BIBLE READING: PROVERBS 10, 11,12; 2CORINTHIANS 4
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” Proverb 11:30 (KJV)
There is the fruit of the flesh and there is the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the righteous is different from the fruit of the unrighteous. The fruit of the Spirit is evident in the life of the righteous whose righteousness is the righteousness of Christ. At new birth, the righteousness of Christ is imputed in the believer. His righteousness is not based on good work but on the finished work of Christ on the cross. No man attain true righteousness without Christ. Our personal righteousness is as a filthy rag before God, it does not meet the standard of God.
At new birth, Jesus takes away man’s dirty rag of sin in exchange for his personal righteousness. The righteousness of Christ imparted in the believers account enables him to bear the fruit of the Spirit. The believer is forgiven, cleansed, justified and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a holy life in line with the word and will of God. No one is good; no one is righteous apart from Christ and all that he has imparted his righteousness. We are not called to manufacture our own righteousness but to let the righteousness which Christ provides for us to find full expression in us and through us to the outside world.
The seed or nature of righteousness has been provided by God through Christ, the fruit is demanded from us, as we yield to our new nature through the Holy Spirit and the word of God we are enabled to bear the fruit of joy, love, peace, temperance, patience, goodness and godliness. This is expression of the Christ life.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for enabling me to bear the fruit of the spirit.
Rev. Vincent Diolu