The Fruits of Salvation

Every good tree bears good fruit.

–Matthew 7:17

Many people are going to have the surprise of their lives on judgment day. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” How can you avoid that surprise and be sure you’re going to heaven when you die?

Paul said you can be sure of your salvation “if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:23). You might think Paul was saying that we secure our salvation through good works. No, good works are the proof of our salvation, not the means of our salvation. Where there is genuine faith, there is going to be tangible evidence. Jesus put it this way: “Every good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:17). Let me mention some “good fruit” that will be produced in your life if you’re truly saved:

• Desire for God’s Word. The apostle Peter wrote, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).
• Love for God’s people. Jesus said, “This I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17). For a genuine Christian, being with other believers is a great joy.
• Hatred of sin. The apostle John wrote, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). If you’re truly saved, you will hate the things that God hates and love the things that God loves.
• Forgiveness toward others. Jesus said, “If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). Those who have been forgiven by God are willing to forgive others.
• Stability in trials. Paul said in Colossians 1:23, “Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast.” The city of Colossae was in an area known for earthquakes. To be “firmly established” means when earthquakes come into your life, your foundation of faith remains strong.

Is the spiritual fruit in your life consistent with what you profess you believe? Good works are the proof of our salvation—but they are not the means of our salvation. Out of pride, we want to be involved in the process. We want to add to what Christ already did on the cross. But Jesus Christ alone is sufficient to secure our salvation.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “Saved and Secured” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.