The Lord Jesus Christ desires that His church bear fruit, so that through these fruits, the name of the Father may be glorified in heaven.
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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (John 15:1-3)
In the verses above, Jesus presents Himself as the true vine and reveals God as the vinedresser. God is the one who manages, cares, tends, and removes imperfections so that we may produce excellent fruit.
The Call to Bear Fruit
Jesus teaches that branches that do not bear fruit are cut off, referring to those who lack the capacity to produce fruit and are spiritually lifeless. When we are not connected to the true vine, which is Jesus Christ, we wither spiritually, much like the lifeless branches of a plant.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away. (John 15:2)
From the moment a Christian accepts Jesus, a transformation of character takes place, accompanied by a longing to become more like Christ and to bear fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus distinguishes between two types of branches: the fruitful, which are pruned to produce more, and the unfruitful, which are cut off and thrown into the fire.
The Fruit of the Spirit
When we abide in God’s presence, connected to the true vine, Jesus Christ, we produce spiritual fruit. These fruits are pruned so that we may continue to bear them abundantly.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
These fruits come into existence because we are united with the true vine. In communion with the Lord Jesus, we produce the same fruits He produced, live as He lived, speak as He spoke, and walk according to His will and purpose.
Reflecting Christ’s Likeness
When Jesus foretold that Peter would deny Him three times, we see that those connected to the true vine become like Him.
After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” (Matthew 26:73)
Conversely, when we are not part of the true vine, we produce the works of the flesh, which include:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Conditions for Bearing Fruit
Jesus teaches that there are conditions for bearing fruit. The primary condition is to remain in Him, so that He may remain in us.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:4-7)
Without communion with Christ through faith, we are unable to produce any fruit. Disconnected from Jesus, we become like a branch cut off from the tree—dry, losing its vitality, wilting, and dying. When we lack this connection, we lose the radiance of the Holy Spirit, our soul becomes barren, and we die spiritually, making it impossible to bear fruit.
Disciples Who Glorify the Father
We understand that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. In communion with Him, we bear fruit; disconnected, we become unfruitful. Jesus declares that apart from Him, we can do nothing. When we abide in Him and let His word dwell in us, whatever we ask of the Lord will be granted.
We become true disciples of the Master when we bear fruit, and through these fruits, God is glorified in heaven.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:8-17)
The Power of Love and Obedience
Bearing fruit is vital in the life of a Christian, for through it, the Father’s name is glorified in our lives. Just as Christ loved us, we must abide in His love. Obedience to Jesus’ word and commandments keeps us fully connected to the true vine.
By this we know that we love him and believe in the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16)
It is essential for Christians to love their neighbors as Jesus loved us. Jesus does not call us servants, for servants do not know the purposes and plans of the Father for each of us and His church. He calls us friends, for everything the Father revealed to Him, He has also revealed to us, enabling us to know God’s divine plans.
Chosen to Bear Fruit
We did not choose Christ; He chose and accepted us, making us heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom. The Lord appointed us not only to dwell in heaven but to bear fruit, and whatever we ask in His name will be granted.
Jesus invites us to produce fruit worthy of repentance and to bring more people to the Kingdom of Heaven. He teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves, igniting in our hearts a burning desire to bear fruit when we accept Him.
Jesus desires that through our lives, the Father’s name be glorified. God rejoices greatly when we produce quality fruit. Each of us is capable of bearing fruit for the Kingdom, for we have been set free by the power of the word and grafted into the true vine, Jesus Christ, empowering us to produce abundant fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven.
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