Page 76 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

He’s not finished. Then he gave his own body as a martyr to be
burned. What kind of surrender is that? He speaks with the tongues
of angels, he knows every mystery, he knows everything about
everything and he has faith to move mountains and he surrenders
everything he has and gives it to the poor and then he gives his body
to be burned. How does the Holy Spirit describe him? He’s
described as being like a noisy gong; a cymbal. And it says that he
profits nothing. God says that he didn’t have love.

Love is the fruit of the Spirit. He did all those things but he didn’t
have love. Those were wonderful works but they weren’t fruit. The
house built on the sand did not have a foundation. The difference
between works and fruit is the source of works or fruit. What is the
origin of all that display? Does it come from man or does it come
from the Lord?

If it comes from the Lord it’s called “fruit”. If it comes from man
it’s called “works”. It’s like law and grace. Law is what I do. Grace
is what God does. We want to study fruit. It’s true that there are a
couple of exceptions. That is, sometimes works and fruit look so
much alike that you can change the words. Like Matthew 5:16,
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” That
they may see your good works; but those works are fruit. So,
sometimes works and fruit are the same. James 2:26, “For just as
the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead.” Faith without works is dead. Sometimes, not often, works
can be fruit.

I love Hosea 14:8, “O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress;
from Me comes your fruit.” God says, “From Me comes fruit.” So,
we want to talk about the origin. Since you’ve been a Christian,
everything that you did in your own strength profits nothing. It
means nothing. That’s why we started with the vine and the branch.
Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing.” But there is a lot I