The Humility of Faith
Notes
Transcript
Open your bible with me to Luke 6:43-49
In downtown San Francisco, the sleek 58-story Millennium Tower was completed in 2009 as a symbol of luxury, offering million-dollar condos and sweeping views of the San Fransico Bay. But beneath its polished exterior was a critical flaw: it was the building’s foundation — it was built on soft soil rather than bedrock.
It was a problem that wasn't immediately apparent. As, I read the headline this week from an article entitled – “Leaning By Two Feet, The $100 Million Fix For San Francisco’s Leaning Tower May Have Worked.” The article went on to explain.
But just a few years after opening, residents noticed cracks and tilting floors. By 2016, the towerhad sunk 16 inches and tilted 6 inches; by 2022, it had sunk 18 inches and leaned nearly 28 inches. A $100 million retrofit—driving 52 pilings into bedrock—was launched but worsened the problem, causing more sinking and tilting.
In 2022, engineers discovered an underground shoring wall that had blocked the fix. The plan was revised: instead of 52, only 18 deep piles were installed on the leaning side. By mid-2023, the tilt had reversed by about an inch—promising, but engineers say continued monitoring is essential to ensure long-term stability.
And if you are anything like me, you probably won’t be moving to California anytime soon, but you'd certainly steer clear of the Millennium Tower. Despite its nice appearance, the foundation is flawed.
This real-life example parallels exactly what Jesus warns in Luke 6. A life that looks impressive—built on religious talk, routines, or appearance—can sink under pressure if its foundation is unsound. Attempts to fix a flawed foundation may even worsen the problem unless the root is addressed correctly. But true faith—obedience born of a heart anchored in Christ, the Rock—stands firm.
Sermon Summary: "True faith bears fruit and stands firm on the foundation of Christ.”
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
This is God’s word. Let’s pray.
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I. Good Fruit is Borne From A Changed Heart (v.43-45)
I. Good Fruit is Borne From A Changed Heart (v.43-45)
Jesus has said a lot in this sermon. And the way that He ends, we mentioned last week, through a series of parables. The first was the speck and a log, and now the tree and its fruit, along with a house and its foundation. And Parables can be a little difficult; they can be tricky. They would often leave people confused and even frustrated. But they are dripping with meaning, and frequently Jesus has to explain them, even to His disciples. Jesus spoke this way so that those who had ears to hear would hear, and those with eyes to see would see. But more than that, Jesus is after the heart, and a heart inclined toward obedience. These two parables are clearer, because in giving them, Jesus gives a quick, but sufficient explaination to them.
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Think about it in the context of what Jesus has just said. He just gave a warning and a caution about wrong judgment. Don’t be a hypocrite and judge another when you have a log in your eye. It’s not that judgment is always wrong, but judgment needs to be right. And most often, in judgment, we are constantly focusing on others. The speck in their eye. The wrong is in their heart. We make assumptions, we parse motive and personality. But so often we are wrong.
Jesus, instead, says there is one you ought to judge rightly first, namely yourself. And so, let me give you the way in which you can judge yourself rightly. It’s by looking at your own life and the fruit of your own life. And in both of these remaining parables – Jesus is pointing out the danger of hypocrisy of being a hearer of the word, and not a doer of the word. James 1:22.
There are a couple of ways of thinking about people. I think if you were to ask some random person on the street. Hey, do you think people are generally good or generally bad? Like you look at the inner self, are their intentions good or evil? I think most people would likely respond, I think most people, in their intentions, they intend to be good….Maybe not now, I think the evil in our world is pretty exposed and unashamed. Yet, if you ask most Christians, are people good or evil? Most Christians, if they read their Bibles, know….the hearts of man are wicked and sinful….That no one does good, not even one.
Jesus is making that plain, but he’s also saying, you want to see proof of one's life and their heart….Just look at the fruit of their life.
You don’t have to be a horticulturist to know the laws of nature. The type of tree will determine its fruit. You have an apple tree planted in your yard; you can expect apples. Pears, can expect pears, etc., etc. EACH TREE is KNOWN by its own fruit! Figs (good fruit) are not gathered from a thorn bush, nor are grapes (good fruit) picked from a bramble bush (or another type of thorn bush).
