“The fruit of the Spirit is…” Galatians 5:22. What is fruit? It is one’s off-spring, or the product of any plant; the outward manifestations of the life of the plant, or with animate beings of the parents. Likewise the fruit of the Spirit is the outward manifestation of the God-life of the Holy Spirit within us! John, in preaching repentance said to the responders “Therefore bear fruits worthy (i.e. deserving, comparable, or suitable) for repentance” Matthew 3:8. True repentance brings new life, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” 2 Corinthians 5:17. And according to the principle of Genesis 1 life is to be reproduced. Jesus uses the illustration of a branch and a vine in John 15:1-8, pointing out that to bear the fruit of the parent vine the branch must be, and remain, connected to the vine; you see it is the life of the vine that causes the fruit to grow on the branches. In verse 5 Jesus said “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.” Then in verse 8 He said “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” Certainly we must be pruned as a branch so we will bear more fruit, verse 2; as the Father prunes, bringing to our attention things that we need to cast off because they are unbecoming, unprofitable, or even displeasing to Him, we need to cut them off clearing the way for more fruit. During the coming weeks we want to look at “the fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22-23, fruit that while we must cultivate, it comes as a result of abiding in the vine and is a product of the vine (Jesus), enabling us to point others to Him!
Bearing fruit
By Rose Hill
Fruit bearing is what it’s all about,
A vine with no fruit the vinedresser throws out.
But the one that begins much fruit to bear,
He is pleased to let growing there.
So in my Lord I will abide,
And always stay close to His side.
Apart from Him I can’t do a thing;
But with His help much fruit I bring.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.