Days to Pentecost 10

20200424 Days to Pentecost 10 
by Hannah Lee

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” (1Peter 1:17) 

Does God judge us according to each men’s work? 
Does God judge us according to each men’s work?
Doesn’t God judge us by our faith?
So do we have to do good and live holy to be saved?  

These are questions that arise when we separate faith and deed.
Faith and deed are like the relationship between trees and fruits.  

"Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Mars 7:17-20)

There are many people in the world who are good and do good things without faith in Christ.
But if the tree is not a good tree, no matter how good it is, it will be a bad fruit to God.  
A good tree is a tree that God has chosen as a good tree.
The root of a good tree is Jesus Christ.  
A good tree cannot bear fruit on its own without Jesus.
Therefore, in order to obtain the fruit of living good and holy, it must be united with Jesus Christ.
Also, only those allied with Jesus Christ can bear good and holy fruit.

Today Peter teaches us to behave according to our status as we have become obedient children of Father.

“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober [in spirit,] fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (v. 13, NASB)  

​Speaking a modern language, Peter tells us to tie our shoelaces tightly and prepare to do it all the time, not to be drunk, and to stay sane.  
God made me a good tree, so he asks me to bear beautiful fruit.
Beautiful fruits are the fruits of obedience that keeps a new commandment, believing in God and loving others deeply.

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” (1John 3:23-24)

He judges according to my deeds because there is faith, obedience, hope, and love in my deeds.
On that day, the Lord will find me beautiful fruit.  
If a tree bears no fruit or bad fruit, God would burn it relentlessly because it is certainly not a good tree. 

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” (1Peter 1:17)