Moreover, the fruit comes from the produce of the heart. Luke 6:45
45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
In other words, the speech, the actions, the willingness to forgive, and love. Everything we do, the fruit of our lives, comes from somewhere. It comesfrom someplace deep within us. It’s coming from the overflow of the heart. The words you say that just slipped up. We don’t know where it came from, well, Jesus is telling us where it came from. It came from the heart.
These things — words, actions, attitudes— are cultivated, treasured, and eventually revealed. And when that fruit shows up, it becomes clear what kind of treeit came from. These things are cultivated, they are treasured. And they are eventually seen and demonstrated. And when the fruitis revealed, it becomes clear what type of tree it is.
I think you get the picture. We aren’t trees, we aren’t bushes. We are people. But the question is emphatically implied. What is the fruit of your life and heart, and what type of tree you truly are?
And this is where thinking in terms of the world will leave you lacking in what Jesus means here. The world will stop and pull up shy, and think, well, I’m not that bad. I mean, sure, I do bad stuff time to time, but in my heart of hearts, I’m pretty good….so ok, I’ll just do right, do more, and do better. But that’s not what Jesus means. Because this is not the goodness that Jesus speaks. Jesus isn’t speaking about civil goodness or common goodness. He isn’t speaking about even moral goodness. Jesus is speaking about true goodness. Goodness, that is impossible for us, because the heart of the problem for us is the problem of the heart!
Our hearts are corrupt and polluted. Our hearts are sinful. They are wicked and decayed. Our hearts in natural flesh, are a bad tree.
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
And so, when a Pharisee came to Jesus by night, inquiring of Jesus. Jesus says, Nicodemus, you must be BORN AGAIN! You must be transformed. You must be regenerated! You must be born again, God must create in you an entirely new tree!!! Not a tree that’s corrupted, but one that’s been renewed. Not a heart that’s wicked and hard, but a new heart of flesh….Not an evil heart, but God must give you a heart that is good!!
This was the anticipation of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 36 - Ezekiel 36:26
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
The only way we become a good tree is by the new birth in Christ. So Jesus, isn’t meaning civil goodness, he’s not meaning common goodness – he’s such a good guy, and he doesn’t even mean moral goodness. Jesus means true goodness. Spiritual goodness…Goodness that only happens through regeneration! God making us a new creatures!! It’s the only way we become a good tree!!
But if you are a good tree –one that has been born again! That will be seen, how, through good fruit!! So you don’t have to wonder much. Not that you’ll always be perfect. Not that you’ll always get it right 100% of the time. But you can look at the yield? You can examine fruit. It’s this good fruit or bad fruit. And what does this say – about my heart!!
So, contextually speaking, am I a hypocrite, and do I judge others wrongly. Look at their specks while ignoring my logs? I withhold forgiveness and hold onto judgment, I’m greedy, self-seeking, self-righteous, and prideful?… What is this heart? What is this tree?
You see urgency in scripture to this. In examples like James 3:10-12(of the tongue) James 3:10-12
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Or in James 1:22
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Or in Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira, professing one thing, and then doing another. Living for themselves and selfish gain. Acts 5:3-
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
You see it in examples like Galatians 5 – Here is bad fruit….FRUIT OF THE FLESH!!
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
You look at a list like that. And you could, begin to say, I mean, some of that I get. There is some nasty stuff in there! Sexual immorality, impurity, sorcery, orgies….you know the bad stuff!! But who doesn’t get angry? Who doesn’t struggle with jealousy? Or Rivalries – DIVISIONS! This is common stuff….It’s not like this other bad stuff!! That’s just human nature, right?!?
SIGH – We don’t understand – that’s Paul’s point that our nature has been corrupted! And the minute you think – well, this sin is worse than the next, is the moment you degrade the holiness of God. They are all wicked. They are all evil!! They are all offensive to the way, commands, and law of God! And Paul says, I warned you that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!!
