Manifesting Christ and Inspecting Fruit
Manifesting Christ and Inspecting Fruit
To manifest Christ is to make the Lord Jesus tangible to others.
We make the lovely Lord Jesus tangible when we display godly traits and behavior.
We make Him tangible when we love everyone because godly love is not normal for the world.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
These are not achievement tests against which we are to measure our spiritual maturity or litmus tests of the faithfulness or sincerity of other believers. They are characteristics of Jesus Christ.
These characteristics are the fruit that the Spirit produces in us, and we bear. When we allow these characteristics to be expressed, the world notices. That draws people to find the Source of these wonderful traits because such things are upside down from the way those in the world think and act.
In light of this, let me say one thing about the comment Jesus made about knowing someone by their fruits. When Jesus says "by their fruits you shall know them" He is talking about false teachers, not believers. If you read the passage rather than focusing on just one verse, it’s easy to see.
Matthew 7:15–20 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (NASB 2020)
As we come to rely upon the truth about what Jesus has done in and for us and who we are in Christ, the spiritual fruit we bear becomes more noticeable to others. What is great about this is that we generally think we are just going about our regular daily lives and are surprised to learn that someone else has been blessed through us or has seen Christ in us. This is the way that Jesus is manifested, or made tangible, to the world.
Holy one of God, your fruit is not in question. It was given to you when you were reborn and it is in continual supply within you even when you can’t feel it.
