We are the Branches, He is the Vine

The Bible says that a "good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit". By saying this, Jesus is expressing the concept that a child of God will look like a Child of God, while someone who isn't a child of God won't look like a child of God. Makes sense, right? Someone who has accepted the gift of salvation will be changed by the holy spirit continuously throughout their life. Someone who hasn't accepted the gift only has the hope of being changed by the world's morals and their own sense of what is right and wrong. Now someone is saying "but there are non-Christians who are better than some Christians". Well, there are two things that must be examined in this situation. Firstly, is the Christian your thinking of actually a Christian? Many people say they are Christian's but the Bible says many people will be self-decieved. Now you ask "How do I know if they are a true Christian?" Because they will look like a true Christian; they will know what they believe, they will be continually trying to improve, they will be talking to others about their faith, their primary goal in life will be to know God and to make him known. 

The second question you must ask is where did this Christian come from? Did they just become a Christian and were they living like hell prior to that commitment, and now they are struggling to get out? It is always important to see where someone is improving from, not just where someone is improving to. Did the non-Christian grow up in a place that was fairly easy to live with very few bad influences, and the Christian grew up in an abusive home where all his morals were torn to pieces? As people examine Christians, may they not only acknowledge our desire to be different, but our effort to do so as well. 

In John, Jesus says:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." - John 15:4-6

Jesus says "the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me." What does that mean? The first interpretation that comes to mind is that Jesus is saying we cannot do good things unless we abide in Christ. Now we have gone back to an original objection. "But non-Christians do good things!" you say. Yeah? By whose standard? By yours? Too bad your standard isn't objective. God's standard of good is what matters and everything should be judged according to it. Listen to me carefully. No one can do any good thing unless that thing is pleasing to God.  The only way to make what you do pleasing to God is to do it according to His will and for his will. We can all give money to a charity, but only a Christian can give money to a charity and please God through it. You cannot please God unless you abide in him for the good that you do. And only once you please God, is your work actually good. 

You see, the non-Christian cannot do good works because nothing is good unless it is done for God. What a lonely and sad life. The unbeliever tries to satisfy themselves with things of this world and tries to do good for the very purpose of doing good. But the believer is able to truly be satisfied in doing good because they do it for the sake of the Father, therefore it truly is a good work. 

The Bible says "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." (Ephesians 2:10). Quit trying to do good works for no purpose other than being called a good person. Truly be satisfied and do everything you do to the glory of the one who made you. Then, and only then, will your good works be satisfying and worthy of the goodness of God.