Bearing Fruit

The born again nature does not need to strive to produce righteousness. All it has to do is be or stay united with Christ. So, the Christian life is to be a life of yielding, not struggling; union, not effort. Jesus reveals a beautiful analogy during His final instruction to the disciple before His returned to the Father, He says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1) He tells us that He Himself is the true vine. The word "true," here, is used in the sense of real, genuine. From Him, as with a natural vine, comes all the proper nourishment to all the branches, whether large or small. Therefore, Jesus is the real, genuine source of all strength, ability and grace to all, especially believers. 

Next, He tells us, "My Father is the vinedresser." The vinedresser is the one who has the care of a vineyard. Taking care of the vineyard entails nurturing, trimming, and protecting the vines to insure their proper growth and welfare. In this analogy, we see that the Father gave, or appointed his Son Jesus, to be, the one and only source of all blessings to man and for believers, those who are united to Him by faith, He gives the ability to bear much fruit. Jesus goes on to say, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:2-5)

Branches are the fruit-bearing part that need very careful pruning. If the branches are not pruned, and are not pruned at the right time and in the right way, they will cease to bring forth fruit. The same life that is in the vine flows through the branches and the life in the branches brings forth the appropriate kind of fruit. Jesus also gave us a warning that is very important. He tells us that we have to expect to be pruned. With that, let's look at some real life scenarios in the lives of believers. Some believers have problems because they are not bearing fruit. They struggle with situations that are the results of their bad decisions and or actions. On the other hand, other believers experience problems because they are bearing fruit. The reality is, those believers who are experiencing problems while bearing fruit are simply being pruned. If you have ever seen a vine pruned, the process seems almost ruthless. The branches are cut back so far, you would think the vine would not be able to produce branches that would ever bear fruit again. But the next year there is more fruit than the year before. 

Another notable thing that we see in this analogy, is the work of the entire Godhead. We see that the Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine, but also the Holy Spirit as the One that flows through the vine and into the branches. The life of the Spirit flowing through the vine into the branches is what brings forth fruit. Keep in mind that this is not the fruit of our best efforts, nor the fruit of religion, but the fruit of the Spirit. When the Father is pruning us, we must not give up in the midst of the process, but remember our oneness with the vine, Jesus; the purpose of the Father's pruning, to bear more fruit; and the work of the Holy Spirit, feeding the branch with the nutrients to bear more fruit. This process comes by us recognizing that we must abide in, that is, remain united to Jesus by faith and live our Christian life completely dependent on Him. 

In every area of the Christian life we are not to rely on our natural ability of doing what God requires. Let's be honest, most believers live according to the natural realm trying to do things on their own, yet, Jesus tells us, "for without Me you can do nothing." He tells us this because He is "the (only) way, the (only) truth and the (only) life." (John 14:6) So, let us come to the place in our lives (if we are not there yet) to, "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC), or as Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7-8) Amen...