934. That 'fruits' signify the goods that a man does out of love or charity is known indeed without confirmation out of the Word, for the reader understands nothing else by 'fruits' in the Word. The reason why by 'fruits' are understood the goods of love or charity is because a man is compared to a tree, and is also called 'a tree' (n. 89, 400). That 'fruits' signify the goods of love or charity, which in common parlance are called good works, can be confirmed from these passages:-
The axe is laid to the root of the tree, every tree not bearing good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire Matt. iii 10; vii 16-20.
Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and the fruit corrupt; the tree is recognised by the fruit Matt. xii 33; Luke vi 43, 44.
Every branch not bearing fruit shall be taken away, but every one bearing fruit shall be pruned that it may bear more fruit. He who abides in Me and I in him, this one bears much fruit John xv 2-8.
Bear fruits worthy of repentance Matt. iii 8.
He who was seeded into the good ground, this is the one who hears the Word and pays attention and bears fruit Matt. xiii 23.
Jesus said to the disciples, I have chosen you that you may bear fruit, and that your fruit may remain John xv 16.
A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard: he came seeking fruit on it, but found none: he says to the vinedresser, Cut it down, why does it make the land unfruitful? Luke xiii 6-9.
A man, a householder, let out his vineyard to farmers, that he might get its fruits, but they killed the servants sent to them, and at length, the Son; he therefore will let the vineyard out to others who shall render Him the fruits in their season. So shall the kingdom of God be taken away from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof Matt. xxi 33-35, 38-41, 43;
besides many other places.
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