God the Father has planted a Vine. He is watching over it and taking care of it.
John 15:1-2 ESV “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
The Vine is spiritual in nature however its fruit is visible in the earth. The fruit of the True Vine is righteousness and praise, and the fruit will appear in the sight of the nations of the earth.
Isaiah 61:11 ESV For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the True Vine. We Christians are the branches which have been grafted in.
Romans 11:16-19 ESV If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. (17) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, (18) do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (19) Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
God is looking for the fruit of righteousness in our lives, the fruit that is the image of His Son. The image of Christ is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. This is called the fruit of the Spirit but these are also the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit are not emotions "fixed" in us by God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His indwelling Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is God's nature. It is who He is. And He did not send His Son to die so that we (Old Adam) can be "fixed. He sent His Son so that we (the nature and ways of Old Adam) can be replaced.
As we learn to abide IN Christ His Godly image begins to appear in and through our personality, changing us, and also in the personalities of those to whom we are ministering. In this abiding and bringing forth fruit, we are bringing forth the righteousness and praise, and the godliness of the Kingdom, in our own lives and in the lives of others.
As the Father has joined us to Christ we bring forth the fruit of righteousness of Christ in our lives. When the nations of the earth witness our righteousness in word, deed, and thought they will glorify God. God has called us to be the moral light of the world. He has called us to be the seasoning, the preserving, and the thirst causing result of being the salt of the world. If we do not exhibit the Father's righteousness and praise in our life, God will remove us from Christ.
John 15:2 ESV Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Matthew 3:10 ESV Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 15:13 ESV He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
Matthew 21:18-19 ESV In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. (19) And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
Luke 8:13 ESV And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
Romans 11:18-22 ESV do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (19) Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” (20) That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. (21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (22) Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
John 15:1-2 ESV “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
The Vine is spiritual in nature however its fruit is visible in the earth. The fruit of the True Vine is righteousness and praise, and the fruit will appear in the sight of the nations of the earth.
Isaiah 61:11 ESV For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the True Vine. We Christians are the branches which have been grafted in.
Romans 11:16-19 ESV If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. (17) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, (18) do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (19) Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
God is looking for the fruit of righteousness in our lives, the fruit that is the image of His Son. The image of Christ is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. This is called the fruit of the Spirit but these are also the characteristics of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit are not emotions "fixed" in us by God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His indwelling Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is God's nature. It is who He is. And He did not send His Son to die so that we (Old Adam) can be "fixed. He sent His Son so that we (the nature and ways of Old Adam) can be replaced.
As we learn to abide IN Christ His Godly image begins to appear in and through our personality, changing us, and also in the personalities of those to whom we are ministering. In this abiding and bringing forth fruit, we are bringing forth the righteousness and praise, and the godliness of the Kingdom, in our own lives and in the lives of others.
As the Father has joined us to Christ we bring forth the fruit of righteousness of Christ in our lives. When the nations of the earth witness our righteousness in word, deed, and thought they will glorify God. God has called us to be the moral light of the world. He has called us to be the seasoning, the preserving, and the thirst causing result of being the salt of the world. If we do not exhibit the Father's righteousness and praise in our life, God will remove us from Christ.
John 15:2 ESV Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Matthew 3:10 ESV Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 15:13 ESV He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
Matthew 21:18-19 ESV In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. (19) And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
Luke 8:13 ESV And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
Romans 11:18-22 ESV do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (19) Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” (20) That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. (21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (22) Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
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