The Fruit of Righteousness
In our last
lesson we learned about the fruit of repentance and how Paul’s rebuke (see 1 Corinthians 5) led the Corinthian
brethren to bear that fruit (2 Corinthians
7:8-12). I believe we can also conclude that the Corinthians went on to
bear the fruit of righteousness, because Hebrews 12:11 teaches us that God’s
chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness by those who are trained
by it. When
we are corrected by God (through His word,
Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 1:16-17) and allow ourselves to be
molded and trained by what He says – repenting by removing the bad and
implementing the good (just as the Corinthians brethren did) – then we, too,
can go on to develop the fruit of righteousness!
In
Philippians 1:9-11 we read Paul’s prayer for the brethren in Philippi:
- that their love might abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (v9)
- that they might approve the things that are excellent (v10)
- that they may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ (v10)
- be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the
praise and glory of God (v11)
Righteousness
is doing what is approved by God. For example: walking in love (Ephesians 5:1-7, 1 John 4:7-11), walking
in the light (John 3:16-21, Ephesians
5:8-14), and walking in wisdom (Ephesians
5:15-21). It is the daily, ongoing determination to obey God’s commands and instructions (1 John 3:7), not our own notions of what we think is “right’ or ‘good’ (consider 1 Corinthians 10:2-3). Read and
think on 1 John 2:3-6; if we walk just as Jesus walked and follow His steps (1 Peter 2:20-24) we can be sure of the
path - and God will be glorified!
“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.” (Proverbs 21:21 NKJV)
Another needed part for the production of this fruit is found in James 3:18; there James tells
us that the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18). He states this truth
immediately after talking of the untamable tongue and the need for wisdom that
comes from above (Hebrews 3:1-17); a
wisdom that teaches us good conduct (good fruit production) by purifying our hearts/minds
of cursing, bitter envy, and self-seeking.
God’s
wisdom enables us to live in peace (and
contentment, Philippians 4:4-13), because when we walk uprightly (Psalm 37:37), we can be at peace with God
(1 John 1:9, Acts 8:21-24) and with man
(Matthew 5:22-26, 44-48, Ephesians
4:26-27). We are to pursue peace with all people (Hebrews 12:14, Romans 12:18, 1
Timothy 2:1-4), without it we cannot hope to see God. If we want to be aligned with God, we must ask Him for wisdom (James
1:5) and use that wisdom to develop the fruit of righteousness (Ephesians 5:17)!
What you do is your fruit. What are you doing?
Do you recall God to your mind each morning,
ask Him for wisdom, and determine to walk with careful consideration of His commands and
instructions throughout your day? Do you do your very best to learn what is right in God's sight by reading and studying His word and by putting it into practice; making it an ongoing effort throughout your lifetime so you can abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (Hebrews 5:14)? Do you train yourself to recall God's instructions to your mind and follow them so that you can walk in sincerity and without offence and live in peace with Him and with mankind? These choices will encourage the fruit
of righteousness to develop and flourish in our lives!
You can do it! So can I!!
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