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Six Fruit - The Results of Abiding in Jesus.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus used the figure of the vine and
the branches to describe our relationship with Him as we live our lives here on
the earth. He said:
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8
The following six activities in the New Testament are referred to as fruit.
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8
The following six activities in the New Testament are referred to as fruit.
1. Escorting People to the Lord Jesus Christ
Paul wrote to the Church at Rome:
Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. Romans 1:13
The Bible uses terms like: fishermen, farmers, and ambassadors providing pictures of our role in this task of leading people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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2. Living A Godly - Holy Life
Paul again wrote to the Roman Church:
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. Romans 6:22
Jesus said: I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:15-17
The Truth of the Word of God moves in our hearts to set us apart (sanctify us).
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3. Sharing What We Have
In writing to the Romans Paul again worte:
For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them tndeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. Romans 15:26-28
Paul encoraged the Gentiles to help the Christians, most of whom were Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and in doing so took them money collected in various congregations. This sharing of what people had has always been the way of the church.
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. Acts 2:44-45
This is not Christian Communism but Christian Compassion - a fruit of abiding in Jesus Christ.
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4. Character of Life
In Galatians Paul contrasts the walk in the Spirit which produces the fruit of the Spirit - character qualities of a strong life and the lusts of the flesh which produces activities that are part of the sinful world lifestyle.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:16-22
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5. Good Works
In Colossians the Apostle Paul tells the church of his paryer for them:
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:9-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
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6. Thanksgiving of Praise
The writer of the book of Hebrews places a group of commands at the end of his book. One of those deals with an attitude of praise that is part of the life of a believer.
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:14-15
A sacrifice costs and this sacrifice is the giving of praise to God regardless of our settings or circumstances, or feelings.
. . .in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
