Vrugte wat ware Christene dra

Furthermore, brethre, whatsoeuer things are true,
whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer thinges are iust, whatsoeuer thinges are pure, whatsoeuer thinges are worthie loue, whatsoeuer things are of good report, if there be any vertue,
or if there be any praise, thinke on these things,
Philippians 4:8 ― Geneva Bible 1599

As ons werklik bekeer het en wedergebore is, dra ons die vrugte van Christenskap. Hebreërs 10:22-24 sê ook dat ons, as gelowiges, mekaar moet aanmoedig om die goeie te doen. Die voorreg en vermoëns en geleenthede om goeie werke te doen, kom uit die Vader se Hand.

Hebrews 10:22-24 ― Geneva Bible 1599
22 Let vs drawe neere with a true heart in assurance of faith, our hearts being pure from an euill conscience,

23 And washed in our bodies with pure water, let vs keepe the profession of our hope, without wauering, (for He is faithfull that promised)

24 And let vs consider one another, to prouoke vnto loue, and to good workes,

James 1:17 ― Geneva Bible 1599
17 Euery good giuing, and euery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the Father of lights, with whome is no variablenes, neither shadow of turning.

Geloof en dade loop hand aan hand soos mens duidelik kan sien in Jakobus 2:26.
James 2:26 ― Geneva Bible 1599
26 For as the body without ye spirit is dead, euen so the faith without workes is dead.

Die Christen doen nie goeie werke om te probeer om gered te word nie, maar doen goeie werke, juis OMDAT hy/sy gered is en uit blye dankbaarheid vir wat Jesus as Saligmaker, gedoen het.

Daar is ook 'n skerp vermaning in Johannes 15:2 vir gelowiges wat nie vrugte van geloof dra nie.
Johannes 15:2 ― Geneva Bible 1599
2 Euery branch that beareth not fruite in Me, He taketh away: and euery one that beareth fruite, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruite.

2 Petrus 1:5-9 gee 'n hele lys van dinge wat ons korrek moet hanteer om ons Christelike karakter op te bou. Hy verklaar as ons die onderstaande nie doen nie, is ons kortsigtig en het vergeet dat ons gereinig was van die ou streke, stories en sondes.

2 Peter 1:5-10 ― Geneva Bible 1599
5 Therefore giue euen all diligence thereunto: ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith: and with vertue, knowledge:

6 And with knowledge, temperance: and with temperance, patience: and with patience, godlines:

7 And with godlines, brotherly kindnes: and with brotherly kindnes, loue.

8 For if these things be among you, and abound, they will make you that ye neither shalbe idle, nor vnfruitfull in the acknowledging of our Lord Iesus Christ:

9 For he that hath not these things, is blinde, and can not see farre off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his olde sinnes.

10 Wherefore, brethren, giue rather diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye doe these things, ye shall neuer fall.

Die liefde van Jesus moet ons dring na die soeke en beoefening na groter heiligmaking. Christene is en leef skoon en kragtige morele en geestelike lewens, alles tot eer van die Here.

Soos Galásiërs 2:20 dit uitdruk: Ek is met Christus gekruisig, en ék leef nie meer nie, maar Christus leef in my. En wat ek nou in die vlees lewe, leef ek deur die geloof in die Seun van God wat my liefgehad het en Homself vir my oorgegee het. (Ou Afrikaanse Bybel 1933)

Die Bybel het baie te sê oor afvalligheid, sonde en slegte werke of wrange vrugte. Titus druk dit so uit:

Titus 1:15-16 ― Geneva Bible 1599
15 Vnto the pure are all things pure, but vnto them that are defiled, and vnbeleeuing, is nothing pure, but euen their mindes and consciences are defiled.

16 They professe that they know God, but by works they deny Him, and are abominable and disobedient, and vnto euery good worke reprobate.

Goeie werke kom deur God se genade en uit 'n suiwer, gelowige hart. Moenie soos die skynheiliges besig wees met godsdiens nie, maar wei jou eerder toe met diens áán God. Daar is baie dankoffers om te bring, geloof, vertroue, gebed en gehoorsaamheid is maar enkele van hulle. Buig jou gereeld neer voor die Here en Hy sal jou help om die saad reg te saai en 'n goeie nuttige oes te kry tot eer van Sy koninkryk.

