No False Pride in Our Heritage - Luke 3:7-9

People came to be baptized by John. John said to them, "You are like poisonous snakes! Who warned you to run away from God's anger that is coming? You must do the things that will show that you have really changed your hearts and lives. And don't think that saying, 'Abraham is our father' will help you. I tell you that God can make children for Abraham from these rocks here! The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not make good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (ERV)   Full Text

My brothers and sisters, if a person says that he has faith, but does nothing, then that faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save him? No! It is the same with faith. If faith does nothing, then that faith is dead, because it is alone. A person might say, "You have faith, but I do things. Show me your faith! Your faith does nothing. I will show you my faith by the things I do." You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe, too! And they shake with fear. You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing? James 2:14, 17-20 (ERV) "Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look {gentle} like sheep. But they are really dangerous {like} wolves. You will know these people because of the things they do. Good things don't come from bad people, the same as grapes don't come from thorn bushes. And figs don't come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree makes good fruit. And bad trees make bad fruit. A good tree cannot make bad fruit. And a bad tree cannot make good fruit. Every tree that does not make good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will know these false people by the fruit they make (things they do). "Not every person that says that I am his Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people that will enter the kingdom of heaven are those people that do the things that my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles. ' Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Go away from me, you people that do wrong. I never knew you.' Matthew 7:15-23 (ERV) So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers. Be kind and humble. Don't do wrong to a person to pay him back for doing wrong to you. Or don't say something bad to a person to pay him back for saying something bad to you. But {ask God to} bless that person. Do this, because you yourselves were called to receive a blessing. {The Scripture says,} "If a person wants to enjoy life and to have many good days, that person must stop speaking evil and stop telling lies. That person must stop doing evil and do good; that person should look for peace and try to get it. The Lord sees the good people, and the Lord listens to their prayers. But the Lord is against those people that do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12 (ERV)