Biblical View on Unfruitful Evangelism and God's Judgment
The biblical understanding of unfruitful evangelism and God's judgment is rooted in the expectation that God's people should produce spiritual fruit, and failure to do so incurs divine wrath. The Old Testament frequently portrays Israel as an unfruitful fig tree or vineyard, destined for judgment if it does not repent [9, 11]. For instance, Isaiah 5:1-7 and Micah 7:1-2 depict Israel's barrenness, a theme echoed in the New Testament [9].
God's judgment is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, predicted in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalms 9:7, 96:13; Ecclesiastes 3:17) and presented as a foundational principle of the gospel in the New Testament (Hebrews 6:2) [4]. This judgment is described as the "day of wrath" and the "revelation of the righteous judgment of God" [4]. It is administered by Christ, who will call all into account [4]. The wicked often dismiss the idea of divine judgment, saying in their hearts, "God won’t call me into account" (Psalm 10:13) [1]. However, God's judgments are both secret decisions of His will and the infliction of punishment on the wicked [5].
Unbelief is identified as a sin that stems from an evil, hard, and unbelieving heart [6]. It involves a disinclination to truth and a rejection of Christ [6]. Prophets who deliver "false and foolish visions" and fail to expose iniquity contribute to a people's banishment, indicating a failure in spiritual guidance that leads to judgment [3]. The book of Ecclesiastes warns against hesitation in spiritual work, stating, "He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4) [2]. This suggests that overthinking or fear of unfavorable conditions can lead to unfruitfulness.
Augustine of Hippo highlights the "amazing judgments" of God, noting that God may grant perseverance to some while withholding it from others, even those who have received faith, hope, and love [7]. He also speaks of the "unfruitful tree" that is spared for a time but will eventually be cut down, urging belief in the coming judgment [8]. God's wrath is the consequence for those who reject the gospel, a judgment that Israel experienced in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 [13]. Augustine further explains that God "blinds the minds of unbelievers," demonstrating how the true and just God orchestrates judgment [12]. The concept of judgment is not merely a future event but an ongoing reality, though the final judgment is a specific focus [10].
Sources
- Psalms “Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?” -- Psalms 10:13”
- Ecclesiastes “He who observes the wind won’t sow; and he who regards the clouds won’t reap. -- Ecclesiastes 11:4”
- Lamentations “Your prophets have seen for you false and foolish visions; They have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captivity, but have seen for you false oracles and causes of banishment. -- Lamentations 2:14”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judgments of God — (1.) The secret decisions of God's will (Ps. 110:5; 36:6). (2.) The revelations of his will (Ex. 21:1; Deut. 6:20; Ps. 119:7-175). (3.) The infliction of punishment on the wicked (Ex. 6:6; 12:12; Ezek. 25:11; Rev. 16:7), such as is mentioned in Gen. 7; 19:24, 25; Judg. 1:6, 7; Acts 5:1-10, etc.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Unbelief — Is sin -- Joh 16:9. Defilement inseparable from -- Tit 1:15. All, by nature, concluded in -- Ro 11:32. Proceeds from An evil heart. -- Heb 3:12. Slowness of heart. -- Lu 24:25. Hardness of heart. -- Mr 16:14; Ac 19:9. Disinclination to the truth. -- Joh 8:45,46. Judicial blindness. -- Joh 12:39,40. Not being Christ's sheep. -- Joh 10:26. The devil blinding the mind. -- 2Co 4:4. The devil taking away the word out of the heart. -- Lu 8:12. Seeking honour from men. -- Joh 5:44. Impugns the veracity of God -- 1Jo 5:10. Exhibited in Rejecting Christ. -- Joh 16:”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 18.--SOME INSTANCES OF GOD'S AMAZING: JUDGMENTS. It is, indeed, to be wondered at, and greatly to be wondered at, that to some of His own children--whom He has regenerated in Christ--to whom He has given faith, hope, and love, God does not give perseverance also, when to children of another He forgives such wickedness, and, by the bestowal of His grace, makes them His own children. Who would not wonder at this? Who would not be exceedingly astonished at this? But, moreover, it is not less marvellous, and still true, and so manifest that not even t”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — PREVAIL: LET THE NATIONS BE JUDGED IN THY SIGHT." (part 4): dead. 4. Ah! unfruitful tree, mock not, because thou art yet spared; the axe is delayed, be not(2) thou secure; He will come and thou shalt be cut down. Believe that He will come. All these things which now ye see, once were not. Once the Christian people were not over the whole world. It was read of in prophecy, not seen in the earth; now it is both read and seen. Thus was the Church herself completed. It was not said to her, "See, O daughter, and hear;" but, "Hear and see."(3) Hear ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 13:6: 13:6-9 The parable of the barren fig tree illustrated Jesus’ ministry to Israel. Unless the nation produced the fruit of repentance, it would face judgment. The parable is open-ended—Israel was being offered the chance to respond. Cp. Matt 21:18-19 // Mark 11:12-14. 13:6 a fig tree: Israel was sometimes portrayed as an unfruitful fig tree or a vineyard that God would judge (Isa 5:1-7; Mic 7:1-2; see Jer 8:13; 24:1-10; Hos 9:10).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. I.--THAT ALTHOUGH GOD IS ALWAYS JUDGING, IT IS NEVERTHELESS REASONABLE TO CONFINE OUR ATTENTION IN THIS BOOK TO HIS LAST JUDGMENT. (part 1): INTENDING to speak, in dependence on God's grace, of the day of His final judgment, and to affirm it against the ungodly and incredulous, we must first of all lay, as it were, in the foundation of the edifice the divine declarations. Those persons who do not believe such declarations do their best to oppose to them false and illusive sophisms of their own, either contending that what is addu”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 3:9: 3:9 every tree that does not produce good fruit: Israel would be judged as an unfruitful vineyard (see Isa 5:1-7; cp. Luke 13:7-9; 20:9-19).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — FAUSTUS DENIES THAT MANICHAEANS BELIEVE IN TWO GODS. HYLE NO GOD. AUGUSTIN DISCUSSES AT LARGE THE DOCTRINE OF GOD AND HYLE, AND FIXES THE CHARGE OF DUALISM UPON THE MANICHAEANS. (part 3): God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind."(3) Here we see how the true and just God blinds the minds of unbelievers. For in all these words quoted from the apostle no other God is understood than He whose Son, sent by Him, came saying, "For judgment am I come into this world, that they which see not might see, and that they which ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 3:7: 3:7 God’s coming wrath is the judgment for all who reject the gospel. Israel as a nation would experience this wrath in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (see 21:20-23).”