As I start John 15, we learn some awesome things here.
John 15:1-8 NIV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
[3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
[4] Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
[6] If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
[7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Ok first of all, if you are born-again by the Spirit of God, then you are children of God, and in this passage we are all abunch of "branches."
Jesus is the Vine. He is the Head of the Church, and we are all members of His Church, the family of God, the kingdom of God.
We are all branches that are attached to Jesus, the Vine. Fruit that is made on all the branches, is made by Jesus, the vine. The branches do not make the fruit, we don't make the fruit, Jesus does. He produces the fruit on us, His branches, by the Holy Spirit that lives in each one of us.
The Holy Spirit produces this fruit in our lives, in our spirit. Thus it is called the "fruit of the Spirit." What kind of fruit is it? Fruit that will last forever. Fruit that benefits those we influence. It's not for us, but for those around us. They eat this fruit, we don't. It is so they will know God exists and will glorify Him. So, God will draw them to Himself, and they will be saved just like we were.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
[6] And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
[16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
What is the fruit? It is made by the Holy Spirit. So, it is called the "fruit of the Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
This is the fruit He makes within us for others to eat and experience. Why does Jesus make this fruit in us by the Holy Spirit? So others will be saved too.
That's the whole purpose of the Church. We are here to be used by Jesus, so that others can be saved, and added to His family, and go to heaven too. He works through us, the Church, the branches, to bear His fruit of the Spirit in us, so that others will know we are His disciples, and will want to be saved too.
Jesus is the Vine. We are the branches. Remain in Him and let His words remain in you. How do we remain in Him? In Christ?
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV
[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
We were included in Christ when we were born again and the Holy Spirit came into us at that time. He is the deposit into us that shows we are in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the seal on us that we are in Christ automatically by our believing in Jesus. This seal never ends, is never broken, guaranteeing our inheritance which is to come. The Holy Spirit is in us forever. We remain in Christ forever, because the Holy Spirit remains in us.
Being in Christ, let Him bear His fruit in your life by the Holy Spirit inside you, so others can be saved too.
Love you all dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
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