Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Galatians 5:22-23
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Titus 3:1-11 (ESV)
Be Ready for Every Good Work
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned
2 Corinthians 6:14
Yoke Yourself with Believers
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Luke 14:11
The Humbled and the Exalted
11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Jesus warns us to watch out for false prophets...We are to be on guard of false teachers, who come and grab our attention and are disguised as harmless men and women...We can can detect them by the way they act and talk, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit...You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or figs with thistles...Fruit is good and thistles and thorn bushes are not...And different kinds of fruit trees can quickly identified by examining their fruit...A variety of trees that produce delicious fruit are good and edible...And a tree that produces an inedible fruit can’t produce what is good...So the trees having the inedible fruit are chopped down and thrown on the fire...Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit he or she produces...The way to identify them is by what they say and how they act...The false prophet does not know the Truth...
Let us learn from Jesus...Jesus is Truth...When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works we have done or any righteousness we did, but He saved us according to His own mercy,...He came to help us...He washed away of our sins and gave us the renewal of the Holy Spirit in us...We are only justified by His grace that we might become His heirs and thus believe and have the hope of eternal life...The sayings of Jesus are trustworthy and true...These things of goodness are excellent and profitable for living...But avoid those who are careless and reckless, and want to quarrel about different things, for many arguments can be unprofitable and worthless...Arguments often bring division...As for a person who stirs up division and troubles, after warning him or her once and then again, have nothing more to do with him or her, and know that such a person is warped and sinful; he or she is self-condemned...Avoid these people whenever possible...
Instead surround yourself and listen and learn from those who embrace the Fruit of the Spirit...It is good to be with those who teach and want to know about love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...We can learn much from Jesus' humbleness as He walked and talked among us...Jesus forgives us...We can learn about goodness and forgiveness, if we learn to speak evil of no one, and are gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people...For in the past we may once have been foolish, or disobedient, and led astray...Jesus teaches us to be humble so that we will be exalted one day with Him and His Father...