The most important tree in The Three Trees diagram is the center one: the cross of Jesus Christ. Miss this tree, and you’ll be left choosing between self-despairing awareness of sin (the right tree) and self-righteous satisfaction with good-fruit performance (the left tree). How does the cross work in The Three Trees? Basically this: by answering the question, “Who is God and what does he say and do in Christ?”

The path of change from the bad-fruit tree to the good-fruit tree goes through the cross. The benefits of the cross are applied to our lives and put to work in the path of change through faith and repentance.

How does the reality of Christ’s finished work effect your circumstances and your heart? Will you turn from the lies you have practiced and believed? Will you believe the truth of the Gospels? We see a great example of this in the book of Ephesians. Read chapters 1-3 and consider the power of the gospel. You were dead but you’ve been made alive. Now read chapters 4-6 and see how the gospel can change the way we live: our words, thoughts, and actions.

In the same way, I love Philippians 2:12-13,

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

The command is there, to work out our salvation. But remember the “for“! Working out our salvation (moving from bad fruit to good fruit) is poosible because it is God who is at work in you!

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