Tree Known by its Fruit

Matthew 12:33-37
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

What we say and do does matter; though we are saved by grace through faith alone, we are called out to be conformed to Christ. The Pharisees looked only to checklists, not the underlying heart motivating their actions. We must work on the heart by obedience out of love, and He will enable us to change by His working in us. But we must continue to obey in word and deed, driven by grace and mercy. Let no one mislead you - we will stand before our Lord to answer for our lives.