Ye is plural and addresses all people, while thou is singular. Modern Bible versions amend ye to you, so it sound singular, but the translators of the King James Bible correctly applied the words ye, you, and your to be plural (addressing all) and thee, thou, thy, and thine to be singular and addressing one person.
This is a familiar teaching by Jesus in Matthew 7, warning people of false prophets, who have an external appearance of holiness, but their internal being is deceived because what they teach is contrary to God’s plan of salvation. It has become common teaching today by the world’s religions that all paths lead to God, also called interfaith taught through education, or ecumenism lead by the Catholic Church, but the Holy Bible is clear in John 14:6 that Jesus is the only way to Father God, because it is through His obedience unto death, his shed blood that the penalty of sin is taken away. He who had no sin became sin for us.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me – John 14:6
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him – 2 Corinthians 5:21
Fruits is often taught as works by many churches, but if you look closely at the words of Jesus, he is telling people that by their fruits ye shall know them.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them – Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus is telling us that a good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A corrupt tree through its teaching cannot bring forth good fruit and a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.
Good fruit that beareth a good tree is the saving of souls. If the fruit of a man’s teaching is to draw souls to Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and by sound doctrine, then the tree bears good fruit because only Jesus is the true vine (John 15). A good tree, therefore, is referring to believers, and these believers because they are saved and are sealed with the Holy Spirit, tell the good news of Jesus Christ, that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, to others, and this bears good fruit for Christ’s Kingdom.
Therefore, a corrupt tree bears only evil fruit because of its confusing doctrine, frontloading the good news of Christ with subtle works like that God won’t save us while we are living in sin, or that we need to turn from all sin (impossible) and other garbage that is not good news. Evil fruit is also taught by backloading the gospel with works, including telling a person that they must prove their salvation, but God knows when someone has trusted in Jesus Christ as saviour. The gift of God is simple to receive. Salvation is receiving because it is a Gift of God and all of His grace.
Good Fruits Are Not Works
All of the organised religions of this world are trying in their own efforts to merit heaven, so even though these people have good works, their belief in what merits heaven is incorrect, because the Bible makes it clear in John 14:6 that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Yes, all people can be saved in this lifetime, but only through God’s plan of salvation. Christ paid for everybody’s sin, but will we accept the payment for our sin through the shed blood of Jesus Christ by believing on Him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life – John 6:47
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13
The Bible teaches contrary to the false teachers of today. The Bible is a book of good tidings, of peace and everlasting life, not condemnation. No one has or ever will be saved by keeping the laws of the Old Testament, the ten commandments and the additional 613 laws. Some of the laws even require us to be priests to fulfil them. The epistles teach us that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster – Galatians 3:23-25
The Holy Bible is clear that belief in Christ brings everlasting life with immediate effect. He who believeth on me hath (present tense) everlasting life – John 6:47. The Holy Spirit seals us and the gifts and callings (greek 2821 klesis – a call, invitation) of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29)– God cannot change his mind about His gifts and His callings.
Good Fruits Are What a Person Teaches
Good fruits cannot possibly refer to the works of a person, because the Holy Bible is clear that works do not save us. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ – His finished work, His shed blood for the remission of sins.
Souls are important to God because God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world. Therefore if you teach another person that salvation is by grace through faith, not of ourselves, It is entirely the gift of God, not of works so that no one can boast (there were boasters in Matthew 7:22), then this is a saving message that gives God all the glory and that person is sealed with God’s Holy Spirit. You are part of a good tree that bears good fruit. Salvation doesn’t come by feeling or emotion, so don’t trust in any emotion, but stand on the Word of God and accept the Gift with thanksgiving.
People Boast of Works
Matthew 7:21-23 is a clear warning to those boasting in their works to merit heaven. Many false teachers today teach Matthew 7:21-23 as a warning to carnal believers, that they can lose salvation, or they must prove salvation, but they are blind to see that this warning of Jesus is to those who are trusting in works for salvation.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity – Matthew 7:21:23
Notice what they said to Jesus. They boasted of works and doing things in His name. Did they lift up His name? Did they thank Him for paying for their sin debt through His shed blood? Did they trust in His finished work on Calvary? No they did not. They may have taught others that Jesus’ shed blood wasn’t enough to cover the remission of sins, so they added works to salvation because God’s plan of salvation sounded too easy, and taught others the same. God’s plan of salvation was evil spoken of, as scripture says in 2 Peter 2:2.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of – 2 Peter 2:2
God purposely made salvation simple, because God wants everyone to be saved.
who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth– 1 Timothy 2:4
Salvation is easy and a gift to receive by faith in Christ Jesus, but growing in grace is the next step. This is called sanctification or discipleship. It is a constant growth in the Christian life, but it is not given instantly and we must not try to grow through our flesh either. The milk of the Holy Bible, prayer and spending time with God helps our growth. If we have no growth in our Christian life, we cannot lose salvation, but we will forfeit rewards that would have been ours had been walked with God in this life.
