for regeneration by looking for the fruit - namely conversion. I argued that a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit. I was told that my verses did not apply to the discussion at hand since the verses in Matthew are used to identify false teachers and not refer to every day people bearing fruit.
However, upon further reflection, we find that the principle given in those verses in Matthew remain true - we tell a tree by its fruit.
And even then, if that takes the verses in Matthew out of context, then all we really need to do is flip over in our Bibles to Luke chapter 6, where we read:
43"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Here, with no contextual evidence of "teachers" as the subject we read that a good man out of the treasures of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man also from the treasures of his heart brings forth evil. All men speak and live from the heart.
So if we want to claim that a person is regenerate (without opening that can of worms another time) we really can say that we must look for evidence. We must examine the fruit! Because if we think a tree is good but it only bears bad fruit then we have no Biblical basis whatsoever to presume, assume, or even theorize that the tree is good!
We know them by their fruit.
Phillip
[Edited on 6-16-05 by pastorway]
However, upon further reflection, we find that the principle given in those verses in Matthew remain true - we tell a tree by its fruit.
And even then, if that takes the verses in Matthew out of context, then all we really need to do is flip over in our Bibles to Luke chapter 6, where we read:
43"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Here, with no contextual evidence of "teachers" as the subject we read that a good man out of the treasures of his heart brings forth good things and an evil man also from the treasures of his heart brings forth evil. All men speak and live from the heart.
So if we want to claim that a person is regenerate (without opening that can of worms another time) we really can say that we must look for evidence. We must examine the fruit! Because if we think a tree is good but it only bears bad fruit then we have no Biblical basis whatsoever to presume, assume, or even theorize that the tree is good!
We know them by their fruit.
Phillip
[Edited on 6-16-05 by pastorway]