A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit:

[VictoryinJesus]

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: how is this possible? God says that you will know them by their fruit. It is my understanding that the fruits of the Spirit are of the Spirit and therefore cannot be evil. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: would have to be the tree(seed) of Christ. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Flesh cannot bring forth good fruit? Spirit can not bring forth evil fruit? Therefore "walk in the Spirit"?

All are questions; how do you understand these passages?

Genesis 1:12-13
[12] And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [13] And the evening and the morning were the third day.

1 John 3:9-11
[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. [11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

His seed remains and yields fruit, "whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." This tree, this good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.

Matthew 3:10-15
[10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Matthew 7:17-20
[17] Even so every good tree(Spirit) bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree(flesh) bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Luke 6:43-47
[43] For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit(for the seed within brings forth the fruit). For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Proverbs 11:21
[21] Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Jude 1:11-12
[11] Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. [12] These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Matthew 12:31-37
[31] Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. [32] And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. [33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

That is a good question: how could they, being evil, speak good things?

​

 

[7angels]

i agree and good scripture backup.

God bless

 

[amadeus]

That is a good question: how could they, being evil, speak good things?
​

​

The old man is not completely dead and struggles with the new man for the dominion. When a person does not quench the Holy Spirit the new man always wins, but people do quench the Spirit regularly and the result is double-mindedness which results in them talking out of both sides of their mouths:

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:8-10

 

[Hidden In Him]

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: would have to be the tree(seed) of Christ. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Flesh cannot bring forth good fruit? Spirit can not bring forth evil fruit? Therefore "walk in the Spirit"?

1 John 3:9-11
[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. [11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Thought-provoking thread. The interesting thing here is that it shows how far developed John's view of the power of God was, in its ability to so utterly control believers' lives and thoughts that they literally become "unable" to sin at some point. Now before I say more, this is not in defense of sinless perfection but rather a generalization that the Spirit so strongly prohibits sin in a believer's life that they become strongly averse to it in the extreme. It goes in line with another statement made by him that "perfect love casts out fear," referring to the fact that when you love God perfectly and walk with Him perfectly you no longer have reason to fear Him.

But none of Jesus' quotes actually state that a good true cannot produce bad fruit (at least not the ones you used). They merely state that you will know the tree by its fruit, and to therefore make a tree good and it's fruit will be good. But notice from @amadeus' post how James clearly pointed out that good and bad water can indeed arise from the same spring: (James 3:9-12). They were not supposed to be doing this, but they were, just as many Christians are likewise doing so today.

It displays the heights to which John was calling the faithful; to a place of greater perfection where the impulses to do good are so much greater than the desire to do evil that they swallow them up, and bring the believer into a place of utter obedience in God. No wonder he used the word "love" in his epistles more than any other NT writer.

 

[quietthinker]

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: how is this possible? God says that you will know them by their fruit. It is my understanding that the fruits of the Spirit are of the Spirit and therefore cannot be evil. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit: would have to be the tree(seed) of Christ. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Flesh cannot bring forth good fruit? Spirit can not bring forth evil fruit? Therefore "walk in the Spirit"?

All are questions; how do you understand these passages?

Genesis 1:12-13
[12] And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. [13] And the evening and the morning were the third day.

1 John 3:9-11
[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. [11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

His seed remains and yields fruit, "whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good." This tree, this good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.

Matthew 3:10-15
[10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. [13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Matthew 7:17-20
[17] Even so every good tree(Spirit) bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree(flesh) bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Luke 6:43-47
[43] For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit(for the seed within brings forth the fruit). For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

Proverbs 11:21
[21] Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

Jude 1:11-12
[11] Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. [12] These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Matthew 12:31-37
[31] Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. [32] And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. [33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

That is a good question: how could they, being evil, speak good things?

​

Righteousness is being inline with God's Commandments and being born again is the state that enables this. The enmity that exists in the carnal man is subordinated.
To your question re good and bad trees. Yes, those that are born anew/born of the spirit will not manifest the carnal mind set that is opposed to God's Law neither will the man who is carnal have the disposition to honour Gods Law. 1 Corinthians 2:12-15 The carnal man will instead make excuses and find justifications.

Re Matthew 12:31-37 Speaking against the Holy Sprit is rejecting the conviction that he brings (sin, righteousness and judgement) John 16:8-15 and subsequently need for a Saviour. When that conviction is rejected there remains no other avenue for God to woo a person. They have deliberately placed themselves outside of God's way of reaching them.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

But there is One who can tame the deadly poison of the tongue.

