Bearing Fruit through the Gospel Truth

01b Bearing Fruit through the Gospel Truth (Not preached)

Isaiah 37:31 “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:” While we are not of the house of Judah, we might still want to examine ourselves and see if we have in fact taken root in the gospel and are indeed bearing fruit.

Indeed, we may soon find ourselves to be part of an ever-shrinking remnant of Christians in this nation.

Are we prepared to bear fruit in a hostile nation?

The fact that Biden has appointed a transgender person as Assistant Secretary of Health is just another huge indication of the moral depravity of this nation.

We now live in a nation led by a handful of people that not only oppose our moral beliefs and values but out right hate them and all those that adhere to them.

Nonetheless, we press on and we press on with the intentions of bearing fruit. We are the Moral Majority and we need to make sure we are being just that.

Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:”

We must be diligent in pressing forth “the word of the truth of the gospel.” It’s not that we are to shove the Gospel down someone’s face, that will only lead to further rejection, but we must live it out in our day to day activities, sharing the love or God and the grace of God in truth.

Two occasions are recorded in the book of Matthew where Jesus was spit upon (26:67, 27:30). There is nothing recorded of Him having retaliated against anyone. That’s the grace of God being lived out.

Christ said the world would hate us. John 15:16-20.

Knowing God’s grace in truth would first require you to know you. To be honest with yourself about the sins you have committed and against whom it is that you have committed them – God. When you see God for who HE is and yourself for who you really are, then you will begin to understand the Grace of God in the light of the truth about you.

(Turn to what must I do to be saved and then back to bearing fruit.)

Here’s a gospel truth worth fleshing out – What must I do to be saved?

The Christian Life: What must I do to be saved? Is Christianity an Easy Believe ism?

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16:29-30

What must I do to be saved?

· How do we answer the question?

· What are we to tell men that ask, “what must I do to be saved”?

o Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

· How do we answer the question, “why do I have to be saved”?

o Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

o Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

o Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

· What do we tell them when they ask, “saved from what”?

o Eternal Destruction

§ Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

§ Matthew 25:46 And these [those that did not serve Him] shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

§ Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

· Is it really an easy believe salvation? (Just believe)

· Where does repentance come in to play?

· What did Jesus preach?

o Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

o Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

What must I do to be saved? (Is there more to it than simply believe?)

1. To Believe – Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

a. Live by faith – Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)

i. To Share that faith – Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2. To Follow

a. Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. All four Gospels declare this.

b. Be Christ like

i. Fruit of the Spirit – Love, joy, peace…

3. To make Christ Lord – 115 or more times HE is referred to as Lord in the NT.

a. Surrender all

i. To serve Him as a bondservant - Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

ii. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Who can be saved? Whosoever. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Back to Colossians 1.

Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope [1 John 3:3] which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; [truth that we just covered] 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:”

SO, let us go into all the world and bear fruit for our God and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, even as the gospel has borne fruit in us.