The genuine evidence of the Holy Spirit's influence in a person's life is not material prosperity, mindless emotionalism, or suppossed miracles. Rather it is sanctification: The believer's growth in spiritual maturity, practical holiness, and Christ likeness through the power and leading of the Holy Spirit (as He applies Biblical truth to the hearts of His saints). A true work of the spirit convicts the heart of sin, combats wordly lusts, and cultivates spiritual fruit in the lives of God's People.
Uittreksel uit John mac Arthur se boek Strange Fire p56.

Matthew 7:17-21 ― Geneva Bible 1599
17 So euery good tree bringeth foorth good fruite,
and a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruite.
18 A good tree can not bring forth euil fruite:
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruite.
19 Euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruite,
is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruites ye shall knowe them.
21 Not euery one that sayeth vnto Me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdome of heauen,
but he that doeth My Fathers will which is in heauen.

Slegte Vrugte

Wat is die soort dinge wat nie hoort by 'n Christen nie, dus slegte vrugte?


	Vreugde in wêreldse dinge en afvallighede teenoor 'n hart wat die Here wil eer en treur oor al dié soort dinge. Mark 8:36 ― Geneva Bible 1599 36 For what shall it profite a man, though he should winne the whole world, if he lose his soule?

	'n Soeke na wêreld se vrede ipv vrede met God James 4: 4 ― Geneva Bible 1599 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, knowe ye not that the amitie of the world is the enimitie of God? Whosoeuer therefore will be a friend of the world, maketh himselfe the enemie of God.

	Liefde vir die donkerte eerder as lig.

	Goedheid word gevind in jou eie werke en in jouself

	Ons vermaak onsself met dinge wat Christus se hart breek

	Getrouheid aan jou uitgekose misleidende leeraar in plaas van lojaliteit aan God en Sy Woord 2 Timothy 4:3 ― Geneva Bible 1599 3 For the time will come, when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine: but hauing their eares itching, shall after their owne lustes get them an heape of teachers,

Daar is baie ander dinge wat die Christen, wat die nou weg wil volg, moet vermy as ons die Here in waarheid wil dien en eer. Ons moet deeglike, eerlike introspeksie hou en weet dat ons wéét dat God ons Koning is en dat Sy Woord wet is.

Ons moet ons sondebesmette aksies en houding regstel, die ou slegte gewoontes, tradisies en aangeleerde swak maniere en smaak, uitwan en weggooi van ons af, sodat ons andere beter kan help en ook 'n voller en duideliker getuie kan hê oor ons redding en die hoop wat ons het vir die ewige lewe.

By bekering word die ou mens gekruisig deur middel van die dood aan die kruis van Jesus. Jesus het die sondigheid vernietig eens en vir altyd, sodat ons voortaan nie meer sonde se slaaf is nie en ons streef nou na heiligmaking. By wedergeboorte het ons 'n nuwe begin ontvang. 'n Nuwe hart, 'n nuwe lewe in Christus.

Romans 6:6 ― Geneva Bible 1599
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sinne might be destroied, that henceforth we should not serue sinne.

Met so 'n wonderbare Redder en Here, waarom sou mens dan enigsins twyfel om 'n lewe in volle dankbaarheid tot eer van Hom te leef?

Laat ons dus met volle oorgawe, volhardende geloof en vaste oortuiging ons dankbaarheidslewe teenoor die Here uitleef in so 'n kragtige mate dat die wêreld in verbasing hul harte sal aangryp en sommer gou oortuig word om ook na Hom te gaan in ootmoed en berou. Soos 2 Petrus 1:3 dit aandui: Immers, Sy goddelike krag het ons alles geskenk wat tot die lewe en godsvrug dien, deur die kennis van Hom wat ons geroep het deur Sy heerlikheid en deug.

Gal 5:16-21 ― Geneva Bible 1599
16 Then I say, Walke in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lustes of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to another, so that ye can not doe the same things that ye would.

18 And if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not vnder the Lawe.

19 Moreouer the workes of the flesh are manifest, which are adulterie, fornication, vncleannes, wantonnes,

20 Idolatrie, witchcraft, hatred, debate, emulations, wrath, contentions, seditions, heresies,

21 Enuie, murthers, drunkennesse, gluttonie, and such like, whereof I tell you before, as I also haue tolde you before, that they which doe such things, shall not inherite the kingdome of God.

22 But the fruite of the Spirit is loue, ioye, peace, long suffering, gentlenes, goodnes, fayth,
23 Meekenesse, temperancie: against such there is no lawe.