Works are not fruit; God tells us what the fruit is; we don't have to guess.
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.…"
The fruits are the character qualities of Christ that do lead to good actions. However, even those without the fruit can have good actions, but they don't count with God because they are done in the flesh to glorify self.
The actions that come from God's fruit glorify Him and not ourselves.
Those who are born again can discern whether the good deeds are from the work of the Holy Spirit or if they are coming from a spirit of pride and self-promotion.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
We get confused about who is saved and who is not these days because so many Christians are as worldly as their non-Christian friends. However, when someone walks with Christ we can sense the intense connection between the Holy Spirit in us and the Holy Spirit in them.
John 15:4-5 "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. / I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."
Romans 8:13-14 "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. / For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Ephesians 5:9 "for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth."
What a lovely reunion when we meet up with another believer who walks in the Spirit of God.
