Bible Questions Answered: Known By Fruits

Bible Question:
I know the bible tells us to recognize people and their actions by being good or evil, where is that?
Shelly K./ Albany NY

Bible Answer:

Matthew 7:20 (Our Lord taught us...) "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

There are of course no more or no less than two kinds of fruits. Good fruits that bless, strengthen and heal, and evil fruits that curse, weaken and kill.

Now wherever you are in the world, you will find these fruits. Yes, in the world, and or the church. Always be ready to recognize, and know them for what they are.

Evil Fruits:

Evil Fellowship: Ephesians 5: 3-11

[3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
[4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
[5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
[6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
[7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
[8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
[9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
[10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
[11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

II Timothy 3:1-5 NLT (The Apostle Paul warns young Timothy of "seemingly, religious, people.")
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly (The Blood of Jesus Christ). Stay away from people like that!

Galatians 5:19- NLT19
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22-23 (mentions good fruit, but here we will consider their antithesis.)

Love, (the opposite of which is) Hate-Hatred

Joy, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sadness, Sorrow

Peace- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - Melancholy, Despair

Longsuffering - - - - - - - - - - Short Tempored

Gentleness - - - - - - - - - - - - Harshness, Cruelness

Goodness - - - - - - - - - - - - - Evil

Faith - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Doubt, Despair, Melancholy

Meekness - - - - - - - - - - - - - Brashness, Boldness, Impetuous, Offensiveness

Temperance - - - - - - - - - - - Without Self Control, Lawless

Ephesians 5:9

Righteousness- - - - - - - - - - - - Sinfulness, Evil

Truth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lies

Always, we must check "our-actions," by the list above!
Our ego, would tell us that "we," never could fall under such categories!
But the Word of God would remind us....

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

Evil Fruit-continued

James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

I John 2:15 KJV “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

I Corinthians 15:33 RSV “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

II Corthians 6:17,18
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and
I will receive you,
[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.


Good Fruit:

Galatians 5:22,23
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance (self-control): against such there is no law.”

Ephesians 5:9 JKV “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;”

Matthew 7:20 KJV “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

Hebrews 12:12-14 KJV
[12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
[13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Matthew 7:13-23 KJV
[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(Sham Religion, Religious acts and service, out of an inward call to do so, but from a rebellious, unyielding life, of rebellious sin.
A facade of Religiosity, with out the Redeemer.
A Most Damnable Sin, Because It Leads Innocent Victims Into Its Pit Of Spiritual Death.)

[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
[21] Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord (Religious, False Piety, but “not, under the blood of Christ.”), shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord (Religious; supposed Servants, for “Lord means-Master,” but “not, under the blood of Christ.”),
have we not prophesied in thy name (Religious; seemingly Charismatic, but “not, under the blood of Christ.”)?
and in thy name have cast out devils (Religious; seemingly Charismatic, but “not, under the blood of Christ”)?
and in thy name done many wonderful works (Religious; seemingly men of Faith, but “not, under the blood of Christ”)?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

(Sham Religion, Religious acts and service, out of an inward call to do so, but from a rebellious, unyielding life, of rebellious sin.
A facade of Religiosity, with out the Redeemer.
A Most Damnable Sin, Because It Leads Innocent Victims Into Its
Pit Of Spiritual Death.)

Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves :
it is the gift of God:

[9] Not of works,(not by false, empty religious works of piety, by a people who do not know or serve the Lord Jesus Christ.) lest any man should boast.

[10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.