Paul explained to us the meaning of the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:19-26). It goes without saying that no man is righteous, bearing good fruit. Do you know the unclean works even in a well-mannered, polite man? Did you smell rotten pride in the professors of all religions? An ordinary man is corrupt before God, and is good for nothing. He looks like an unfruitful tree, and should rather be cut down and thrown into the fire.
But when Christ purifies us with his word, and cleans our hearts with his blood, the power of the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and makes us good. In the humility of Christ’s love an unprofitable man becomes profitable, for the Lord’s joy and peace urge us to be patient. Study the fruits of the Holy Spirit attentively, and then you will know what the Lord is willing to do of you.
Do not deceive yourself! Nobody is good in himself. All have turned aside, together become corrupt, and lost the glory of God freely given to them. Of course, if your compare yourself with others, you will be neither worst, nor better than they are. But if you take Christ as a measure for your life, you will certainly see the truth of your ugliness. The teaching about good man is the greatest lying in present and in past. The devil insinuates this deception into churches, religions, philosophies, and schools; as if man is capable of cultivation and correction. Man, at his best, is in fact like a tamed beast. But from inside, he is filled with rejection, hatred, and spite.
There is none good but God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, also those who crucify their selfishness in repentance that they may be filled with the love of the Eternal One. The goodness in a believer is not out of him, but out of God who stimulates your talents, and calls up your powers that he may employ them in the large stream of his love.
Did you become a good divine tree, or are you still a bad poisonous weed? You must know the answer out of your speech and writing. What kind of speech comes out of you: love, purity, truthfulness, self-control, and divine power, or imaginations, lies, passion, mockery, and hatred? Examine yourself that you may know your maturity, or condemnation in God’s judgment.
Do you address Christ, your Lord? What are your behaviors, which prove to your neighbors the fact that Jesus is your Lord and King? Do you carry out his will? Do you magnify his power in your weakness? How do you submit to his love? Are you really walking in his Spirit-control? Christ wants you to realize your faith practically, for belief without consequences is of no avail. But when Christ is centered in your heart, you become meek, good, and chaste, not of your ability, but out of your Lord’s power.
Faith without good works is dead, but the love of God overcomes our characters. We believe that Christ newly creates us, and we experience his sanctification, for God himself makes us perfect, blameless, and established in love until the forthcoming advent of Christ.