Matthew 27:59-60
[59] And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, [60] And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

Romans 3:13-14 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Consider the stone rolled over the mouth of the tomb, the poison of death is sealed inside. As the stone rolls away from the mouth of the sepulchre, the bondage of death is broken and new life is spoken forth. Deuteronomy 30:19
[19] I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

1 Peter 3:8-12
[8] Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: [9] Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. [10] For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: [11] Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. [12] For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

“...let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

Ensue: A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb δίω diō (to flee; compare the base of G1169 and G1249); to pursue(literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute: - ensue follow (after) given to (suffer) persecute (-ion) press toward.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

But none of Jesus' quotes actually state that a good true cannot produce bad fruit (at least not the ones you used). They merely state that you will know the tree by its fruit, and to therefore make a tree good and it's fruit will be good. But notice from @amadeus' post how James clearly pointed out that good and bad water can indeed arise from the same spring: (James 3:9-12). They were not supposed to be doing this, but they were, just as many Christians are likewise doing so today.

The Pharisees spoke truth but the fruit told the condition of their heart. James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

With all their talk and religion, there was no: Galatians 5:22-25
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

What confuses me is, look in the OT and you will see fruit of the Spirit. God said you will know them by their fruit. So, at this point I am still convinced a good tree can’t produce evil fruit. Yes, in us are both. One Christ crucified. The other born of God, an heir. The seed of Christ that remains, the Spirit, the tree of life does not spring forth evil fruit. It is impossible for the vine(Christ), the good tree, the tree of life, to produce evil fruit. It was that old vine of sodom and gomorrah that produce bad fruit.

Revelation 22:14
[14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Galatians 5:19-21
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these ; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Philippians 1:22
[22] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

How does one walk in the Spirit and not the flesh?

 

[quietthinker]

How does one walk in the Spirit and not the flesh?

By being/staying connected to the vine. John 15:5-7

 

[VictoryinJesus]

walk with Him perfectly you no longer have reason to fear Him.

One day some time ago, I set down and listed everything I fear(ed). Page after page of all my fears. Fear really is torment. As I stared at all my fears, it became clear fear wasn’t my problem but what I feared. I feared everything BUT God. I gave my fear away to torment instead. The fear of God is to hate evil. And to turn. I am certain of it. It is when we really REALLY hate evil that we turn and align with Him. Proverbs 8:13
[13] The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Job 28:28
[28] And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 14:27
[27] The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 16:6
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Then comes: 1 John 4:18
[18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Perfect love cast out fear: because fear is torment. He cast the evil out when we hate it as much as He does.

 

[brakelite]

There is another way to look at this. Jesus told us to judge by the fruit...note that none of the fruit is doctrinal perfection, but behavioural. They are fruits of righteousness. So when we converse with folk who differ from us doctrinally, we may still detect good fruit thus can deduce such fruit is coming from root stock...Jesus...but perhaps hasn't grown sufficiently yet to understand all truth. We must never condemn people who are displaying good tendencies toward righteous living, but has not knowledge. And that is what we are really talking about. Not every detail of behaviour, but the habits and tendencies and direction in lifestyle practices that are being displayed.
Same goes in the other direction. Some may have their doctrines down solid...be teachers of scripture...trained theologians even...but in character may be dead beats and obnoxious. Our connection to the vine will always be able to be read. Beware though those who make a pretence of holiness through self discipline, pride, selfishness. But even these will expose themselves under pressure...
Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

 

[Hidden In Him]

The Pharisees spoke truth but the fruit told the condition of their heart. James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

With all their talk and religion, there was no: Galatians 5:22-25
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

What confuses me is, look in the OT and you will see fruit of the Spirit. God said you will know them by their fruit. So, at this point I am still convinced a good tree can’t produce evil fruit. Yes, in us are both. One Christ crucified. The other born of God, an heir. The seed of Christ that remains, the Spirit, the tree of life does not spring forth evil fruit. It is impossible for the vine(Christ), the good tree, the tree of life, to produce evil fruit. It was that old vine of sodom and gomorrah that produce bad fruit.

Ok... a little confused myself then. What were you doing with James 3:9-12? You know that was written to believers in Christ right?

 

[bbyrd009]

But there is One who can tame the deadly poison of the tongue.

is there?

 

[bbyrd009]

There is another way to look at this. Jesus told us to judge by the fruit...note that none of the fruit is doctrinal perfection, but behavioural. They are fruits of righteousness. So when we converse with folk who differ from us doctrinally, we may still detect good fruit thus can deduce such fruit is coming from root stock...Jesus...but perhaps hasn't grown sufficiently yet to understand all truth. We must never condemn people who are displaying good tendencies toward righteous living, but has not knowledge. And that is what we are really talking about. Not every detail of behaviour, but the habits and tendencies and direction in lifestyle practices that are being displayed.

nice :)
i might add that one standard anyway is "works meet for repentance," which is a hideous translation but nevermind that part right now, a point being that even ppl all grown up in Grace do not necessarily have to share your lexicon, and may not use your terms to identify Christ even. Of course this seems blasphemous to an indoctrinated Christian, right, but this same pov can only and must lead to a decision about which sect is the "correct" one, and then eventually to which members of the sect are correct, etc.
"us 4" thinking iow

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Ok... a little confused myself then. What were you doing with James 3:9-12? You know that was written to believers in Christ right?

