“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:15-23

This is one of the most sobering warnings in all of Scripture – that it’s possible to know much about God without ever truly knowing Him. J.I. Packer wrote, “You can have all the right notions in your head without ever tasting in your heart the realities to which they refer.” Even demons have good theology (James 2:19), yet none of us wonder whether that tree is diseased. All is known by the fruit.

Thankfully, there is a solution to the problem. Christ the Vine and our Father the Vinedresser (John 15:1-11) have made a way for us to never hear those dreadful words, “depart from me.” The way requires abiding and pruning. Today, we must choose to abide in the completed work of Christ for us and embrace the pruning work of God in us. Only then will we know the Father’s love that surpasses knowledge and so be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). Only then will we have confidence that, when we stand face-to-face in the Kingdom of Heaven, the words spoken will be, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25:22-24).

Pray:

> Thank God for the mercy and forgiveness found in Jesus’ work on the cross.

> Ask the Lord to reveal any parts of your heart that need pruning.

> For our church to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).