Branches That Bear Fruit Of The Spirit

2009-09-19 22:33

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Glatians 5:22-23).

The only true God is without beginning or end of life. "who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:16).

Therefore, God himself said by His prophet, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." (Isaiah 45:5-7).

Hate is His, love is His, all things are His, and Christ is also His. The Bible says, "Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:13). And also, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:36). And also, "and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." (1 Corinthians 3:23).

All Scripture was written at many times and in various ways by those who received the Holy Spirit so that through the Holy Spirit we may know and believe in the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent, and that anyone who trusts in him may bear fruit of the Spirit and shall not perish but have eternal life.

By this will of God, Jesus Christ himself, whom He sent, said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will 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. '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. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:1-6).

The living words of our Lord Jesus in the above passage are very strict and fearful words of warning to us all, now called Christians. Today in the world, there are countless people--including me--who say they believe in Jesus and are saved. But only the Lord knows how many members are there who are truly born again by the Holy Spirit and bear fruit of the Spirit in Christ by grace.

And yet, we know the word of exhortation, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12). And the word of the Lord, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." (Luke 13:24). And also the word of warning, "...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).

Anyone who say 'Lord, Lord' and does not the will of the Lord is not in the Lord. Therefore, the Lord warned, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must do the will of the word of the Lord. However, there is in the world a multitude of people who call on the name of the Lord and don't follow the will of the Lord. Therefore, the Bible says, "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). And the Lord himself said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).

Therefore, the Lord said, "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

We who have believed don't belong to destruction, but to eternal life. It is because the believers are not out of Christ, but already in Christ. Those who are in Christ are already in God with him. It is written, "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." (John 15:5). And also, "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:23).

Christ is the will and love of God. Therefore, the Bible said, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8). And also, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16).

The Lord Jesus says to those who don't have fruit of the Spirit, "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." (Matthew 21:43). Amen. Thank you, Lord.