104. Since this reciprocity and reciprocation, and so mutuality, is something the person has from the Lord, therefore the Lord says that a person must keep His commandments and produce fruits:

Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord, ” and do not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46-49)

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:17)

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:14)

Whoever...does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)

...whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a prudent man.... (Matthew 7:24)

...produce fruits worthy of repentance. (Matthew 3:8)

...make the tree good and its fruit good.... (Matthew 12:33)

...the kingdom of God will be...given to a nation producing the fruits of it. (Matthew 21:43)

Every tree that does not produce...fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19) And so on in many places elsewhere. These make apparent that a person must act of himself, but do so by the power of the Lord, which he must implore. And that is to act as though of himself.