What's the difference between 'works' and 'fruits'?

[Jack Ryan]

Jesus's quote "You know a tree by it's fruit"

[Melinda Mills]

*** Bible Citations ***

(James 2:18) Nevertheless, someone will say: “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

(James 2:26) Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

 

Faith is part of the fruitage of the spirit and it causes one to produce fine works that please God.

[io.porog]

 

I look at it this way:

Fruit are consequence/s of an action or actions. Works are actions culminating in a result or fruit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Witness]

John 15:18 -  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

The fruit produced by one’s works will determine if it is sourced in the Father with the help of Jesus’ guidelines.   

We are aware that chosen ones are described many times in the bible as trees.  Rev 22:1,2  Compare to Ezek 47:7,12; Isa 61:3

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”  Matt 7:15-20

There are those “trees” – teachers, prophets – who can produce a fruit from their own “works” that is worthless, according to Jesus; a fruit we are to be wary of. 

 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  Matt 7:21-23

The works of love would be an identifying mark of fruit sourced in God. 1 John 3:10,11,23; 4:20,21  A true prophet or teacher would display such love to all.

 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.  Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matt 12:33-37

The fruit produced by such ones is through their own words or works. 

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."  Heb 13:15 (Mal 2:7; 1 Cor 3:14)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.  Prov 18:21

“Good trees” from Matt 7 speak “good things” from the “good treasure” of a good heart of righteousness.  A rotten tree (offspring of vipers/Satan's seed) speaks "wicked things" out of his "wicked treasure" from a "wicked heart" that is "condemned".

It’s up to us through Jesus’ guidance to consider each one’s teachings (fruits) as proving true or rotten. If true, it surrenders completely to God’s words, absent of any “doctrines of men”.   John 8:47; Matt 15:9; 2 Thess 2:10  Through such doctrines, these ones prove that their own glory is manifested through their words.  1Cor.4:8; 2Thess.2:4; 1 John 2:15; Eccl 8:9

Each “tree” or teacher or prophet – each anointed one – produces either all good or all bad fruit.  There is no middle ground.  If we ingest fruit below par and also give it (works) to another, the result of bearing such fruit can put one’s life in jeopardy.    John 8:44; Heb 2:14; James 1:15

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Gen 3:6,7  (Rev 3:17)