The fruit of the believer
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. – John 15:8
Believers in Christ can feel pressured by the expectations that the word of God puts in us in terms of bearing fruit. Perhaps we may feel inadequate to achieve this goal. But this feeling can only arise from an incorrect understanding of how this fruit is to be produced, as this fruit is not something produced by effort but something that comes naturally.
A farmer does not have to push a tree for it to bear fruit. A tree produces fruit on its season, and according to its kind of fruit. All the farmer can do is cultivate the tree and wait for it to produce its fruit in its season.
When we receive Jesus we are grafted into him (Romans 11:17). His influence is like sap that feeds our lives, and as a result, begins to produce the fruit that identifies us with Him. This fruit is produced effortlessly and sprouts naturally as a result of our relationship with Jesus.
A fruit is identified by its shape, smell and taste. If a fruit doesn’t look like an orange, doesn’t smell like orange and doesn’t taste like an orange, even if it is a fruit it is definitely not an orange. A person whose life does not reflect the qualities of Christ is not in Him. It is the fruit which identifies us with Him.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15: 5
Here are two important lessons. First, those who are in Christ bear much fruit. Second, those who are not in Christ cannot bear fruit. It is in the context of this teaching that we can understand when Jesus said “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do” (John 14:12). It is good to know that it does not depend on us! We are simply the instruments through which the fruit of Christ is manifested.
There is no doubt that the believer is expected to produce the fruit of Jesus in his life. Let us strive to abide in Christ as the branches remain attached to the vine.
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