Because they are all fruit of a heart that is corruptedby sin, and content living in sin, and against Godand His word, and against His character. So, while our sins may come with a variety of consequences, they are all evil!! And what we need is not a nice sprucing up….what we need is a new heart! A Heart that’s been redeemed, transformed, made new. Regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
So Paul’s point here is Galatians – is to say, if that’s happened – THEN STOP LIVING IN THE FLESH!!
And instead – do what? – produce the good fruit….the Fruit of the Spirit!!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
And the only way we can produce this fruit is by the Lord's power, causing us to be born again, into new creatures. Making us into a good tree that bears good fruit, that no longer produces evil. And Fruit that comes from the good treasure. And produces fruit that is nourished by living in light of Christ, and cultivated by bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.
The heart is the greatest revealer of the soul because it exposes our true identity. What the heart produces — what it reveals — shows who we really are. The fruit it bears is undeniable evidence of its actual condition. Is the heart good or evil? Alive or dead? Redeemed or unredeemed? Is it hard, calloused, and cold? Or has it been born again, made new by the Spirit of God?
--------------------------------------------------- Good Fruit is Borne From A Changed Heart (v.43-45)
II. Obedience is Built From a Transformed Life (v.46-49)
II. Obedience is Built From a Transformed Life (v.46-49)
Jesus continues to build on this point. That is true faith is born from a transformed heart, the new birth, and cultivated in repentance, then that life is demonstrated in obedience to the Lordship of Christ. Moreover, the point Jesus is making here is that in the same way, you can tell a tree by its fruit, so also, you can tell a true disciple by their willingness to submit and obey Jesus. To say it another way, right confession is meaningless without allegiance and submission to Jesus. More than that, right confession without obedience and submission to Christ is even dangerous. And he shows that by contrast, of the safety of a good foundation, but also the danger of a bad foundation.
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Jesus does the same thing he’s just done. He makes a big idea statement, then explains and expounds on that truth. And the big statement here, v46. “WHY DO YOU CALL ME LORD, LORD, and not do what I tell you?” Jesus continues from the previous context, from the overflow of the mouth, the mouth speaks, but is also seen in the heart of a person. In that this person, say one thing, and even the right thing, and yet they live another – So Jesus says in v.47 – then I will show you what he is like. This is the true heart and identity of the person. Not just what they say, but also, how they live. Are they willing to obeyChrist’s word or not? That thought continues down in v.49– that he is like a man, who builds a house without a foundation. So again, big statement, explanation, and expansion of what He means.
Of a man who says one thing. And then does another. What do you call that? James calls him a hearer of the word, but not a doer! And here is a man who addresses Jesus as Lord – which can mean sir, or teacher, but it can also mean master. Here, it’s emphatic, (LORD, LORD) it means GOD! And means that you submit to Him. It means you are obedient to HIM….And yet, Jesus says, you say this, but you don’t obey! You don’t do what I tell you!
Well, you could call it a few things. First, you could call him a hypocrite. And that’s certainly in view, given the man who judges wrongly with the log in his eye. You could also call this, as the Puritans often do, living in unbelief. Like you want to listen, you want to believe, you want to obey, but you just aren’t quite ready, for one reason or another. You want to believe God can forgive you, but it’s hard for you to really place your faith in him, and to repent and believe the gospel. You want to believe the Lord is working in your trial and struggle, but you can never come to a place of peace and trust the Lord. You want to believe that fearing God is all you need, but you continue to live in the fear of man. You know you should pray, but aren’t convinced it makes a difference. You want to read the bible, but surelyGod will give me another message. All forms of unbelief. But I think more is happening here than just hypocrisy or unbelief….
I believe that at the heart of what is happening here is a breach of the 3rd commandment. What is the 3rd commandment? That one is easy to forget. Cue Ex 20….cue the song we sing on Wednesday Nights with our kids. 1- Love the Lord your God. 2. Don’t worship any other 3. Be careful using my great name – You shall not take the name of Lord your God in vain.
