A Good Person

"All outward means of grace, if separate from the spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or love of God. All outward things, unless he work in them and by them, are in vain." - John Wesley

I don’t think the gravity of Wesley’s statement is fully realized by most. It explains why a “good person” who does “good things” will burn in Hell without the grace and gift of regeneration.

Always consider the source. Where did that “good” come from? The source of the fruit will determine its status of holiness.

“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Luke 6:43).

Do not imagine that the good tree produces a fresh and yummy delicious fruit while the bad tree produces only a spoiled, rotten, worm-infested fruit. Who would ever be drawn to that? For all intents and purposes, the apple from the bad tree may be physically perfect. It probably is, for how else could it lure and seduce if it was not appealing and tempting?

This is why people get confused about “good people” who do “good things” and yet are destined for Hell.

The unregenerate are a bad tree therefore what they produce will always be unacceptable to God.

Bill Hitchcock