The flesh and Spirit war against each other, right? I still see works of the flesh in me that I don’t like. It is just a thought (the thread topic) and hope to walk more in the Spirit. Question is: does a none believer, one that has not been born again, experience this war between flesh and Spirit. If they are not born again; is the Spirit of God their to convict? Maybe I am confusing it: the tree of life has taken root in the believer, yes? This is what I believe is the good tree that can not produce evil fruit. The flesh, as Amadeus said “that old man” he is still there; crucified but there.

 

[amadeus]

But there is One who can tame the deadly poison of the tongue.

Yes, there is, but for me that is the Holy Spirit in us. That is why the Holy Spirit was poured out for us. The reason men spout out both blessings and cursings, is on the one hand they are following the lead of the Holy Spirit and on the other they are quenching the Holy Spirit in them.

"Quench not the Spirit." I Thess 5:19

Jesus overcame the world [John 16:33] of sinful attraction in his own flesh [I John 2:16] . He reopened the Way [closed to us as per Gen 3:24] to the Tree of Life to be opened, but each of us needs to walk through it and partake. To walk through to that Tree which is also Jesus, we must be ready. The Holy Ghost was sent so that we can get ready. This is the purpose of the armour of God [Eph 6:13-17]. Alone without the proper attire we can never do it. Still we must make the right choices. The right choices are always God's Way instead our own or that of any corrupted man. Going His Way requires overcoming each obstacle that stands between us and Him. Can we even always choose that Way? If we ask for God's help, we can:

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matt 7:7-8

As we continue ask and to strive until the end of our course then it is the Holy Spirit in us that makes it possible to overcome it all as Jesus did and to partake of the right tree, the Tree of Life, which is equal to Jesus. He is the Life [John 14:6].

 

[amadeus]

In additional to not quenching the Holy Spirit, we need to stop eating and drinking the wrong things... the garbage. Jesus said:

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." John 6:53-56

What's the garbage to avoid? Found at work, in the stores, at school, on the Internet, on TV, etc.
What is the flesh and blood of Jesus? It is more than a wafer of unleavened bread and a sip of wine. The flesh is what we eat when we read the Bible or listen to an anointed preacher or teacher. The blood is found in the Holy Spirit or is the Holy Spirit. Only one of them will not get the job done.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Yes, there is, but for me that is the Holy Spirit in us

Agree. James 1:19-20
[19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Amadeus, I’ve been thinking this whole time “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” only meant it is better for the other person. Now there is another: in it benefits His children to be slow to wrath, for wrath works not the righteousness of God. It is love, and He is definitely the model. It amazes me.

 

[amadeus]

Agree. James 1:19-20
[19] Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [20] For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Amadeus, I’ve been thinking this whole time “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” only meant it is better for the other person. Now there is another: in it benefits His children to be slow to wrath, for wrath works not the righteousness of God. It is love, and He is definitely the model. It amazes me.

God is amazing, but many people, even some who say they are Christian believers, have very poor vision as I understand it. We must move toward seeing more clearly. God will through the Holy Spirit in us move us that way if we work with Him and not against Him.

Many people don't realize that to really get closer to God requires an effort on our part. They may be saved in the end because they have always really embraced Jesus [whatever that means to them and God], but to me a person who is not striving remains in danger of turning to one side and missing the boat altogether. The OSAS people will not like me saying that, but it is what I believe and it is the way that I continue to strive to walk toward God. The highway of holiness has the Light at the very end which are approaching, but that highway is always a strait and narrow way with a deep chasm on either side that can easily become a bottomless pit.

Blind people cannot walk toward the Light at all without someone to direct them. People with poor eyesight can easily slip and fall if they do not move very carefully.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:..." Prov 29:18

 

[Hidden In Him]

The flesh and Spirit war against each other, right? I still see works of the flesh in me that I don’t like. It is just a thought (the thread topic) and hope to walk more in the Spirit. Question is: does a none believer, one that has not been born again, experience this war between flesh and Spirit. If they are not born again; is the Spirit of God their to convict? Maybe I am confusing it: the tree of life has taken root in the believer, yes? This is what I believe is the good tree that can not produce evil fruit. The flesh, as Amadeus said “that old man” he is still there; crucified but there.

I see. Then yes, you have it right. Until the Spirit of God enters a soul, there will be no conflict. It is only when He does that the conflict begins.

 

[bbyrd009]

But there is One who can tame the deadly poison of the tongue.

Yes, there is, but for me that is the Holy Spirit in us.

i don't think so wadr. i know the pov seems self-evident, but try and go find some Validation for this; i don't believe you will be able to.