The Fallacy of Fruitless Christianity

Daily Devotional – Thursday, September 28, 2023
When Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Luke 19:8 (NKJV)

Here are typical responses when some Christians fail to uphold godly standards:
“God looks at the heart, not actions.”
“God saves the heart, not the body.”
“I am saved by grace. What I do does not matter.”
“No one is perfect.”

Unbiblical Misconceptions of Fruitfulness

These and other statements are common justifications for continuing to live in sin while professing to follow Jesus. Granted, there is some truth in these statement but we misconstrue the facts to fit our sinful desires.

The Bible is emphatic that when we receive the gospel, character transformation must begin in us, because the gospel is the power of God for salvation. The brief story of Zacchaeus the tax collector clearly demonstrates this fact.

Profession vs Transformation

Zacchaeus desire of forgiveness and restoration met its fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ on the day the Lord came into the home of the hated tax collector. Jewish religious leaders and the crowd that followed the Lord on that day in Jericho were offended that He had accepted to dine with a sinner.

Touched by the kindness and love of Jesus, and repentant of his evils, Zacchaeus began undergoing transformation. The Spirit of God impressed upon the man of short stature the desire to make amends for his past sins. He publicly announced having taken a U-turn from his previous life of defrauding and oppressing people.

The Fallacy of Fruitless Christianity

Zacchaeus told Jesus as the crowd listened, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” (Luke 19:8). That is the transforming power of the gospel. One cannot receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord and remain the same in thought, attitude, speech and character.

If indeed you are a disciple of Jesus, allow Him to change you. The fruit of the Spirit will manifest in the life of all those who take up the cross and follow Jesus. It is a fallacy to imagine the existence of a fruitless Christian. Where Jesus dwells, spiritual change takes place.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I submit to You, that I may undergo the transformation that produces the fruit of the Spirit every day.