Fruit That Remains

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

A Works and Good Works

1. A sinner cannot produce good works acceptable to God

2. Only a believer can produce good works indwelled and controlled by the Holy Spirit

B Can We Be Justified by Works at All?

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (yes and no)If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, (corresponding actions) if it does not have works, is dead (no better than a sinner).

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (Luke 2:14-18)

1. Outward works displays our faith to the world

2. Faith in the heart shows our salvation before God

3. Outward works are our salvation before the world

“But do you want to know, O foolish (empty)man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works (before the world)when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?(years after salvation) Do you see that faith was working together (partnered)with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  (Luke 2:20-26)

1. Works do not justify us before God (Romans 4:2)

2. Works do justify us before the world (show our faith)

C What Are Good Works?

1. There are good works and bad works, right and wrong uses of works

2. You cannot find one scripture defining works then make all others fit it

3. Works are wrong when used to win God’s approval, love, or the praise of people

4. Works are good when used to show God’s love to exhort or restore believers or win the lost

5. Works are right or wrong by the motive behind them

6. Good works are our entrance into the world, society around us

7. Another word for works is witnessing, words, or deeds

D Production for the Lord is Produced In Our Time but Transcends Our Time

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep…” (Acts 13:36)

1. A generation contains all ages present at the time

2. Like David, you have been called by God to:

   a. Find His will

   b. Then, serve your own generation by God’s will.

3. David did not try to affect coming generations, but did

   a. David’s job was to serve his generation

   b. God’s job was to use him to affect other generations

4. David served his own generation by God’s will

5. Yet, generations of kings were compared to David

E We Are Put in a Specific Place and Time Period

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings…” (Acts 17:26”

1. You had no choice of family, time or place of birth

2. Like ripples going out from a rock in water, so your fruit is to other generations when you do God’s will

3. If God’s plan was for you to serve the next generation, He would have place you there

   a. Do not live in the past, reflecting on better days

   b. Do not live in the future, waiting for better days

   c. Live your life and minister for today

“You have come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)

F Heaven and Earth Will Pass Away.  Good Works Will Not

“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.  They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment.  Like a cloak, You will fold them up, and they will be changed.  But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)

1. Seven times the earth is stained and washed

2. Finally, the earth will wear out and be thrown away like an old shirt

3. Natural things will change.  Spiritual things will never change

G What Will Change?

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven I (atmosphere) and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1)

1. The first heaven (air) will be changed, cleansed

2. The fallen, cursed earth will change

3. The earth will be ruled by Jesus Christ and saints

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)

4. Works done in the flesh will be destroyed

a. Buildings

b. Hospitals

c. Libraries

d. U.N.

e. Science

-Our righteous works will remain eternally

H We Are Left Here To Minister O Others, Bear Fruit

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”  (John 15:1-2,5,16)

1. Fruit-bearing covers three areas:

   a. Character – This is the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.  The inward power which produces a display of righteousness to the world

   b. Conduct – This one, along with the character, is what Jesus was referring to when He said, “You shall know them by their fruit” (Luke 6:44)

   This is not a number of converts, signs and wonders, but moral character which produces godly character

   c. Works – The number of people we see come to the Lord through our words and deeds

2. Fruit we produce should remain as a testimony after we are gone

   a. It is God’s will that our fruit should remain, leave a legacy (John 15:16)

   b. Only production for the Lord will last

   1 Natural production, our social and business lives on earth, will fade quickly

   2 Social agendas never advance.  They make only a momentary change, eventually, make matters worse

   a. Ending poverty and hunger

   b. Global warming

   c. Improve racial conditions

   3 Your job is to use any means possible to make eternal change

   4 Socal orders change with the times, but the work of God, local churches, and Bible schools remain

3. Dwight L. Moody was a contemporary of Jane Addams

   a. Both lived in Chicago and began works around the same time

   b. Jane Addams believed there was a spark of good in everyone, and if man's environment was changed, the good would surface and the world would be a better place. She did not understand that even in the environment, two perfect people still sinned creating an imperfect world. Man's evil heart created our evil environment. As a Nobel Peace Prize winner pacifist, she fought for women's rights, peace, and social reform.  She built Hull-House in Chicago, raising up men and women to change society.

   c. Dwight L. Moody believed man was born in sin and there was no good in him.  Divine good had to be received by faith in Jesus Christ.  Man’s environment could change only when man’s heart changed.  He taught and sent out men and women into the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

   d. Moody Publishers, Northfield Mount Herman Prep School, and Moody Bible Institute still exist today and continue to instruct men and women in God’s Word.  Innumerable testimonies of ministers, pastors, Bible teachers, evangelists, and missionaries abound, showing the continuing fruit of Dwight L. Moody.

   e. After Jane Addams died, Hull-House became a museum in a crime-ridden, decaying part of Chicago.  It went bankrupt and was closed in January 2012.  Although she is said to have been an inspiration to many, no testimony was ever recorded of a changed life because of the work of Jane Addams.

“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:8)