Works without faith are dead.
Those who give an outward appearance of belief are like the land that produces thorns and thistles. (Hebrews 6:8)
Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
No good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20)
The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient. (James 5:7-8)
The context of this passage comes directly after the author saying we need to stop laying the foundation over and over again, and that we need to build on that foundation and grow into mature believers and doers of the faith.
If we continue in an endless cycle of sinning and repenting, our hearts will be hardened so much so that we will eventually turn away from God entirely. Therefore, it's time to grow up spiritually speaking and mature in our faith.
Thinking we have to do it all in our own strength, fear of not being good enough, and a lack of trusting in God may be contributing factors that hinder or stunt our growth.
A mature believer receives blessings from God because they are producing a crop that is useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated. Hebrews 6:7
Cultivate (verb) prepare and use for the raising of crops, to loosen or break up the soil; to foster the growth of; to refine; to improve by labor, care, or study; to encourage
There is either an endless cycle of sinning and repenting, or there is an endless cycle of refining and blessing.
Dear Lord, please help me to produce good fruit. Thank you Lord.
