John 15: Fruit

A childhood memory of mine... smelling the great freshness of a new orange just sent to us in a huge crate from Grandma and Grandpa in Florida.  Not only the smell, but the sweet refreshing taste.  Good Fruit!

Fruit has TWO PURPOSES... God created oranges on trees for two objectives.
1. A method of multiplication for the tree. Seeds create a new orange tree.
2. A method of nourishment for others. And man do I love Vitamin C!

The theme of Christianity is a faith of action continues today.

"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." - Jesus, John 15:5

The life of a Christian is compared here by Jesus to the fruit of a vine or tree.  Jesus is the vine, Christ-followers are the branches.  When Jesus gave us faith and the Spirit (v26-27), He attached us to His Son the vine, and made us a new creation as a branch of the vine.  Why?  To bear the Fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us what that is... "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Staying attached to the vine, Christ, through prayer, Christian community, reading His Word, Lord's Supper, we get more "grafted" into the vine.  Our character is transformed to be like the character of Christ.

Jesus calls His disciples to bear fruit for at least TWO PURPOSES...
1.  Multiplication:  Fruit is born in the life of a believer and character develops.  He uses the fruit in our lives to draw people to the vine and He then creates new believers.
2.  Nourishment:  Growth as a Christin is nourishing for other Christians in their personal growth.

So continue to stay attached to the vine! If so, you will bear fruit!