False teachers say that the will of God is to have good works, to prove salvation, to live holy lives to be saved, but this is contrary to what the Word of God teaches. The Will of God is for us to believe on His son, Jesus Christ. They are blinded by their own teachings because the truth is not in them. They are from a corrupt tree with evil fruit and this cannot bring forth good fruit.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day – John 6:40
Seeth is Greek 2334 Theoreo, which is defined as
(1) to be a spectator, look at, behold (a) to view attentively, take a view of, survey (1) to view mentally or consider.
(2) to see (a) perceive with the eyes, to enjoy the presence of one (b) to discern, descry, (c) to ascertain, find out by seeing
We should be of service to God in this life (Ephesians 2:10), because we will be blessed of Him in this life and the next, but living in sin may lead to chastening of the Lord, or even an early death. However, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and this is what get us into heaven because this nature is of God and cannot sin. Upon being born again, we still have our flesh nature, and the new nature of God that cannot sin. They are in constant enmity with one another, this is is why fellowship with God can give us strength over sin. Salvation is all of God, it has nothing to do with works, so rest in Christ today, if you have trusted on Him. .
False teachers bundle discipleship into salvation, and the two are entirely separate. It sounds right and might look right, but salvation is all of God.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast — Ephesians 2:8–9
The people that Jesus is referring to in Matthew 7:21-23 taught the evil fruit of works salvation that manifested a corrupt tree. They were still in their iniquity (their sin), because Jesus tells them that He never knew them. They were trying to pay for sin with their good works, but God only accepts perfection. Only the shed blood of Jesus can pay for sin. His work was finished on the cross of Calvary.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost – John 19:30
Jesus is a resurrected God. Sin was paid for by Christ.
but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; – Hebrews 10:12
It is not what we do for God, but what He has done for us through Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, works for salvation is rampantly taught today through organised religions, and even throughout Christianity.
We must rightly divide the word of truth, but we can only do this as we grow in God’s grace through fellowship with Him.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15
The good fruit of a person is the words they teach that leadeth others unto salvation, but corrupt fruits only lead to a false understanding of salvation and ultimately death, because Jesus says that a tree that does not bear good fruit is cast into the fire.
Understanding a doctrine such a good fruit versus bad fruit is very important and can change our entire outlook in our Christian life, as we no longer need to look for evidence of salvation in others, but just notice what they teach about salvation. Are they giving the gospel of grace minus works, or they do add works in subtle ways as their false ministers teach.
We must stand for Christ and His good news, His finished work that saves us from the penalty of sin and speak against false doctrine and false teachers that are deceived by their own self-righteousness in believing that they have turned from all sin and have no actual sin in them. These are wolves in sheep’s clothing that Christ spoke of. We must speak against those who call God’s grace cheap or easy believism. They speak evil of God’s plan of salvation. Satan is the master twister of God’s word, and sadly they are being used of him to manifest corrupt trees that bear only evil fruit that cannot save a soul from hell.
As a born again believer, who has trusted Christ as saviour, I must share the gospel.
- Sin separates us from God (Genesis 3).
- The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To go to heaven, we must be perfect, and none of us are (Matthew 5:48).
- God loves us (John 3:16), but He hates our sin (Psalm 5:4).
- God came in the flesh as Jesus Christ (John 10:30), obeyed the law perfectly (Romans 5:19), and died that cruel death on the cross for the sins of every human being who will ever live on this earth (1 John 2:2).
- Jesus, who is God Almighty in the flesh, resurrected His body and ascended into Heaven offering his sacrifice for sin forever (Hebrews 10:12).
- The will of God is for us to believe on His son, Jesus Christ, who paid for all sin (John 6:40).
- Jesus’ shed blood gives us the remission of sin (Romans 3:25, Hebrews 10:18).
- Although God has died for all sin, God chooses to save only those who trust in His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ (John 6:47).
Do you believe that He paid for your sin debt? Will you trust Him today for eternal life? Contrary to popular belief by false teachers who teach that a believer can lose their salvation because of willful sin etc, this is incorrect. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance — Romans 11:29
Greek 278 ametamelétos: not repented of
Original Word: ἀμεταμέλητος, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: ametamelétos
Phonetic Spelling: (am-et-am-el’-ay-tos)
Definition: not repented of
Usage: not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place, not affected by a change of mind.
God bless.
