Bearing fruit is the result of sencere repentance
Some of the people who flocked to see John the Baptist and hear him preach were not sincere. Maybe curious. Or maybe they just wanted a glimpse of the “wild man” that lived in a wilderness and had a diet of locust and honey. Perhaps it was the message John preached that they were curious about. Regardless of their reasons for being there, their reasons did not include true repentance. The people did not “bear fruit” that they had experience salvation and repentance in their hearts. The Holy Spirit revealed to John that some of the people were going through the right motions, but their heart was not following the motions. John called these people poisonous snakes and warned them to change their attitudes.
Bearing fruit that leads to repentance
In Luke 3:10-14, the people responded to John saying, “What, then, are we supposed to do?” John told them to have compassion on others, to be honest and fair, to not abuse power, and to be content. He told them that if they were sincere in their repentance, then they would bear fruit that identified them as belonging to God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us what these fruits are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” The simple truth is that when we truly give our hearts to Christ and make Him Lord, the evidence is seen in the changes in our lives that come about as a result of Him living within us.
Godly fruit is the outward expression of an inward change that only occurs after we surrender our hearts to Christ. If Christ had taken up residence in the people following John, they would have had compassion on those who are in need, the tax collectors would have been fair and honest in the taxes they collected, and the soldiers would not abuse the power given them in their position and they would have been content with their wages.
You can go through the motions, but not experience salvation
Today, people still go through the motions without actually having a heart change. They go to church, tithe, live moral lives, and maybe even teach a Sunday school class. And yet they are as lost as the person who doesn’t believe in Christ. Without true repentance there is no salvation and they are heading for an eternity in Hell. This is what John means in verse 9 when he says that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
It isn’t up to use to judge others as to their fruit or lack thereof. The question we need to ask is, “Is there fruit in my life that gives evidence of Christ living within me?”
God, show me the fruit of Christ living in me. Show me the fruit that needs cultivating and help me to grow and produce abundant and rich fruit as evidence of You working in my life. May the fruit that I bear lead others to you.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
[Download not found]
Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Download our Free Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
[Download not found]
This week’s new Christian Tees designs:
Blessings from Head to Toe
Let’s start a pandemic of blessings by praying a blessing over everyone you meet. Our “Blessings” design is meant to do just that. We’ve created this design in four different choices.
Graduating Seniors
For all the seniors celebrating graduation in a few months. Includes Jeremiah 29:11. If you have a senior graduating, this design makes a great gift.
Here are some of our favorite designs
Godfidence 
Anything is possible 
With my song I will praise Him 
All Things New 
Joy of the Lord 
Way Maker 
Walk by Faith 
Script Unstoppable God 
Print Unstoppable God 
Unstoppable Force 
Steps of a Good Man 
Something New 
Seek and Find 
Revive Us Again 
Resist the Devil 
Raise a Hallelujah 
Path of His Commands 
Prayer Warrior 
Beloved- Mr and Mrs 
Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan 
Man of God 
He Left 99 for Me 
Cast All Your Cares 
Giants 
Faith over Fear 
Faith Can Move Mountains 
Don’t Worry 
Don’t Quit 
Created to Praise 
All things are Possible 
What the Lord Requires 
Living for the world to see Jesus 
Face Masks now available! 
All things are possible 
Run with perseverance 
Revive us again, Lord
New in the Teespring Store: The Prayer of Blessing
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store.
God instructed the Israelite priests to pray the prayer of blessing every day over the people. The prayer is found in Numbers 6:24-26. Hang the canvass in your home or carry the mug, tote bag, or water bottle and let the prayer of blessing impact all those who you meet throughout the day.
We’ve also put this design on a poster, coffee mug, a stainless steel water bottle, phone cases, and a few other products.
Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube
You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
- Conversation Starters.
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
- Romance Builders.
- Relationship Builders.
- Personal reflections.
- Date ideas.
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
Here’s some of our recent posts.
904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL
Follow us on:
