BEARING FRUIT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR CHRISTIANS

Many believe that once they speak out the ‘Sinners Prayer’, get baptised and go to Church regularly that they are saved and that is it. So many accept the false teaching of Once Saved Always Saved….so how does this teaching square up with the teachings of the Lord himself?

There is a portion of Scripture that should convict every Christian deeply. This is where Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

If we read and re-read these powerful words of Christ, we cannot escape their convicting power. The Holy Spirit has impressed upon us the importance of understanding these words,” My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;”

Therefore the matter of Christians bearing fruit is not optional with God. He watches over His vine and all the engrafted branches with great jealousy and concern, patiently waiting for the branches to bring forth fruit. He stands beside it with pruning knife in hand, lovingly watching for the slightest evidence of corruption, blight or disease which could hinder growth. God expects fruit from every branch. Without fruit, it is impossible to honour and glorify Him or be a true disciple of Christ. Jesus said: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." John 15:8.

So bearing fruit has everything to do with pleasing God and fulfilling our mission in Christ and with having our prayers and petitions answered. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you " verse 16.

Actually, bearing fruit concerns what we are becoming, rather than simply what we are doing. I am bearing fruit when there is nothing hindering the flow of the life of Christ into me. That is what Jesus

meant when He said, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). He is saying, "Because you believed My word totally and have allowed it to reveal every hidden secret, bringing to light every dark thing, allowing the Word of God to purge and refine you the hindrances are all gone!

Blessings

David