FRUIT OF THE NEW COVENANT: CHRIST

KEVIN SIMON, CDCS RESEARCH, 3:10pm 12/30/2022 REVISED 2/5/2023 7:17am

In response to a Q&A we put together two years ago. We revisited and revised our research. Discussion on spiritual fruits, gifts and talents? Does New Covenant explain our process of growth in terms of fruit? Why? Are we talking about a final product, on-going results or a response to other values good and bad?

 

 

 

What does "fruit" refer to in the context of identifying the quality or value of something?

Is it related to growth, attributes, roles or abilities, or something else?

 

Roles or abilities (accomplishments, entitlements and qualification) I.E: 'The more qualified, experienced or naturally talented the more a person has weight?"

 

Biblical character enters our challenge.

Should we judge the character or values of "fruit" in order to determine its quality or value? Should we seek to embody those values ourselves? Should we compare and analyze our lack of 'fruit'?

 

Should we challenge the source of the "fruit" if it doesn't align with our beliefs?

Is it possible to become a "religious spirit of judgement" by looking for "bad fruit" as a priority of growth and adopt a demanding tone of expectation of others in the body of Christ?

 

Is it important to exercise caution and discernment in order to protect ourselves and others from false or unhealthy influences In light of the New Covenant in attempts to create a healthy fear of God?

 

Is our Christians pursuit in New Covenant centered around avoiding what is unfruitful, or our inability to express the testimony that produces fruit in ourselves if that become our focus? Where qualification, talent and ability fails the test of what is right before God?

"Fruit" is often used as a metaphor to describe the tangible results or outcomes of something,

 such as a person's actions or a growth after small stages without productivity. In the context of identifying the quality or value of something, "fruit" could refer to a variety of things depending on the context. For example, it could refer to the growth or progress that a person has made, or it could refer to the attributes or characteristics that something possesses. "Fruit" could also refer to different roles or abilities that something has, or it could refer to other tangible or intangible results that it produces. Anything birthed of God, which abides in God’s presence, or lives in a complete revelation will produce fruit of that kind.

Should we judge the character or values of "fruit" in order to determine its quality or value? Should we seek to embody those values ourselves, or should we challenge the source of the "fruit" if it doesn't align with our beliefs?

Whether or not we should judge the character or values of "fruit" in order to determine its quality or value depends on the context. In some cases, it may be appropriate to evaluate the "fruit" in order to determine its value or quality, such as when making a decision about whether to invest in a particular opportunity or to support a particular cause. In other cases, it may be more appropriate to focus on embodying the values or characteristics that are reflected in the "fruit," rather than evaluating or judging it. 


 Similarly, whether or not to challenge the source of the "fruit" if it doesn't align with our beliefs also depends on the context. In some cases, it may be necessary to challenge the source in order to protect ourselves or others from harm or to advocate for change. 

 While in other cases, it may be more appropriate to simply move on or to seek alternative sources of "fruit:" which in this case, a result of “enforcement, positive reform or transition away from unhealthy focuses that aren’t producing Christ’s will for our lives- can be as simple as knowing an opportunity or choice ‘offers no peace, inspires confusion or breaks agreement with what God speaks of Himself in the matter.” Those are the only guidelines we can act on in self-determination where it doesn’t contradict “waiting on the Spirit”, or is considered, ‘acting independent of Christ.

"The fruit of Christ in the matter is standing on truth where the Word decides an event will hurt our witness and we can reasonably escape a negative outcome without fear of judgment from God.” 

Whereas standing firm till the end until God decides otherwise is a safety net in our faith while others may not see the importance of what we are doing and questions it.

The platitude best referring to such a process is: “what works for others, may not work for you;”

Yet we have to clarify such use of blanket statements: this is not a diverse contradiction.

Where separate paths of believers never meet on common ground in our admonition of truth seeking among groups or individuals, but in the manner God is revealing Himself to help people produce fruit in the Spirit- God may be choosing a season for a learning curve to produce fruit in that area where we may have already come through, or haven't been in place or situation yet where we need application.

