The Scripture says, only after having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, we get to partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) – and the fruit of the Spirit is that yield.
And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD (work out, attain) to your FAITH (free gift – 2Pet 1:1/Rom 12:3/Heb 12:2) virtue (the gift of faith that we receive from God is the foundation, upon which we build our spiritual life); and to virtue knowledge (gnosis); And to knowledge temperance (self-control); and to temperance patience (which is wrought by trials – Rom 5:3/James 1:3,4); and to patience godliness (godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come – 1 Tim 4:7,8/6:3); And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (agape – unfeigned love of the brethren – love one another with a pure heart fervently – 1 Peter 1:22). For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins (2 Peter 1:5-9).
For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do (Romans 7:19)
In this verse, though St. Paul is alluding the state of our fallen nature, it also speak briefly of a spiritually immature person (a babe in Christ)? 1 Cor 3:1-3/Heb 5:13 Let’s examine!
As a matter of fact, is not “the evil which I would not, that I do“—way of life, the upshot of not having the virtue, self-control? Is not an intemperate tongue, a sign of the lack of this fruit too? If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceive his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (James 1:26). Simultaneously, the Bible also affirms that “the tongue can no man tame“; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8). Why does the Bible seems to contradict itself? The truth is far from it. Irrefutably, the word of God is consistent and in harmony—the problem lies in how we understand it.
In actuality, no man can tame the tongue, because there is nothing good dwells in our flesh – Rom 7:18, and the inherent sin that dwells in us drive us do things that we would not – Rom 7:19. Only a change of heart or when we bear the fruit of the Spirit, could the heart/spirit release “life” to the tongue. For from the heart alone life outflows (Proverbs 4:23). Imagine the state of an unregenerate heart! It is impassable and he walks in darkness, and knows not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes (1 John 2:11).
A good man out of the good treasure (deposit) of his heart brings forth that which is good; (Luke 6:45) – for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Here also, it seems contradicting as the Bible asserts that there is none good, save one, that is, God (Luke 18:19) – Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they use deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips (Romans 3:13) – they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one (Romans 3:12) – Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness (Romans 3:14). A “good man” then means, a born-again new creature in Christ, from whose belly flows rivers of living water, in whom Christ lives – Gal 2:20.
Which also means, the unregenerate heart can only produce fruit unto death – Rom 7:5. By nature as it is a wild olive tree – Rom 11:24 – it is incapable of producing any goodness on its own (totally depraved). For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes (Luke 6:44).
Sadly this is the state of a spiritually immature soul too. Unless he/she works out their own salvation (from the depravity) through the Spirit on a daily basis, the offshoots of the old self could devour their spiritual essence. If we live after the flesh, we shall die, period – Rom 8:13.
Unless we supplant the law of sin and death* (which is in our members, that war against the law of our minds to enslave us again) *with “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” – Rom 8:2/7:23 – we shan’t see life at all. Mortifying the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit is that pruning phase, without which we cannot bear good fruit. Every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit (John 15:2). Simply put, be sanctified by the Holy Ghost (a progressive work). And this sanctification process concurs when we labor for the spiritual meat (the word of God), which endures unto everlasting life – John 6:27/1Cor 10:3,4 –the washing of water by the word (Eph 5:26).
When we press on to attain the righteousness that God wants us to inherit, we will come across a phase where we would be able to see clearly the filth that resides deep within us (despite how strong and deep our conversion was). The more we are filled with the Spirit of God, the more we would come to realize how corrupt and wicked we are. But that shouldn’t deter us from pursuing to be made whole. The more we come to realize how bad we are the more we humble ourselves and cling to our Savior Jesus Christ who alone is able also to save us to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).
The sanctification of the Holy Ghost is imperative to all believers—without which we cannot access the righteousness of God, neither can we partake of His holiness and the divine nature. Our flesh (nature) must experience some woes, which is the righteous judgments of God – 2Thess 1:4/1Pet 4:1,12-14/5:10 – before we could come in contact with any of these virtues— to partake of His holiness, to partake of the divine nature – 2Peter 1:4 – and to yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness – Heb 12:10,11.
A genuine Christian is often involved in wrestling—not with flesh and blood but with the powers of darkness’s, and ones own flesh. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure (1 John 3:3).