We tend to think of the violation of the 3rd command as using God’s name as a curse word. Saying GD, or using his name in an unholy, meaningless way. And it certainly is that. But it’s also living unfaithfully under the name of Christ, whom we profess as LORD, LORD! So the problem isn’t just hypocrisy. Though that’s bad, it’s not just unbelief, though that is dangerous. The problem is greater still. To live this way is to violate the very law and nature of God. Taking God’s name in vain also means claiming His name while living in a way that contradicts who He is. To call Him Lord is to call Him King. It’s to call Him Divine. It’s to call Him God! Then to not submit to Him. Not Obey Him. It’s not just hypocritical. It’s not just unbelief. It’s rebellion and vanity.
It’s calling ourselves Christians—literally 'Christ-bearers'—but acting in ways that dishonor Him. When we use His name to justify hate, manipulation, greed, or pride, we are misusing His name.
It’s not just about what we say—it’s about how we live. To bear His name is a blessed responsibility. Least We SAY in vain, Lord, LORD – and then do NOT DO what HE SAYS.
A more than that, it reveals heart. And I will show you, what HE IS LIKE! – First. Of the man who does hear, and does obey(v.47-48) “48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
And then negatively (v.49) 49 But the one who hearsand does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
To call Jesus Lord is what the church has done since its conception. This was the earliest Creed and confession of the church – Jesus is LORD. From as far back as Matthew 16, who do you say that I am?….YOU ARE THE CHRIST – Son of the LIVING GOD!! And what you see within early local churches, like Colossians and Philippians
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Philippians 2:9-11(ESV)
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is what Christians believe. It is Christ who we profess! It is Jesus whom we proclaim as LORD!
Romans 10:9(ESV)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Corinthians 12:3(ESV)
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
This is what it means to make a right profession. To confess rightly and do appear, born again! Saved, Redeemed. A Christian, a Disciple! And yet – Jesus knows, understands….expects, that right confession comes with allegiance and submission to his Lordship. To callHim Lord means to obey. And will be demonstrated through right living under His authority.
And to just call Him Lord, but not submit to Him, is to undermine and put into subjection the very truth you confess. It reveals hypocrisy. It reveals unbelief, and reveals potentially WHO YOU REALLY ARE. I’ll show what he’s like!!
And then Jesus brings up two types of foundation. Two houses, both may look great. Pristine, well-kept. This is NICE!! Both look fine….Until the flood comes. Until the stream broke and the rivers rose up against the house. And began to test the very foundation on which they are built. That happens to condos in San Fransico. It happens with all buildings and structures. But it also happens to us in all of life. That the foundation of our faith is tested!! And the question in the end, will it stand or will it fall?
It happens through circumstances. The outward tests. These are the challenges and hardships that come from the world around us—things we face externally. They come in the form of financial struggles, health issues, loss, rejection, or difficult relationships. These tests can and will push us to see whether our faith holds up when life’s storms hit. Just like a house facing floods or storms, our faith foundation is revealed when circumstances get tough. Will we stand firm, or will we be swept away?
It happens through temptations: these inward trials and private testing. Internal battles—struggles with desires, doubts, fears, or sin. They are private, often unseen by others, but they profoundly test the integrity of our faith and character. We may be tempted to lessen the seriousness of them, but they are deadly and dangerous, because they often go unseen. Unknown to others, until it’s too late. Temptations challenge us to remain loyal and pure when no one is watching. This is where the heart is examined, and our true foundation is tested by what we choose to do or not do.
It happens through heresy and false teaching. These intellectual tests. Challenges to our beliefs and understanding. Sometimes people or ideas will try to distort or undermine the truth we hold. Through false teachings, certainly, but that’s not all. The danger isn’t usually the televangelist, the TBN guys. Those guys just look creepy. Do people really watch those guys?...I know many do, and if you do, then stop. Like Joel Osteen, turn him off…I could keep going, but that’s not the only form of false teaching. Sometimes it comes in the form of undermining the revealed and clear meaning of the biblical text. We just get too smart, we outsmart the bible, and we believe lies over the truth of scripture. Heresy and false teaching require discernment, knowledge, and wisdom. Will we hold fast to the truth of the Gospel, or will we be led astray? It’s like the foundation being tested by intelligent critiques or erosion—does our faith stand intellectually and spiritually?
It happens through various trials and tribulations, of which there are many for those who will enter the Kingdom of God(Acts 14:22)
But don’t miss it. Both houses face hardships in Luke 6. The difference is that one stands and remains. And the other comes to ruin. And the difference is the foundation on which it was built.