Patience is how the Spirit will help us interact with those dynamics instead of laying out a rigid set of truths seeking to break people’s spirit in areas they need grace. People need support, prayer and compassion, instead of conforming them to our cycle of growth- but, the standard of truth in God conforming is the Christ is the forefront objective and we can’t disagree on that!

All of the fruits of the Spirit are inseparable, unifying us in their intended Goal of presenting Christ into whatever stage, season or process we may find ourselves in, and serve as Gospel identifies of genuine passion, reverence and witness toward Christ. An inflection point in how we represent Gospel truth in New Covenant. But just knowing that is not the result, its an affirmation to the result. I can't just make a decision to be kind today and expect God's hand to be upon me. I have to come through a process to arrive there. But I have to arrive there through the correct methodology of scripture.

Is it possible to become a "religious spirit of judgement" by looking for "bad fruit?" Is it important to exercise caution and discernment in order to protect ourselves and others from false or unhealthy influences, especially in light of the New Covenant and a healthy fear of God?

           It is possible for someone to become overly focused on looking for "bad fruit" and to become judgmental or critical in the process?

This type of behavior, often referred to as a "religious spirit of judgement," can be harmful and can lead to conflict and division within a community.

At the same time, it is important to exercise caution and discernment in order to protect ourselves and others from false or unhealthy influences. This can involve evaluating the "fruit" or outcomes of something in order to determine its value or quality, as well as being mindful of the sources of the "fruit" and whether or not they align with our beliefs.

In the context of the New Covenant and a healthy fear of God, it is especially important to approach these matters with humility and grace, rather than with a spirit of judgement or condemnation. 

Our New Covenant approach determines our outlook of priority:

 “In my view, there’s not enough to be correct in the equation for me to become a part of something.

Another way of saying, “too much is wrong for it to be worth my time and effort.” But there is always time to be negative and judgmental in why I think everything is wrong.”

1. Based on the sub points and responses provided, our approach or understanding of the New Covenant and the Old Covenant can significantly influence our priorities and perspective when it comes to matters of right and wrong, good fruit and bad fruit. 

This may affect our outlook and priorities, and may lead us to use the Bible for unrelated purposes, such as setting boundaries in or the ways in which we protect ourselves from harm or discomfort: “defend our own interests,” “Prioritize certain passages or teachings over others,” or, “preserving our own safety or well-being above all else.”

It is important to recognize that these dynamics can sometimes limit our understanding of the Bible and our perception of the New Covenant. By focusing solely on our own boundaries or priorities, we may miss out on the broader message of the Bible and the fullness of the New Covenant, which is characterized by grace, forgiveness, and love.

 A dynamic of which would paint Christ’s ministry and the gospels as a totally different context. New Covenant makes the contents of Scripture unchangeable- separate from being dependent on our values that do change. Biblically, the term “co-dependency.” is founded. Single dependency on Christ’s love is unconditional, in change or intent. He empowers us to live in His position. Co-dependency is relying on sources in which we are seeking change, while holding onto others negating the change we are seeking.


Biblical standard is founded on the basis, “Its promises and contents remains right, and conclusive, regardless of whether we are or not,” and Jesus’ life and teachings in the Gospels is helping us steer from a standard of practice ‘self-performed,’ or enforced on others.

 However, it is also possible that these dynamics are a result of using the Bible for unrelated purposes, rather than a cause of such behavior; may also be influenced by our perceptions of the New Covenant and whether or not we view it as being limited or restrictive in some way. In other words, it is possible that our understanding of the New Covenant or the Old Covenant does not necessarily determine our outlook on these matters, but rather that our outlook is influenced by other factors, such as our own biases or personal experiences.

It is important to approach the Bible with an open mind and to seek to understand what God says about the New Covenant, rather than limiting our understanding to our own perceptions or preconceived notions. Rather than limiting ourselves based on our own preconceptions or biases, we can break the perception limited by our understanding of the New Covenant and instead seek to understand and follow God's guidelines as they are presented in the Bible.

