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Sunday, April 27, 2014 am

 

THE FRUIT WE BEAR
John 15:8

 

To help His disciples understand the importance of what God expected of them Jesus often used practical illustrations.  The parables are an example of this as Jesus would make reference to farming, fishing, baking, servants, shepherds, weddings and many other common events.  His goal in these was to help His followers gain a better understanding of God’s kingdom and other things of a spiritual nature.

One such use of illustration dealt with fruit. 

·         On one occasion Jesus cursed a tree because it was barren (Matthew 21:18-19). 

·         He told the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9). 

·         Later, during the week of His crucifixion He told of the owner of a vineyard desiring to partake of its fruits (Luke 20:10)

·         And in our text, He was speaking to His disciples on the night He would be betrayed (John 15:1-8).  He exhorted them to bear fruit and warned of what would happen if one did NOT bear fruit.

 In our lesson this morning, I want to take a few moments to talk about bearing fruit in our lives.

 I.              What is fruit?

a.     Obviously we are not speaking of apples and oranges, strawberries, etc.  But they DO illustrate the point.  Fruit is the product (or results) of its source.  An orange is the fruit of an orange tree, etc.

b.     As used in the Bible, it primarily has reference to the produce of our efforts to serve God.   W.E. Vine describes it as, “works or deeds… of advantage, profit”
Louw & Nida notes, “the natural result of what has been done.”

c.     In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” We find in this text that “fruit” is a reference to that which we produce as a result of our conduct.

d.     Matthew 13:23, In the parable of the sower, the fruit was that which was produced by a good and honest heart. “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.””

II.            The importance of bearing fruit

a.     It is commanded – Our context notes that we are expected to be producing fruit.  It is NOT an option (but what fruit we are to produce is another story).  John 15:8

b.     It pleases God – Colossians 1:10.  When we are “fruitful in every good work”, we are fully pleasing Him.  Also John 15:8 – by this God is glorified.

c.     It is a product of one abiding in Christ – John 15:4-6.  IF there is no evident produce in our lives, we ought to take a look at ourselves.

III.           The fruit we must bear

a.     Repentance –
John the Baptist gave commands to those who came to hear him.  Matt. 3:8. 
When we cease to live in sin (for the right reasons) it is fruit of our repentance. 
Consider 2 Corinthians 7:10-11.

b.     A godly character –
In more than one passage, the character and attributes that we develop are described as fruit.
The “fruit of the spirit” – Galatians 5:22, 23 – IF the Spirit is in us, we WILL have these attributes.
Ephesians 5:9, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),”
2 Peter 1:5-8 – if these are yours, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful…

c.     Proper worship –
Hebrews 13:15.  “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Let us NEVER forget the importance of worshipping God from our hearts.  It is the product of a heart prepared to glorify Him.

d.     Helping others in need –
In Romans 15:28, Paul has aid for needy saints in Jerusalem, raised by faithful brethren in other places.  He refers to this needed gift as “fruit.” 
Christians need to be concerned about others and be there to help them. 
In Luke 10 Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan in which “my neighbor” was defined as anyone we have the opportunity to help.
We have responsibilities FIRST to our brethren, and then to all whom we have opportunity to help (Galatians 6:10).
In Matthew 25:31-46, those who stood in judgment, both praised and condemned were judged by their good works.  (NOTE: These works within themselves were not the primary reason for their justification [Romans 4:4 – to him who works the wages are not counted as grace but as debt, Luke 17:10 – we have done what was our duty].  They were the FRUIT of their godly lives)

e.     Supporting the preaching of the gospel -
Philippians 4:17.  As Paul was supported in preaching the gospel by the church in Philippi, he described their fellowship as “fruit that abounds to your account”.

f.      Reaching the lost –
We must not forget the importance of bearing fruit when it comes to reaching the lost as well.  Do we see the pressing need to strive and produce this fruit?  They are willing to support others who preach, but are they willing to step up and do their own part?  Consider the following:

                                  i.    Romans 1:13 – Paul desired to come to Rome “that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.”  Paul’s goal was to share the gospel with them as he had done with Gentiles in many other places (vs. 15). 
Paul’s business was the saving of souls.  That was the fruit (at least part of it) that he desired to impart to them.

                                 ii.    John 4:34-38 – speaking to His disciples, Jesus reminded them of the plentiful harvest they were to look for.  What He had in mind (the crop – i.e. fruit) was souls.

                                iii.    1 Corinthians 3:6 – Paul knew of his and Apollos’ responsibilities to both plant and water the seed.  Again he was in the business of reaching the lost.

                                iv.    Proverbs 11:30, “the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.”

                                 v.    Consider also, The Parable of the Sower.  It is about the Sower - Matthew 13:18, “Therefore hear the parable of the Sower.”  He is to broadcast the seed.  The point Jesus was making was that as you sow, some will receive it while others will reject it.

g.     Summarized, fruitful in every good work – Colossians 1:10, we need to be walking “worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

IV.           What happens if we don’t bear fruit?

a.     John 15:1-7 – Back to our text we began with, Jesus also warns of the consequences of the one who is unproductive.  He is cut off and cast into the fire.

b.     Matthew 25:46 - we are doomed to hell.

 

And thus we can see that bearing fruit is something God expects from each of us as Christians.  One final thought I want us to consider is this: We need to bear as much fruit as we are capable of.  How many are willing to produce certain types of fruit, but we neglect others?  How many of us are not producing as much fruit as we ought to because we are not planting seed?  Let us strive to serve God with our all.  Rom 6:22-23 says, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  What type of fruit are you bearing?