Fruitful in Every Good Work (Colossians 1:10)

Our lifestyle is to be full of all kinds of excellent deeds and activities. We cannot do this on our own. Only Jesus can make us fruitful workers (John 15:4-5). Just as a vine dresser removes dead branches so a vine will produce more fruit, God removes bad works and attitudes from our lives so we will produce more good works (John 15:2). The best effect of our good works is that God is glorified through them (John 15:8).

Some examples of fruitful good works are evangelism (1 Corinthians 16:15); praise to God (Hebrews 13:15); giving to the poor (Romans 15:26-28); a righteous and virtuous lifestyle that is acceptable to God (Hebrews 12:11); love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Fruit of the Gospel (Colossians 1:6)

Belief in the good news of Jesus Christ changes individuals and affects people around them. It produces in us new spiritual life that was not there before (Rom. 6:4). All living things are fruitful as they themselves grow and as they produce new life. The same is true for spiritual life. Individual growth results in the "fruit of the Spirit" which "is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control" (Gal. 5:22-23, NIV). New spiritual life is produced as spiritually living people reproduce themselves in the lives of others by sharing the good new of Jesus Christ.