It is true that our approach to the Bible, whether it is based on the New Covenant or the Old Covenant, can influence our perspective and priorities when it comes to matters of right and wrong, good fruit and bad fruit. For example, if we have a New Covenant approach, we may be more inclined to focus on grace, forgiveness, and love, and to prioritize relationships and unity over rules and regulations. On the other hand, if we have an Old Covenant approach, we may be more focused on laws and regulations and may prioritize obedience and conformity over relationships and grace. The dynamics of using the Bible for unrelated purposes in order to protect ourselves, or to set boundaries, can also play a role in shaping our perspective and priorities. For example, if we use the Bible to establish boundaries in order to protect ourselves from potential harm or to defend our own interests, we may prioritize certain passages or teachings over others and may focus on preserving our own safety or well-being above all else.

However, it is important to recognize that these dynamics can sometimes limit our understanding of the Bible and our perception of the New Covenant.  Instead of using the Bible for unrelated purposes or limiting our understanding of the New Covenant, it may be more beneficial to seek to understand what God says about it and to align our priorities and perspectives with His.

In light of that statement, Would that contribute to Christ being an example of acting consciously selfless in response to transcend boundaries and break the perception of his audience by reaching past bias, human perspective and limitation of people hard-wired to believe what they were told about God, rather then interacting with God in the person of Christ right in front of them? And wouldn't that heal perspectives creating wounded isolation of not belonging to a cause, but also not being up to par with standards to get along with the "righteous religious crowd" of Jesus's time and the time in which His audience lived their lives

Christ demonstrated a selfless and conscious approach to transcend boundaries and break the perceptions of his audience. He reached past biases and human perspectives in order to bring healing and redemption to those who were wounded and isolated, regardless of whether or not they belonged to a particular cause or met certain standards.

By interacting with God in the person of Christ and demonstrating the fullness of His love and grace, Jesus was able to heal perspectives and bring reconciliation to those who felt wounded or isolated. This included those who were marginalized or excluded by the "righteous religious crowd" of his time, as well as those who felt that they were not "up to par" with the standards of that culture. By demonstrating a selfless and conscious approach to reaching beyond boundaries and breaking perceptions, Jesus was able to bring healing and hope to those who were in need.

Could we see every qualification and standard of witness based on these findings helping our own conformity to the Word of God where it is failing on our own perceptions not lining up with the example of Christ to demonstrate His fruit in our lives? 

It is possible to see the qualifications and standards of witness based on the findings discussed in this thread as a way to help us conform to the Word of God and to better reflect the fruit of Christ in our lives. By seeking to understand and align our perceptions with the example of Christ, we can more effectively demonstrate His fruit in our lives and better fulfill our role as witnesses to His love and grace.

This may involve evaluating and adjusting our own perceptions and biases in order to better align with the Word of God and the example of Christ. It may also involve setting aside our own preferences and desires in order to more fully embrace and embody the values and qualities that are reflected in Christ's fruit. By understanding the correct way to conform to the Word of God and to reflect the fruit of Christ in our lives, we can become more effective witnesses to His love and grace and can better fulfill our role in His kingdom.


In retrospect, we can see that our own perceptions and biases may not always align with the example of Christ and the Word of God. By applying a self-investigative approach, we can identify areas where we may need to adjust our perceptions and conform more closely to the Word of God. From a third person perspective, it is important to have realistic expectations about our own ability to fully reflect the fruit of Christ in our lives. We are human and will inevitably fall short at times.


              Reflect on our own perceptions and biases, and seek to align them with the Word of God and the example of Christ. Christ’s fruit is greater than code of conduct, rules and regulations, and exposes the perspective of self-protection of boundaries that appear noble, “godly”, or based on claims of what we think is right and wrong.

Since God was not instrumentally fulfilling a code so we could, it was to prove we couldn’t. To take the fulfillment out of an external obedience, directing from Himself of perfect obedience, as a way to give us that foundation in our heart, to reflect the qualities of Christ in a selfless, wall-less and con-formless testimony of faith of what is complete. Our roles and values in New Covenant correspond to an inner work of Christ founded about Christ’s fulfillment in areas that were impossible to conform to Him! The will of God which Christ's consented to in His earthly ministry that prompted His death, was a 'will' beyond human standards, ethics, values and reasoning: Its no wonder we need the Spirit of God to complete these challenges in a christ centered testimony because the fulfillment of Christ is beyond our reach, ability and power, especially before the testimonies of the Law that expressly declare us 'dead, unclean and apart from God, and always required Christ to intervene in our flesh response; the fruit of the Spirit, was and always will be 'a sovereign act of good faith, kindness and divine power behind the forming of our scriptural focus of salvation and the birth of His fruit in our lives.'

CDCS RESEARCH

New Covenant approach causes us to keep realistic expectations in mind, both for ourselves and for others, as we seek to grow in our faith and to demonstrate Christ's fruit in our lives. It is important to evaluate and adjust our own perceptions and biases. Self-investigation and a willingness to set aside our own preferences and desires in favor of aligning with the values and qualities that are reflected in Christ's fruit. Evaluate and adjust our approach to witness based on our own conformity to the Word of God. By considering how God views us and how he ministered to his audiences in a profound way, we can gain a realistic perspective on our own expectations and on the role that we can play as witnesses to His love and grace.

           
                  As we conclude this discussion, it is important to reflect on our own perceptions and biases and to seek to align them with the Word of God and the example of Christ. Some claim it is important to follow codes of conduct, rules, and regulations, incorporating them in the church at the same time for ‘balance’, ‘order’, or ‘practical help of old testament perspective’ so it doesn't get out of hand: maintaining ordinances staying behind with New Covenant in our worship of Christ, but Christ's fruit is greater than these external measures of obedience. We have the power of Christ because it was already out of hand and broken."

 The New Covenant is not about external obedience or conformity to a set of rules, but rather about an inner work of transformation that is founded on Christ's own fulfillment of what was previously impossible. His ‘fruit’ exposes the perspective of self-protection and boundaries that may appear 'noble' or "godly," but that are ultimately based on our own ideas of what is right and wrong, on based on wrong, or expired methodologies.


Creating a 'Christianity without the fruit of the spirit will not be the absence of kindness and well mannered people, it will be the abundance of delusion and self-righteous goals invoked at every level where we think our version of right and wrong is challenged, instead of given to Christ so it doesn't become a disunity or division acting contrary to the very Spirit of God we are claiming our fruit is produced by!

REVIEW OUTLINE OF WHAT WE COVERED:

  • Christianity without the fruit of the spirit will not necessarily be characterized by a lack of kindness or good manners, but rather by an abundance of delusion and self-righteous goals.

    ...and then the presence of forms of godliness giving birth to contention, and lengths we will go to live in striving to meet our demands gets worse and worse, adds to the void of living outside of New Covenant promise- the snare of iniquity the devil will use in the last days in thinking we are doing right in a spirit of unbelief."

 

  • This type of Christianity is characterized by an emphasis on external measures of obedience and conformity to a set of rules, rather than an inner work of transformation.

 

  • This can manifest at every level, from our personal beliefs and behaviors to our interactions with others and our involvement in the Church.

 

  • When we prioritize our own version of right and wrong over Christ's example; when we prioritize our own version of right and wrong, we need to be open to surrendering it to Christ, or it can lead to disunity and division that is contrary to the very Spirit of God we claim to be producing fruit in our lives.

 

  • Instead of clinging to our own perceptions of right and wrong, it is important to give these matters over to Christ and to seek to conform to His Word and His example in order to reflect the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This requires a compassionate, inspired, and reverent approach to the Word of God. Telling someone something is wrong shouldn't create disparages or contention in the church, its our method of only allowing one viewpoint that can only be right while all others are unvalued is creating division against the Spirit of God by not allowing the presence of God be at the center of our progress and love toward one another. We put our standards in God's way and make it about our stronghold grip on reforms that no one can obey!


CDCS RESEARCH, KEVIN SIMON

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