People who genuinely received true salvation through Jesus Christ are expected to bear much fruit. However, not everyone is willing to be pruned and so God disciplines those who received His gift but still are hesitant to surrender their will to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Pruning can be very painful and difficult, but like a father who disciplines his children, we are most likely to experience God's rod and staff inspiring us to focus more on His love and to be Christ-like as well.
Passage 1 (John 15:1)
Jesus Christ is the vine, God the Father is the vine dresser and the Believers are the branches. The relationship between these three produces what God wants from every believer and that is to bear "Fruit". Therefore, results of the believer's good works.
Fruit generally means good works (Titus 3:14) which can only be produced by those in Christ (John 15:2) but with the intention of God honoring motive.
The Pitfall
Many are lost to the idea that bearing fruit is God's responsibility and not ours. However, John 15:6 says otherwise. According to the scriptures, we are appointed to bear fruit and be productive. Therefore, we should bear fruit to God (Romans 7:4)
We are actually in partnership with God and He empowered us to bear much fruit (Philippians 4:13).
First Secret of the Vine
It is said in John 15:2a that God takes away those branches that do not bear fruit. Taking away does not really mean cutting off. It simply denotes that if we are unfruitful, God will intervene to discipline us.
Second Secret of the Vine (John 15:2b)
From “fruit” to “more fruit” God prunes. If our life bears some fruit, God will intervene to prune us.
Third Secret of the Vine (John 15:5b)
If our life bears a lot of fruit, God will invite us to abide more deeply with Him.
Thus, we must bear fruit by our private charitable deeds (Matthew 6:1-4); we must bear fruit by our private prayers (Matthew 6:6); we must bear fruit by our private fasting (Matthew 6:17-18) and we must display our faith through good works that are public (Matthew 5:14-16) because public good works causes non-believers to see God’s glory in us.
In so doing, we also must do our part as a follower because God commands each believer to fulfill their eternal destinies by devoting their lives to bear much fruit by doing good works for His glory.
All rights reserved © Shiya Tamasao 2016
July 18, 2016
July 18, 2016
