FRUIT

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

God has always used things from His creation to teach us spiritual lessons. We can easily understand that a tree is identifiable by the fruit that it bears. If you see a tree that has apples growing on it, you will know that it is not an orange tree. So, remember, fruit is what can be observed.

Jesus told us “by their fruits ye shall know them.” He is giving us an understanding that a person’s actions and behavior and speech will allow you to know something about them. It is easy to say, “I am a Christian,” but is there any evidence. On the other side, if you are a true Christian, can others tell? Can they observe your life, your behavior and know that you are a Christian?

If you think that non-Christians don’t know what to look for, you would be wrong. Even if they are not sure, you will hear them say, “that doesn’t seem very much like a Christian.” They do know what they expect someone’s behavior to be when they claim to be Christian. 

And this brings me to the problem that we often have. We claim to be Christians. That means we are bearing the name of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, God told His people that they should not bear His name in vain. Israel bore the name of Jehova their God. Others would take note of this and the actions of the Israelites would reflect on their God.

First, in our passage, Jesus does not leave us to try to figure out how to live a Christian life. He very clearly tells us that we cannot bear fruit except we remain in Him. That is a life that is yielded to the life of Christ. We are created in Christ (new birth) unto good works (fruit). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Secondly, I want you to notice that He uses the word “bear,” that is, to “carry.” We are not creating the fruit, we are bearers of the fruit that is the result of the life of Christ. The fruit comes as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit. He works through God’s Word to produce fruit in our lives. “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” Colossians 1:5-6

Thirdly, notice He emphasizes the word “abide.” This speaks of a continuation. Not leaving Him. I think it indicates our need for continual study of God’s Word, and continual communion with Him in prayer. It is those times when we think we finally have everything under control and can take it on our own, that we end up failing. Our human tendency is to be independent, but scripture teaches us differently. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3.

The tree that is planted “fixed in place” by the rivers of water gets continual nourishment from the source. When we delight (take pleasure) in God’s Word, we are nourished from it and are able to bear fruit. The Holy Spirit knows what fruit to produce in our life in every season. If we abide in Jesus in every aspect of our life, we will bear fruit that others will see and they will be drawn to Him. In Acts we read that the people “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” This is what I want from my life, and you should too. Our main purpose should be to draw other to Jesus.