"The true value of a Christian is not in deeds," said a pastor from a church in Wuhan. "Faith is not believing in some truth, but in changing one's life and producing fruit in keeping with repentance. Further, fruit is not borne by man's own efforts, but by a connection with the Lord."
The article published on the WeChat platform of the church quoted Matthew 3:8, "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." John the Baptist said this to the Pharisees and Sadducees, calling them a "brood of vipers," because they didn't truly repent. They knew the principles and valued traditions and rules, but they acted hypocritically.
"Faith isn't merely knowing or believing Christ's truth, it needs a true life and changing behavior," said the article's author. The original meaning of the word "repent" is "to change the heart." It is the change in one's nature causing outside behavioral changes. Also, "In keeping with" means "to correspond to," meaning that actions should line up with the heart.
The author says that Christians should, for this reason, show actions of repentance, live a corresponding life, and change their lifestyle. "Christians shouldn't be always on the phone like 'phone fixers.' Nor should they immediately pick up the TV remote control when they put the phone down." The author said this to show that Christians should not waste time, since it is a gift from God which Christians should be faithful stewards of.
The author used a metaphor about fig trees to explain that Christians will be fruitless even though they have wonderful foliage, if they only pursue outside religious ritual without bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.
To show how a Christian bears fruit, the article quotes John 15:5 where Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." It's not a single effort by us, but our efforts in connection to God. "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night," quoted the author. Christians should compare themselves with God's law instead of with others. "Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of a sinful nature." This is how Christians can undermine sin's power and bear the Fruit of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
"The true value of a Christian is their "fruit," which is the spontaneous product rather than mere actions," said the author.
Translated by: Grace Hubl
