Philippians 1:10,11 – Who produces fruit?

… for you to be testing what things are of consequence, that you may be sincere and no stumbling block for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ for the glory and laud of God.

Abundant love, awareness, sensitivity, recognizing what is of consequence. Those are the features that matter. On the way to “the day of Christ” (=in his parousia; 3:20,21) it is this sincerity that counts. The word here translated ‘sincere’ (Gr. eilikrines) literally means something like ‘judged by the sun’. It is what is elsewhere called “walking in the light” in which we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).

We are righteous by faith. After all, God counts faith as righteousness. But here it is about being “filled with [the] fruit of righteousness”. That is a process, and not completed till the day of Christ. But beware: this fruit is not something we (are supposed to) produce ourselves. It is the “fruit of righteousness which is through Jesus Christ”. That is to say: through Him this fruit fully grows and blossoms. And hence also “to the glory and laud of God”. For He does the work and therefore all glory to Him!

Delen: