ABIDING = Fruit

[Helen]

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” (John15:5).



Our purpose as Jesus’ disciples is to remain in an abiding (- dependent) relationship with Him so that in all the things that we do or say, His life may be expressed through us.
He is The Vine; we are the branches.

The same life in The Vine flows through the branches to produce fruit (= His Life)...
As we abide in Him, and His word abides in us, His very nature (fruit) flows through us, touching and changing the lives of many ...as we pass through this world..

We don't have to strive to produce fruit...we can't, the life is in the Vine...He is the root... we abide in Him...as a branch to the Vine....and life flows through us...


May we be fruitful unto every good work in Christ, without striving,... but by simply abiding.

 

[APAK]

Yes, the Fruit of abiding in Christ through the measure of faith given to each, all in one Body of believers in Christ.

We all produce fruit in different ways (on the tree or vine), all to edify and glorify God with many fruits as the body of Christ. Occasionally, some are pruned or lifted up, to encourage to produce more fruit, all for the purpose of Christ to glorify our common Father.

Some produce the Fruit of Love into the hearts by volunteering and are ready to give the shirts of their back at a moment’s notice, without any regret,

Some produce the Fruit of Joy in their hearts by being thankful and grateful for what God has done and has given them in their lives,

Some produce the Fruit of Peace in their hearts by knowing God is there to watch over them no matter the situation as they also believe in his Son that provides their salvation,

Some produce the Fruit of Patience in their hearts believing in miracles and knowing God hears them and shall answer them in his time,

Some produce the Fruit of Kindness in their hearts as they spontaneously without mental reservation, helps strangers in need,

Some produce the Fruit of Goodness in their hearts when they bring strangers to Christ as their time is always considered God’s time

Some produce the Fruit of Faithfulness in their hearts by being undeterred in their beliefs no matter the conditions that they face

Some produce the Fruit of Gentleness in their hearts as they forget themselves and feel the pain of others and speak words in their heart, mind and voice that comfort others

Galatians 5:22-23

Blessings,

APAK

 

[Helen]

Yes, the Fruit of abiding in Christ through the measure of faith given to each, all in one Body of believers in Christ.

We all produce fruit in different ways (on the tree or vine), all to edify and glorify God with many fruits as the body of Christ. Occasionally, some are pruned or lifted up, to encourage to produce more fruit, all for the purpose of Christ to glorify our common Father.

Some produce the Fruit of Love into the hearts by volunteering and are ready to give the shirts of their back at a moment’s notice, without any regret,

Some produce the Fruit of Joy in their hearts by being thankful and grateful for what God has done and has given them in their lives,

Some produce the Fruit of Peace in their hearts by knowing God is there to watch over them no matter the situation as they also believe in his Son that provides their salvation,

Some produce the Fruit of Patience in their hearts believing in miracles and knowing God hears them and shall answer them in his time,

Some produce the Fruit of Kindness in their hearts as they spontaneously without mental reservation, helps strangers in need,

Some produce the Fruit of Goodness in their hearts when they bring strangers to Christ as their time is always considered God’s time

Some produce the Fruit of Faithfulness in their hearts by being undeterred in their beliefs no matter the conditions that they face

Some produce the Fruit of Gentleness in their hearts as they forget themselves and feel the pain of others and speak words in their heart, mind and voice that comfort others

Galatians 5:22-23

Blessings,

APAK

Thank you for that APAK.
I like the verses reference. I was on one track I hadn't given thought to each of our fruit ( His) being different. ie not every different persons being a multi fruitful in life.. Your post brings out the Body more. I was thinking of the individual life of the believer.

Some posts seem to indicate that we 'work' to bring forth fruit...yet if we are rooted and grounded in Him...abiding in His life...then fruit should be effortless not a 'work'.
We know that our works will be tried....but as I dwell on it I find that abiding is a work of faith and our "being still and knowing that He is God"....is a work...

Not sure I am getting across what I am musing upon...I am not good at expressing things....I don't have that gift!!

Thanks for your comments.... Helen

 

[Episkopos]

Yes, the Fruit of abiding in Christ through the measure of faith given to each, all in one Body of believers in Christ.

We all produce fruit in different ways (on the tree or vine), all to edify and glorify God with many fruits as the body of Christ. Occasionally, some are pruned or lifted up, to encourage to produce more fruit, all for the purpose of Christ to glorify our common Father.

Some produce the Fruit of Love into the hearts by volunteering and are ready to give the shirts of their back at a moment’s notice, without any regret,

Some produce the Fruit of Joy in their hearts by being thankful and grateful for what God has done and has given them in their lives,

Some produce the Fruit of Peace in their hearts by knowing God is there to watch over them no matter the situation as they also believe in his Son that provides their salvation,

Some produce the Fruit of Patience in their hearts believing in miracles and knowing God hears them and shall answer them in his time,

Some produce the Fruit of Kindness in their hearts as they spontaneously without mental reservation, helps strangers in need,

Some produce the Fruit of Goodness in their hearts when they bring strangers to Christ as their time is always considered God’s time

Some produce the Fruit of Faithfulness in their hearts by being undeterred in their beliefs no matter the conditions that they face

Some produce the Fruit of Gentleness in their hearts as they forget themselves and feel the pain of others and speak words in their heart, mind and voice that comfort others

Galatians 5:22-23

Blessings,

APAK

The fruit of the Spirit is all of those things. Some people may seem to exhibit one fruit more than the other...but Jesus is speaking of what the effect is of abiding in Him. What WE experience is ALL the fruit of the Spirit...by abiding in Him.

How much of that flows through us depends on who we are. Some people are better conduits than others.
But all people experience Christ to the extent of their abiding.

 

[APAK]

Yes I did not make that clear in my Post that we all that abide in Christ experience all the fruit. I did take note of it however that this is certainly true, as I reviewed the list against myself and realized I do have all the fruit. And as you said, some fruit are produced more that other fruit, depending on the person. Good fine tuning catch..

Bless you,

APAK

 

[Episkopos]

There is a huge detail here that is worth looking into...

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Jesus says that some branches IN Him do not bear fruit...yet a branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in Him.. So being IN Him (in a global sense) and actually abiding in Him are 2 different things. There is little or no teaching on this...since it is so precise. All that is taught as doctrines these days are just vague expressions that seem unable to tackle the real world.

So it is very possible to STOP bearing fruit even if one previously has. The longer we live the deeper we are meant to love God. We are all given time to be made perfect in Christ.

But many people don't do that. They plateau early on...and remain that way...or worse...they lose their first love. So then rather than becoming more and more Christlike...they become more religious and complacent...relying on doctrines rather than drawing life from Jesus.

 

[Dave L]

Many ask themselves WWJD? But this can provide many conflicting answers depending on the different views people have of Jesus. The KKK "Jesus" would do something far different than, say the Mennonite "Jesus" or the "Jesus" of any other persuasion. So if instead we ask "What would love do", we have a well defined Jesus, who is love personified, to direct our paths.

 

[Hidden In Him]

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Jesus says that some branches IN Him do not bear fruit...yet a branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in Him.. So being IN Him (in a global sense) and actually abiding in Him are 2 different things. There is little or n teaching on this...since it is so precise. All that is taught as doctrines these days are just vague expressions that seem unable to tackle the real world.

So it is very possible to STOP bearing fruit even if one previously has. The longer we live the deeper we are meant to love God. We are all given time to be made perfect in Christ.

But many people don't do that. They plateau early on...and remain that way...or worse...they lose their first love. So then rather than becoming more and more Christlike...they become more religious and complacent...relying on doctrines rather than drawing life from Jesus.

This is good insight. I would qualify it by stating that those who no longer remain do so because they are taken away by the Lord. This runs a parallel with Matthew 13:12. "Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." The Greek αἴρω is used in both cases.

 

[Helen]

Many ask themselves WWJD? But this can provide many conflicting answers depending on the different views people have of Jesus. The KKK "Jesus" would do something far different than, say the Mennonite "Jesus" or the "Jesus" of any other persuasion. So if instead we ask "What would love do", we have a well defined Jesus, who is love personified, to direct our paths.

Very good post.

I agree about " what would love do?" excellent!
There is no fruit outside of Him...His life ( which is love) should be an effortless flow. But our own flesh-man can block that flow.

His Life, is fruit.

 

[Helen]

a branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in Him.. So being IN Him (in a global sense) and actually abiding in Him are 2 different things.
There is little or no teaching on this...since it is so precise. All that is taught as doctrines these days are just vague expressions that seem unable to tackle the real world.

Okey...good point.....
I am listening.....and 'watching this space' ... :)

 

[Episkopos]

This is good insight. I would qualify it by stating that those who no longer remain do so because they are taken away by the Lord. This runs a parallel with Matthew 13:12. "Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." The Greek αἴρω is used in both cases.

Quite possible. But this also relates to the Bema judgment whereby what one had...without using it properly...is given to someone who can make good use of it.

It's as I said in another thread. If you build something but on a land that is not yours to have....the building goes to another.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Quite possible. But this also relates to the Bema judgment whereby what one had...without using it properly...is given to someone who can make good use of it.

