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Why do some Christians not bear good fruit?

Writer: Dwight SchettlerDwight Schettler
10 hours ago2 min read

Living in Forgiveness

Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation - Lesson 3 - Receive God's Forgiveness, Questions 25, p. 48

Have you ever wondered why some people, despite their faith, seem to struggle with bearing good fruit? According to 2 Peter 1:9, the cause is quite revealing: "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." This passage highlights a profound truth about the importance of remembering God's forgiveness in our lives.


When Christians forget that they have been cleansed from their sins, they become spiritually nearsighted. It's like they've lost sight of the cross on the distant hilltop (like the picture on this page). This spiritual myopia causes them to lose sight of their identity in Christ and the transformative power of His forgiveness. As a result, they may fall back into old patterns of sin or become entangled in doubt and self-justification.


In our daily walk, the temptations of our sinful flesh, the world, and the devil are ever-present. These forces can lead us to question our standing before God and the sufficiency of Christ's atonement. When we forget that we are God's children, redeemed and forgiven, we might start to rely on our own efforts to achieve righteousness. This can manifest in various ways:

  • Losing sight of our identity as children of God.

  • Forgetting the redemptive work of Christ.

  • Attempting to self-justify in a bid to make ourselves righteous.


However, the antidote to this spiritual blindness is to continually remind ourselves of the gospel and proclaim God's forgiveness. Colossians 1:13-14 beautifully encapsulates this by stating, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."


By anchoring ourselves in the truth of these verses, we can combat the tendencies that lead to unfruitfulness. Embracing and proclaiming God's forgiveness helps us maintain a clear vision of our identity in Christ and the grace that sustains us. This continuous reminder empowers us to bear good fruit, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel in our lives.


Let us make it a practice to remember and proclaim God's forgiveness daily. By doing so, we can overcome spiritual nearsightedness and live fruitful lives that glorify our Heavenly Father.

 

This blog series is adapted from Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation. You can experience this teaching in several ways:

 
 
 

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