The Fruit of a Changed Life

Jesus taught his disciples that the true condition of people’s hearts is made evident by their words and actions. He says in several places, “by their fruit you will recognize them . . . every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (Matt. 7:16, 17–18; cf. 12:33–37; Luke 6:43–45). What fruit should we expect to see in the lives of those changed by the grace of God? Let’s look at a list from the Amplified Study Bible that describes the new loves produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the child of God.

Foundation Text

And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].

1 Corinthians 6:11

A Changed Life

The greatest proof of the new birth is a changed life. The child of God now suddenly loves the following:

He loves Jesus.

Before conversion the sinner might hold Christ in high esteem, but after conversion he loves the Savior.

Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], and everyone who loves the Father also loves the child born of Him. By this we know [without any doubt] that we love the children of God: [expressing that love] when we love God and obey His commandments.”

1 John 5:1–2

He loves the Bible.

We should love God’s Word as the psalmist did in Psalm 119. There he expresses his great love for God’s Word 17 times. Here are a couple examples:

For I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes.”

Psalms 119:47–48

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalms 119:97

Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, more than refined gold.

Psalms 119:127

He loves other Christians.

When sinners know the love God has for them and experience a changed heart as a result, they cannot help but love the other members of God’s family.

We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.”

1 John 3:14

He loves his enemies.

Sinners changed by the love of God even love those who hate them. This goes beyond merely natural love, showing that love for enemies has God as its source.

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].”

Matthew 5:43–45

He loves the souls of all people.

Like Paul, he too can cry out for the conversion of loved ones.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation.”

Romans 10:1

He loves the pure life.

John says, if one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.”

1 John 2:15–17

He loves to talk to God.

A heart that has been changed by the grace of God loves to praise God.

Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.”

Eph 5:19

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What other changes would you add to this list? How has God reordered what you love? Leave a comment below!