The Requirements of Bearing Fruit

By Jeff Curtis

Bearing fruit has been established in the New Testament. So, let’s look to discover some practical requirements of bearing fruit. Some think that evangelistic fruit bearing – that is, sharing the gospel with others – requires a persuasive tongue, the ability to be a good salesperson, or a remarkable amount of wisdom. In John 15, the passage says nothing about any of these. Rather, it suggests four prerequisites.

1. A submissive spirit. God is the vinedresser (Jn.15:1), He owns the vineyard.

He prunes even the fruitful branches (Jn.15:2). Christ said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (Jn.15:10).

2. A studious mind. Jesus told His disciples, “You are already clean because of

the word which I have spoken to you” (Jn.15:3). The word “clean” is from the same Greek word as “prune” (Jn. 15:2). One of God’s primary “pruning tools” is His word. Christ told the eleven, “if… My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (Jn. 15:7).

     A knowledge of God’s word is essential for bearing fruit – especially regarding evangelistic fruit bearing. Bible study and soul winning go hand in hand. If one knows the Word, he will share it and also feel the need to learn more about it. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt.5:6). Nothing improves the flavor of food like hard work, and nothing improves the “flavor” of God’s Word like being busy for the Lord – especially in the matter of sharing the truth.

3. A committed heart. We must commit ourselves to staying with Jesus. His

message in John 15 is “Abide in Me” (Jn.15:5). In verse 7, He said, “If you abide in Me” you will receive certain blessings. We noticed that, in many ways, our relationship with the Lord is like that of branches to a vine. But, in one respect the comparison breaks down: Branches have no choice regarding whether or not they stay attached to the vine – but we do.

    The Bible teaches the security of the believer, but not the impossibility of apostasy. John 15 teaches that, even after a person has been attached to the vine he can still be removed and “cast into the fire.” If one is to be saved, he must abide in the Lord. In the Day of Judgment, a person can’t pull out their baptismal certificate and say, “Look, I was baptized on such and such a day. You HAVE to let me in.” Baptism is essential to salvation, but so is remaining faithful to the Lord (Rev. 2:10). Not only is being baptized “into Christ” important (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal, 3:26-27), but remaining “in Christ” is also vital (Rom. 3:24; 6:11,23; 8:1,39; 2Cor.2:14; Philippians 4:7,19; 1Thess. 4:16).

4. A determined attitude. The nature of branches is to grow. Once they stop

growing, they die. Someone wrote, “If there are no new shoots at the top of the tree, then death has struck at its roots.” With God’s help, we will grow in the matter of bearing fruit. John 15 speaks of “fruit” (v.2), but it also speaks of “much fruit” (vv.5, 8) and “more fruit” (v.2)

     What are some positive results of bearing fruit?

     We will grow spiritually. We will be cleansed; we will produce “much fruit” (Jn.15:5-8) and “more fruit” (Jn.15:2).

   Our prayers will be answered (Jn.15:7). If our prayer life is not what it should be, we need to examine our relationship with Jesus and see whether or not we are bearing fruit.

    God will be glorified. (Jn.15:8). The vineyard is His and He is the vinedresser. As the branches bear fruit, He is glorified.

    We will show ourselves to be true disciples of Jesus (Jn.15:8).

    We will have joy (Jn.15;11). Paul called those who he converted his “joy and crown” (Phil.4:1). John said that he had “no greater joy” than to hear that his “children” in the faith we “walking in the truth” (3Jn.4).

    Souls will be saved – ours and others.

Moses’ Sin

by Jeff Curtis

After reading about Moses’ problems during the years during the years of wandering in the wilderness, we may share in his great sense of loss when God didn’t allow him to enter the Promised Land. Even more, we might be disillusioned by the fact that this great humble man of God sinned. Thinking about Moses’ failure shouldn’t cause us to worry, but it does call our attention to four important warnings.

1.  Obey God exactly. When God said to “speak to the rock” and Moses struck

it instead, he disobeyed. We night think that Moses’ failure was a small thing, but God didn’t think so. Of His word requires us to do something, we shouldn’t even consider anything else. For example, God requires baptism, or immersion, for people today to be saved. We cannot expect to substitute anything else for that requirement and still receive the gift of salvation that God provides to the obedient (Hebrews 5:8,9).

2. Honor God in everything. We should give God the glory for all that is good

in our lives. We cannot take credit ourselves for what God does through us and receive God’s approval. Rather than saying, as Moses did, “See what I can do,” we must instead say, “Look at what God is doing or has done” (Acts 14:27). We can, as Christians, “do all things” – but only through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). We should give God the glory in everything we do.

3. Be compassionate like God. In trying to be God’s people, we should learn to

be compassionate as He is. Perhaps God rejected Moses because of his impatience with His people. Moses was angry with the Israelites when he should have endured their mistakes. The New Testament requires us to share God’s love for the lost and forgive others as He forgives us (Luke 15). Just as Moses seemed to be too hard and impatient with the people, we can also be too critical and judgmental (Matthew 7:1-5). We can’t take judgment into our own hands.

4. Realize that even good people can sin and suffer the consequences of sin. If

Moses believed that the years he had served God made him immune from sinning, he was mistaken. If he thought his close relationship with God guaranteed that he could never be the subject of God’s displeasure, he was wrong.

God could and did forgive Moses for his sin. We can be sure of that because Moses is in heaven (Matthew 17:1-5). However, Moses still had to experience the consequences for his sin. That is why he was taken up on the mountain to look into the Promised Land, rather than entering into it.

We can sin also, no matter how close we have been to God, no matter how much we have done for Him, no matter how long we have served Him in His kingdom. Paul warned Christians, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1Corinthians 10:12). God can and will forgive our sins, just as He forgave Moses’ sin (1John 1:9). Nevertheless, we want to be careful so that the consequences of sin will not hurt us or bring pain to others.