The disciple must learn that bearing fruit is an act of God. We are vessels that God may choose or not choose to extend and expand His Kingdom. "Has the potter no right over the clay".1 It would be logical that the witness of the believer is confirmed on the grounds of what the witness is before the Lord (see # 20 WITNESS).
God cannot confirm that which is not like His character and purpose. The great and wonderful power of God is expressed in His grace. He confirms that which is of Grace and Obedience. No work of any believer can save a lost soul. Only God can give salvation. The witness is confirmed in mercy, and not works because the work is finished.2 "None is righteous, no, not one. No one is good, not even one".3 Jesus Christ is the only One that is righteous, and can be confirmed. We are a witness to that fact.
"He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly in Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life".4 Our witness is confirmed only on the basis of what Christ has done in His work on the Cross, and His High Priestly position of grace in our hearts. To witness to this (without gimmick or system) is to assume and accept approval and favor from God and man.
Our witness as disciples is more than a 'hit and run' situation. We present our witness to God as all things are presented: As broken, contrite, reverent, awesome, fearful, loving, abiding, prayerful and aromatic sacrifices. His own mercy and grace deal with any further progress. We remain constant in that knowledge and love.
Confirmation (Greek: bebaioo) means to make firm, establish, or make secure. The believer and his witness are establishing "the mystery of Christ". God's perfect will and plan causes us to be obedient to the message of our Lord Jesus Christ because we know that message was accepted as perfect and complete. Any word, method, personality or deed must move out of the way for this message to be confirmed. Our witness is confirmed in Christ Jesus, not us. Any righteousness and confirmation are through Him and by Him. He is our witness, and our confirmation.
Additional Scripture References:
Titus 3:5
Romans 8:27, Romans 9:6-26, Romans 15:8
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 Corinthians 1:6-8
Hebrews 2:3, 13:9
Galatians 3:15-17
Mark 16:20
1. Romans 9:21
2. Ephesians 2:8-19
3. Romans 3:9-12
4. Titus 3:5-7
