A while ago when writing the posts about the sower sowing the Word, I came across this term “fruits of your righteousness”.  Back then I didn’t quite understand what it was really saying, but today, I want to look at what the “fruits of your righteousness” is talking about. 

If you haven’t already seen our previous post about the sower sowing the Word, check it out here.  I will reference things from those posts in this one as we look at what the fruits of your righteousness are. 

Our Text

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

2 Corinthians 9:10 KJV

Small Recap

In Mark 4 we talked about Jesus and the parable of the sower.  It is important to realize that when 2 Corinthians 9:10 talks about seed it is talking about the Word of God that comes out of your mouth when you confess it.  “Sowing seed” is not about money.  To “sow seed” is to speak out the Word of God over your situation. 

14 The sower soweth the word.

Mark 4:14 KJV

You see when you give it will be given unto you.  That works for money, but it also works for the Word of God you speak.  If you want to understand and have more of the Word in operation in your life, then exercise it and start sowing it into the lives of others around you.

“Righteousness” Defined

So we understand the first part of the verse, but what about the last part, “…and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”  What are the “fruits of your righteousness”.  To answer that let’s first look at the definition of the word righteousness. I want to look at three specific definitions that when combined paint an amazing picture of who we are in Christ.

1. In the greek this word righteousness is defined as “(usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness.” 
2. Another greek definition is  “judicial approval”.  
3. Finally, in the webster’s dictionary “morally right or justifiable”

You see because of the blood of Jesus we have legal approval for our moral status.  We are not held accountable for the debt of sin that we legally owe.  Instead it is through Jesus that we have life and life more abundantly.

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6 KJV

There is only one way to be righteous and it is by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-10).  This is how you become righteous and the most important thing you will ever do in your life.  

Your Spirit Alive 

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:3-5 KJV

This is a section from a whole chapter where Jesus compares Himself to a vine and us as branches.  Think about a vine.  The vine carries nutrients and life to the rest of the plant.  The vine itself doesn’t produce fruit that is the job of the branches.  Each branch is responsible for its own production of fruit.  

This might sound familiar because it is.  The “fruit of the spirit” is the fruit you produce as a born again Christian attached to the power and life of Jesus Christ in your spirit.  The life you currently live you can only live because of the faith of Jesus … the vine. 

Jesus is the Word of God as it says in John 1:1.  When you speak the Word of God, you end up planting it into your heart.  The Word of God (Jesus) now abides in you.  The same operates in reverse when you stay in the secret place and worship God.  

Remember what verse 5 says,  “…He that abides in me, and I in him…”.  The Word must abide in your heart and you must abide in His secret place continuously.  That is how you produce much fruit.  

Fruits of YOUR Righteousness Defined

Now the moment we have been building to.  The definition of the “fruits of YOUR righteousness”.  So we know we are righteous because of Jesus.  We know we produce fruit because we are branches of the vine.  That means that our spirits produce fruit (Gal. 5:22-23). 

You see that the fruits of righteousness are the result of your righteousness through the blood of Jesus.  Really what we are saying is that the “fruit of righteousness” and the “fruit of the spirit” are the same thing.  

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

I hope this is making sense.  It is our spirit made righteous by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit that produces the fruit of the Spirit.  I always had questions about the practical step that I could do to increase love or joy or patience in my life.  I didn’t know what actual steps to take.  It is one thing knowing you should, but it’s a whole other thing knowing how you can.  

As we see in 2 Corinthians 9:10, the result of giving liberally and sowing the Word of God liberally will be an increase in seed, more bread, multiplication of the seed you sow and more fruits of righteousness in operation in your life.  

If you want to look and act more like God, you simply need to speak the Word of God over yourself more every day and spend more time with Him.  There is power in the SPOKEN Word of God.  Your confession will become your possession and your meditation will become your destination (Joshua 1:8-9).

Wrapping Up

As always, I look forward to all that God has done and will do with these posts.  I pray that you grow in wisdom as God makes His Word known to you.  Until God’s Word becomes a Word to you, it cannot be THE word in your situation.  What am I saying?  Until you make the Bible real for yourself it won’t work for you.  

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