In order to put on the new man–which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness – Eph 4:22,24/Col 3:9,10, we must first purge the old man with its affections and lusts (to cease from sin – 1Pet 4:1/1John 3:6/5:18). Purge out therefore the old leaven (the leaven of malice and wickedness – 1 Cor 5:8 – cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit – 2 Cor 7:1), that ye may be a new lump (1 Cor 5:7).
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Gal 5:24/2:20/Rom 6:6). When the mortal body of Christ was crucified to the cross, God crucified our fallen nature also along with Christ the Son (in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ – Col 2:11). So, reckon that we have been crucified with Christ, was buried with him in baptism into death – Rom 6:4/Col 2:12 – and risen with him through the faith of the operation of God (Col 2:12).
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves (2 Corinthians 13:5). Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:34).
We cannot be oblivious to the danger of not putting off the old man with his deeds – Eph 4:22/Col 3:5-17. Without the fruit “SELF-CONTROL”, our religion is vain. We must bear fruit—and unless a branch abide in Christ, we cannot. Examine yourself! Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (James 3:11) A tree is known by his fruit. And we were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and the fruit we produced were “fruit unto death” – Romans 7:5/11:17,24. Now having grafted into a good olive tree, we must be able to produce good fruits. But if one can’t and only bad fruits are seen, then it is time to examine one’ stand—whether ye are yet carnal (babes in Christ – 1 Cor 3:1-3) or have not experienced the regeneration work of the Spirit of Christ.
The seed of God must first remain in a person to become a good tree (1 John 3:9)—which mean, ye must be born-again by the Spirit of God – John 3:5,6 – by the incorruptible word of God – 1Pet 1:23. Are you truly born of God? or are you a professing Christian who has some knowledge and belief about God? If you are of the later, what difference is there between the devils and you? For even devils believe and tremble and acknowledge God – Matt 8:29/ James 2:19. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus must supplant the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)—and for that to transpire, one must be born of God. Ye must experience the work of regeneration in your soul.
On our own we can only produce sin; but God can impute and impart life into us that we could bring forth fruit unto eternal life. Being made free from sin (its power/dominion – only through Jesus Christ one could achieve this), and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end (advantage) everlasting life (Romans 6:22).
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2)—this is a spiritual man, mature in spirit, who is skillful in the word of righteousness – Heb 5:13,14. Everyone born of the Spirit possess a spiritual nature but the heir, as long as he is a child (babe in Christ, yet carnal – 1Cor 3:1-3), differs nothing from a servant (Gal 4:1); we must grow thereby – 1 Peter 2:2 – must grow in grace – 2 Peter 3:18.
A good fruit is considered edible, nourishing, fragrant, and is pleasant as well. Didn’t Jesus cursed the fig tree because he didn’t find any fruit in it? Every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away (John 15:2). Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit (John 15:8). There are other factors too that could make us barren—the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, which when allowed to entering in, it chokes the word sown, and thus becomes unfruitful (Matthew 13:22/ Mark 4:19). That is why it is imperative that we put on the Lord Jesus Christ* (put off firstly the old man, which is corrupt – Eph 4:22/Col 3:8 – and put on the new-man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness – Eph 4:24 – to simply put, live and walk in the Spirit – Gal 5:25 – be spiritually minded – Rom 8:6), *and not make provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14). If a man abide not in me (carnally minded, live after the flesh – Rom 8:5-8,13), he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered (John 15:6). Few branches of Israel refused to abide in Christ and wert cut off, weren’t they? They denied the Holy One and the Just!
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them Matthew 7:16-20. For every one that does evil hates the light (John 3:20)
The fall of man was nothing but being grafted to the wild olive tree—“eating of the forbidden tree” was the initiating act of that legal transaction between man and the devil. By eating its fruit, man handed over the control of his domain to the devil. But now: Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness (spiritual blindness; Choshek) and in the shadow of death (sin at the helm – 1Cor 15:56/Rom 6:14), to guide our feet into the way of peace – Luke 1:78,79. Now Christ, the tree of life, which was once disallowed due to sin – Genesis 3:24 – is made accessible for all who come to him – John 6:37 – and they that overcomes* (that have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – 2 Peter 2:20/1 John 5:4,5/Galatians 1:4) *get to eat of the tree of life and live forever – Revelation 2:7. But many will not come to Christ, that they might have life (John 5:40)!
Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby (Hebrews 12:5-11).