Without wanting to get into a debate (since that might go awry, LoL), I believe His reference was to judgments that were taking place in the church in NT times, such as are described in 1 Corinthians 11:30, Revelation 2:22-23, and several other passages where this is implied though not stated explicitly. I think the absence of such phenomenon today is actually an indictment on the modern church, in that His presence was much stronger then than it is now, hence He was holding them to a higher standard (Acts 5:1-6).

 

[Episkopos]

Without wanting to get into a debate (since that might go awry, LoL), I believe His reference was to judgments that were taking place in the church in NT times, such as are described in 1 Corinthians 11:30, Revelation 2:22-23, and several other passages where this is implied though not stated explicitly. I think the absence of such phenomenon today is actually an indictment on the modern church, in that His presence was much stronger then than it is now, hence He was holding them to a higher standard (Acts 5:1-6).

I agree. But all will give an account at some point. To have a lower standard now just means there will be a lot more fur flying at a later time.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I agree. But all will give an account at some point. To have a lower standard now just means there will be a lot more fur flying at a later time.

Absolutely. :)

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Jesus says that some branches IN Him do not bear fruit...yet a branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in Him.. So being IN Him (in a global sense) and actually abiding in Him are 2 different things. There is little or no teaching on this...since it is so precise. All that is taught as doctrines these days are just vague expressions that seem unable to tackle the real world.

So it is very possible to STOP bearing fruit even if one previously has.

Can we even abide without Spirit? The Lord said we can do nothing without the Spirit of God, wouldn’t that include abiding in the vine?

2 Timothy 2:19-21
[19] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. [20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. [21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Ephesians 2:10
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

John 15:2-3
[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

 

[Episkopos]

Can we even abide without Spirit? The Lord said we can do nothing without the Spirit of God, wouldn’t that include abiding in the vine?

2 Timothy 2:19-21
[19] Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. [20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. [21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Ephesians 2:10
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

John 15:2-3
[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. [3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Being in the Spirit means you are submersed in the Spirit. It becomes your environment. Being led by the Spirit means to be guided from within.

 

[amadeus]

Quite possible. But this also relates to the Bema judgment whereby what one had...without using it properly...is given to someone who can make good use of it.

It's as I said in another thread. If you build something but on a land that is not yours to have....the building goes to another.

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." I Cor 3:10-11

 

[brakelite]

We can take this a step further...hinted at by grace...fruit contains seed. The seed is the gospel, thus the purpose of bearing fruit is for the sake of the gospel, sharing the good news through the fruit we display...our characters. I have seen it said once, (can you see something said???...anyway, the first listed fruit is love. However, without love all the rest of the fruit is impossible...so the remaining fruit after love are actually the fruit of having love...if that makes any sense.

 

[farouk]

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” (John15:5).



Our purpose as Jesus’ disciples is to remain in an abiding (- dependent) relationship with Him so that in all the things that we do or say, His life may be expressed through us.
He is The Vine; we are the branches.

The same life in The Vine flows through the branches to produce fruit (= His Life)...
As we abide in Him, and His word abides in us, His very nature (fruit) flows through us, touching and changing the lives of many ...as we pass through this world..

We don't have to strive to produce fruit...we can't, the life is in the Vine...He is the root... we abide in Him...as a branch to the Vine....and life flows through us...


May we be fruitful unto every good work in Christ, without striving,... but by simply abiding.

John 15 is certainly a very relevant passage when it comes to the matter of fruitfulness for Christ.

 

[farouk]

Yes, the Fruit of abiding in Christ through the measure of faith given to each, all in one Body of believers in Christ.

We all produce fruit in different ways (on the tree or vine), all to edify and glorify God with many fruits as the body of Christ. Occasionally, some are pruned or lifted up, to encourage to produce more fruit, all for the purpose of Christ to glorify our common Father.

Some produce the Fruit of Love into the hearts by volunteering and are ready to give the shirts of their back at a moment’s notice, without any regret,

Some produce the Fruit of Joy in their hearts by being thankful and grateful for what God has done and has given them in their lives,

Some produce the Fruit of Peace in their hearts by knowing God is there to watch over them no matter the situation as they also believe in his Son that provides their salvation,

Some produce the Fruit of Patience in their hearts believing in miracles and knowing God hears them and shall answer them in his time,

Some produce the Fruit of Kindness in their hearts as they spontaneously without mental reservation, helps strangers in need,

Some produce the Fruit of Goodness in their hearts when they bring strangers to Christ as their time is always considered God’s time

Some produce the Fruit of Faithfulness in their hearts by being undeterred in their beliefs no matter the conditions that they face

Some produce the Fruit of Gentleness in their hearts as they forget themselves and feel the pain of others and speak words in their heart, mind and voice that comfort others

Galatians 5:22-23

Blessings,

APAK

Yes, my mind went to Galatians 5 also.