John 15:5
[Jesus said] "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
I've always struggled with this passage, because I know a lot of good fruitful people that are "apart" from Jesus. The world is full of generous, kind, hospitable, and gracious people that don't have any kind of a relationship with Jesus. How can they bear fruit apart from Jesus?
What is "fruit"?
John 15:8
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
William Barclay wrote:
God is glorified, when we bear much fruit and show ourselves to be disciples of Jesus. The greatest glory of the Christian life is that by our life and conduct we can bring glory to God.
According to Barclay, when we bear "much fruit" we demonstrate to the world that we are Jesus' disciples. Showing ourselves to be Christ's disciples brings glory to God. What we do, our fruit, can be tested by whether it shows us to be disciples of Jesus.
It's not enough to just do good things. Fruit is behaving in a way that shows that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. Fruit is a life that brings glory to God.
Bear much fruit!
Lon
www.AcornMinistries.com
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2 comments:
This is a great discussion; one I have wrestled with as well. I was reading the other night in Genesis 1:11, "Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
Fruit does have several characteristics, such as, it provides sustenance (calories), it contains nourishment (vitamins, minerals, and substances that strengthen your immune system), and its seed reproduces after its own kind.
"Fruit" is not an ethereal notion, but a practical devotion. It's a Life-giving source and supply that is given on a practical level to humanity. The body of Christ is called to be a tree of Life in the earth that should invite the lost and hurting to eat from our bounty, to both the saved and unsaved.
Christian fruit comes in many forms and flavors. For my friend who is incarcerated, a visit is fruit to him. To his family, financial support. To my family, it's "I love you". To others it's a shoulder to cry on.
It's in our practical love for one another that Christ is glorified, displaying our love and devotion to Him, and His beloved bride. Let us therefore as seeds of the Tree of Life Himself reproduce after our own kind and subdue the earth.
Jarvis,
You have got to find a way to write more often! I love reading your stuff!
"...not an ethereal notion, but a practical devotion..."
That's rich!
It's such a blessing to hear your heart, again!
Thank you!
Lon
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