THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

The prayer of the apostle Paul for the Philippian brethren was that their love would abound - that it would be teeming - that it would plentiful - that it would grow more and more - that it would bear much fruit. The last verse of the lesson text tells us that the fruits of righteousness are produced in obedient Christians by Jesus Christ, for the express purpose of glorifying and praising God.

Since the primary focus of this lesson is toward the good fruit of Christians, the evil, or corrupt fruit is mentioned only to assure us that it also exists. In the analogy given by Jesus, He compares mankind to trees. Mankind, like trees, either bear good fruit or corrupt fruit. Just as trees are known by his fruit, so are all people of the world (Matt. 12:33). In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul lists some corrupt fruit of mankind: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. He then tells us that they, which do such things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God (See Gal. 5:19-21). Throughout all ages of mankind there has been, and still is, no lack of evil, corrupt fruit.

This confirms Jesus' analogy comparing trees to mankind. In Matthew 7:19, the Son of God said, every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Unrighteous people produce evil fruit and inherit eternal punishment. Jesus also gives us this warning: beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:15-16a). Oh, that the world understood and believed these teachings!

Considering the subject lesson entitled The Fruits of Righteousness, notice how Jesus confirms that the good fruit produced by Christians are the result of being in Him. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing (John 15:4-5). In the following verse 8, Jesus adds, herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

One must be in Jesus Christ in order to bear The Fruits of Righteousness. Only in Jesus can we find the spiritual wisdom necessary to bear righteous fruit. James assures us of this when he wrote, but the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace (James 3:17-18).

Just as Paul wrote to the Galatian churches enumerated many corrupt fruit, he also lists some of the fruit of righteousness. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23). The obedient life of a Christian is evidenced by the righteous fruits produced. Righteous fruits of a child of God are the same as their good works. It is not sufficient for a Christian just to be good.Obedience to the will of God means also to do good - to abound in good works.

The Fruits of Righteousness are found in our Savior. We are to abound in them. Being engrafted into the true vine, Jesus Christ, the good works of a Christian will never diminish. In Christ is found a never-ending supply of righteous fruit. Good works of a Christian are not performed in order to receive the accolades of men - personal honor and glory is not to be the motivation of The Fruits of Righteousness. Our lesson text tells us they are to be done unto the glory and praise of God. To be His disciple - to be a follower of Christ, it is necessary to hear, believe, and obey His teaching. In His own words He tells us, herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples (John 15:8). In every thing you say and do, let The Fruits of Righteousness abound forever in your life on earth.