Good Fruit - Who affirms your faith?

From: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/441775044671699145/

Have you asked your neighbors and friends about your personal faith? OR if somebody were to ask your friends concerning your faith, how would they respond? What would you say about yourself? How would Jesus respond to your faith in him?

Christians are recognized by their fruits (Matt 7:16; Luke 6:44), and by their fruits you see their faith, and by faith, their love for Christ is evident and continually growing. Those who do not bear fruit are "cut off"; thereof, the branch that bears good fruit, God prunes so that it "may bear more fruit" (John 15:2). So how do you know if you are producing good fruit? Here's one of my favorite passages in the Bible which describes "good fruit":

Psalm 1
1. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffers;
2. but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he mediates day and night.
3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6. for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Did you catch it? If not, it's okay, let's take a closer look.

Blessed is the man - a man is blessed, in what way? How?
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked
nor stands in the way of sinners
nor sits in the seat of scoffers

You are blessed if you do not partake in any of these things. But what describes the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the seat of scoffers?

• The wicked pursue the poor or the weak (Psalm 10:2). They do not fear God (Psalm 36:1). They hate the light and do not come to the light (John 3:20).
• Sinners do not obey God (John 9:31). Sinners destroy (Ecclesiastes 9:18). 
• Scoffers speak with malice and threaten oppression (Psalm 73:8). They do not hear the word of the Lord (Isaiah 28:14)

The list goes on and on. Basically, this list describes us. We are wicked sinners who scoff all the time. Let's continue to verse 2.

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night. 

You are blessed if you delight in the Word day in and day out. (Joshua 1:8) We are blessed if we yearn for His Word. We are blessed if we understand wisdom and insight in Christ. Our delight in the Word is our delight in God because the law is the character of God and it is of God.

Here's my favorite part (bang):

He is like a tree - A blessed man is like a tree. So what describes a blessed man tree? (blessed tree?)

planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

A blessed man is planted in streams of water, produces good fruit, and does not wither. He prospers in all that he does. A blessed man is nourished by the Word of God. A blessed man understands he needs water to grow. A blessed man understands when to produce good fruits (due in season) and how to produce. A blessed man never withers because the blessed man is in and of the Word of God.

The passage continues by describing the wicked. The wicked do not understand the Word of the Lord. The wicked do not understand where they receive their nourishment. They do not understand when or how to produce good fruit. Ultimately, in all that he does, he does not and will not prosper. As a result they are like "chaff" that dies away and forgotten. The wicked will stand before God and he will be judged rightfully.

The last verse (v6) pretty much sums up what Matthew 7:13-14 says. We are to enter through the narrow gate which is enriched in righteousness.

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous - God knows our ways. He knows us because He loves us. But we know we are sinners. We know we are wicked. So how can we stand before Him? David similarly utters in Psalms 130:3 -

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

We can never stand before Him righteous. Our works and essence can never be described as good or righteous. However, David continues in verse 4 -

BUT with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

Yes, it is because of Christ. Christ died for our sins. As we, covered in the Blood of the Lamb, stand before the Father, He sees us righteous. We are marked by His death. We affirm and recognize his death. More so, we cry, grieve, and utter:

My God, why would You shed Your blood
So pure and undefiled
To make a sinful one like me
Your chosen precious child
- Bob Kauflin

Why would you die for us?

Martin Luther so coolly (멋있게) quoted in lieu of Sola Gratia - by grace alone:
"Truly, then, we are saved by grace alone, without works or other merit."

And Paul ever so more, coolly
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God

Thanks be to God forever and ever that He would graciously save us through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. O our Head and beloved Stream of Life.

So friends. Let's come back to the question again, are you of good fruit? Do you produce good fruits? Who in your friends and neighbors recognize that you are of Christ? Will they affirm your faith in Him?

Day by day, let us duly note that we must, at all times, be of and in Christ.

John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.