As we were travelling back from the children’s music class, Clarissa was happily enjoying her portion of delicious honey sweet mango. “Who gave such delightful mangoes to you?” she asked me. “Its one of our friends from KL.” “Where did your friend find these mangoes?” “She must have bought it from her usual fruit supplier.” I was beginning to wonder where this conversation might lead to. “How did the supplier know that these mangoes are so sweet?” She asked again, popping another slice into her mouth. “The supplier must have tried it himself before recommending them to Aunty Helen.” I replied, hoping that this would be the end of it.
However, she continued, “The supplier must have tasted the mango and found it to be sweet. Then, he proceeded to plant the seed, from which the whole mango tree grows. Now, he has a whole tree full of sweet mangoes to sell!” She said matter-of-factly. “Only a good tree can produce sweet mangoes!” That was her conclusion.
I must admit that I was surprised at her profound findings. There I was, providing some superficial answers, hoping that they would satisfy her; but Clarissa was searching for the “truth” behind.
Our Lord Jesus had also commented on a good tree bearing good fruits 2000 years ago:
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:43-45
A while ago, one of my non-believer friends shared with me about her Christian friend, who was engaged in immoral activities. I recalled telling her that although this friend might profess to be a Christian, she was unlikely to be committed to the Lord. “If she is truly dedicated to Jesus, she would find it hard to betray her husband.” I shared. At that point in time, I had forgotten about the “Good Tree” teaching by Jesus.
Indeed, if anyone is in Christ, it would be quite impossible for him to produce “bad fruits”.
The fruit-bearing points to the tree, whether it is a good or a bad tree. And so, if we do not find, and indeed we will not find, figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers, it points to the plant/tree, the thornbushes/briers, being not a good tree.
ReplyDeleteNow, we can also find no figs from a fig tree, and Jesus had that encounter, recorded for us, in Scripture; and it also points to the fig tree as not being ultimately, a good tree. Figs are good, indeed it was a very important food in the days of old of the Jews; amply held out in Scripture, and so a fig tree is expected to be a good tree. Yet, if it bears not fruit, it is ultimately not good.
Scripture also have it that the gardener was instructed by the owner to tend to a supposedly good tree, giving it time to bear fruit, but if it continued to be barren, it was as useless as the thornbushes or briers, because they shared the same lack – not bearing fruit.
Men have been likened to be trees, a planting by the LORD, in Scripture; and so, a Christian is a like fig tree, not a thornbush or briers, and he is not meant to be without fruit; but what if the fruit is not good? I believe, the owner, the Lord would like us, his gardeners, to tend to the supposedly good tree, and we do our part and hope that the bad fruit will be replaced by good fruit, and if it does not happen, in His time, the Lord, will deal with the tree.
That Christian friend of a non-believing friend is a supposedly good tree bearing bad fruit, instead of good fruit. Maybe, it might as well that you did not remember the “Good Tree” teaching to say it, for it would be judgmental to say that, that Christian friend is a bad tree. It is not judgmental to say that the immoral thing being done is wrong or that the fruit being bored is bad or is a bad fruit, but the judging that the supposedly good tree is no longer a good tree belongs to the Lord.
I would not argue with you that if anyone is IN CHRIST, it would be quite impossible for him to produce “bad fruits”, because you have used, “IN CHRIST”; it is obviously untrue that all of us immediately have the full mind of Christ, as some of the overly grace believers have believed. Reality tells us that we need to grow in Christ-likeness, in righteousness and holiness, with the help of the Holy Spirit in us. Our sweetness comes from the pruning by the Master Gardener, God, and our yielding to the Holy Spirit.
Let us bear much good fruit in keeping with our faith.
Anthony Chia
i do agree that we shouldn't judge others. but lately, i do ponder at the issue of if "once saved always saved" holds true. i am not asking for answer as i know that this is a journey that i am still trying to find out for myself.
ReplyDeleteHi Fee,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I want to clarify that Scripture did not say not to exercise judgment. Many have subscribed to "do not judge" too readily and liberally, even to the extent that such an attitude can be displeasing to God. People often ignored the contexts in which the refrain was given. Two specific contexts, where we have to be careful are:
1) judging of another's ministry. The key understanding is that only God knows what He has assigned, we don't. Ultimately it is the master of a worker who should judge the worker.
2) condemnation-like judgment of a supposedly good tree, such as a pronouncement of good tree as no longer good. We can, and should speak against a sin, a lifestyle, and false teachings, but we do not "condemn" the person; this is in line with God loves the sinner but hates the sin.
Once saved always saved? The long answer, of course, can be very elaborate. If I am only to answer, "Yes" or "No", I will choose "No". There is even now, a more subtle version of this once saved always saved theology, it is the distorted grace or overly grace message.
You are welcome to read some of the articles on my blog (http://high-expressions.blogspot.com/), in your study of this important issue. You can also drop me an email (my email is on my blogsite), leaving your email address so that we could communicate through email, as it would be too long to discuss this matter on your blog through the use of comments. I am most willing to learn with you, and to give my understanding of the matter.
May God bless you richly as you ponder and study His Word.
Anthony Chia