Here's what I believe about that:
--Paul stated in
Romans 7:1-4 that we are "
joined to Another, even to Him who is raised from the dead,
IN ORDER THAT we should
bring forth fruit unto God. (for "apart from Him" we can do NOTHING)
Romans 7:1-4 is speaking about the law that the Jews followed (613 laws) and how that is no longer necessary. I don't know where it speaks about bringing forth fruit...
--In
Philippians 1:11 (as part of his prayer for fellow-believers [when they come to the end of their lives, and are in His Presence]) Paul said, "...
having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which is BY MEANS OF JESUS CHRIST, to the glory and praise of God."
Agreed.
--the writer of
Hebrews said, in
13:20-21 [blb] - "
20 Now
may the God of peace, having brought out from
the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by
the blood of
the eternal covenant,
21 equip you in everything good,
in order to do His will,
working in us that which is well pleasing before Him, through [/BY MEANS OF] JESUS CHRIST, to whom
be the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.
Agreed again.
--"the fruit of the Spirit" is not something we muster up from ourselves (it is "HIS FRUIT" / "OF THE SPIRIT")... and sometimes believers can quench and grieve the Spirit, otherwise the exhortation to not do that would be...
needless, right?
--then there is also the concept of "GROWTH" (He leads us through that too)
I agree with all. We need God's grace to follow Him and do His will. Jesus said without Him we can do nothing...We feed from the vine. John 15:5
Sorry for delay.