Jesus makes a bold and uncomfortable distinction in this passage — not between believer sand non-believers in the usual sense, but between those who hear His words and obey and those who hear but do nothing.
Both groups:
Hear the same message.
Sit under the same teaching.
May even call Jesus “Lord.”
But only one builds wisely. Why? Because obedience reveals the difference between knowledge that saves and knowledge that merely informs. The disobedient builder isn’t described as evil or hostile — just careless. He heard the truth but didn’t apply it. He knew the truth but didn’t live it.
Obedience isn’t legalism. It’s love in action.
Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). True disciples don’t just admire Jesus; they follow Him. They take His words seriously — not as suggestions, but as the foundation for life.
On the other hand, disobedience may not seem dramatic — it may look passive, even well-meaning. But in Luke 6, we know it’s end, it leads to total collapse. Not because the person didn’t hear, but because they refused to live accordingly.
And here Jesus says the difference was the foundation on whichthey were built. Both houses in the parable encountered testing, but the hardship is not what differentiates them. The storm hits both. What makes the difference is the foundation. One was laid on no foundation, and the other was laid on the foundation of the rock.
So Jesus says,
47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
The rock is the foundation of Christ as Lord, and living obedience to Him— trusting in Him, obeying His words, and building life upon the truth of His gospel. The other house, built without foundation, represents a life that hears but does not trust or obey — and it collapses in ruin.
And this is what the author of Hebrews picks up in Hebrews 6:19
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” because of the finished work of Jesus.
That anchor in life, in death, good times and bad, is Christ. He is the hope — sure and steadfast—who has entered the Most Holy Place on our behalf. His finished work, His gospel, is not just the foundation beneath us but also the anchor that holds us fast through every trial.
So we can say:
Trials will come
But only the house built on Christ — the-rock will stand.
You know, when I read this passage—when I really sit with Jesus’ words—I can’t help but ask: What does this say about me? No doubt, that is what it would have caused His disciples to think.
Because the truth is… I'm often quick to make judgments about others. I point fingers. I shift blame. I cover up my own sin. And if I’m being honest, the fruit in my life? It's not always what I want it to be. Sometimes it's bitter. Sometimes it’s rotten. Sometimes it’s fruit I’m not proud of.
And if I’m really honest—like honest in the deep places I don’t want anyone else to see—sometimes I live like a hypocrite. I say the right things, but I don't always live them. I live in doubt and sometimes in unbelief. I struggle. I violate God's law. I’m just like you….I'm a sinner—a rebel. And sometimes…I just feel like a failure.
Because I know what it’s like when the storm comes. When the waters rise. When the stream breaks and beats against the house. I’ve been there. Some of you are there right now. And you’re asking, just like I have: Is this going to hold?
And if you're feeling that—feel it. Don’t push it down. Don’t pretend it’s not there. That ache, that conviction, that wrestling? It might just be the Spirit of God, prompting you, working in you, leading you to genuine, lasting faith.
So, feel it—but the hope is that you don’t stay there. But instead, run to Jesus.
Because where we’ve failed, Christ has succeeded on our behalf. Where we’ve produced bad fruit, He bore the curse of our sin on the tree. Where our foundation has cracked, Christ stands unshaken. When we failed to live in truth, Jesus fulfilled it. And where we fell short of the Law, He fulfilled it on our behalf.
So yes, be honest about your fruit. Be honest about your foundation. But don’t despair. Look to Jesus—He is the true tree bearing good fruit. He is the solid rock beneath our feet. In Him, even the storms of life, circumstances, temptations, and trials of various kinds cannot shake you.
Let your foundation be Christ, may your hope be anchored in Him, and your endurance be grounded in the truth of His gospel and living in light of Christ….He is LORD, LORD….so we follow Him in obedience.
Both Christians and non-Christians will encounter testing, trials, and storms. But it’s Jesus that makes the difference. Oh, that you might put your hope in Christ today. In repentance and faith. True faith that follows Him in obedience.
Sermon Summary: "True faith bears fruit and stands firm on the foundation of Christ.”
