Three Sobering Verses (Mt. 7:21-23)

Read Matthew 7:21-23.

Three sobering verses indeed!  It is not your confession or your "ministry" that gets you into the Kingdom.  Evidently, those things don't overly impress Jesus.  What gets His attention is not success in the supernatural but faithfulness in something else.

What is that "something else"?  I think the preceding paragraph (Mt. 7:15-20) sheds light on that question.  What is highlighted is "fruit."  Jesus taught, "Look for the fruit.  That's how you'll know who is genuine."

What is meant by "fruit"?  There are several options.  Perhaps Jesus meant all three.

• "Fruit" is adopting and manifesting the kingdom lifestyle (Mt. ch. 5-7).
• "Fruit" is spiritual character (Gal. 5:22-23).
• "Fruit" is making disciples who make disciples (Jn. 15:1-17). 

Three Promoters of Fruit (Jn. 15:1-17)

There are three things that promote "fruit."  (By the way, "fruit", in context, refers to good works.)  Fruit is promoted by . . .

1. Love.
2. Obedience.
3. Trust.  (Remain in the Vine, no matter what.)

Whenever you encounter difficulty, ask which of the three is being tested.