November 13, 2024 SO PROVE
John 15:8-12 “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
If not careful, one can read this passage and wrongly conclude that it is by our works that we are approved by God. Works are important but what motivates us to be about works is the most important. One of the central themes in the New Testament and something that Jesus often referred to was that of abiding in Him. Jesus also spoke a lot about loving one another and loving Him. For the message of these verses to become true in us, we must first by faith believe, accept and embrace what is said. As a starter, God is glorified when we bear much fruit; in fact, it is by bearing much fruit that we prove to be His disciples. We have to ask what is the fruit and how do we bear it-or how does it show up in our life. From the parable of the vines, we learn that the fruit cannot produce it self; fruit comes only by being connected to, or abiding in the vine. If you cut the vine, then no fruit. So, it’s a fact that we cannot produce fruit on our own. One thing for certain is that fruit bearing and loving God go together. Here is a bit of a mystery: from other scriptures we see that if we love God, we will keep His commandments; in this verse it says that if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love. That is not contradictory. We know that God first loved us and it is His love that changes us. It is possible for a believer to walk in a way contrary to God and not keep His commandments. There are times when we may not ‘feel’ all that ‘spiritual’ and may just want to coast spiritually; but in such times we can reflect on the love that God has for us and remind ourselves that He is our Father and then make the choice to go back to abiding in Him and keeping His words. It’s not about how we feel or what our emotions are; it’s about walking according to the Spirit and our new identity in Christ. Always, as we keep His word, we are blessed. Back to the fruit: we could never list all of the fruit that one might bear, but it can be summed up in Galatians 5:22-23 which says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Let us abide in Christ and be led and empowered by the Spirit and be those who bear much fruit because we are connected to the vine.
John 14:23,26 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make our abode with him.” “But the Helper, the Holy Spirt, whom the Farther will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Blessings, Buddy
John 15:8-12 “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
If not careful, one can read this passage and wrongly conclude that it is by our works that we are approved by God. Works are important but what motivates us to be about works is the most important. One of the central themes in the New Testament and something that Jesus often referred to was that of abiding in Him. Jesus also spoke a lot about loving one another and loving Him. For the message of these verses to become true in us, we must first by faith believe, accept and embrace what is said. As a starter, God is glorified when we bear much fruit; in fact, it is by bearing much fruit that we prove to be His disciples. We have to ask what is the fruit and how do we bear it-or how does it show up in our life. From the parable of the vines, we learn that the fruit cannot produce it self; fruit comes only by being connected to, or abiding in the vine. If you cut the vine, then no fruit. So, it’s a fact that we cannot produce fruit on our own. One thing for certain is that fruit bearing and loving God go together. Here is a bit of a mystery: from other scriptures we see that if we love God, we will keep His commandments; in this verse it says that if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love. That is not contradictory. We know that God first loved us and it is His love that changes us. It is possible for a believer to walk in a way contrary to God and not keep His commandments. There are times when we may not ‘feel’ all that ‘spiritual’ and may just want to coast spiritually; but in such times we can reflect on the love that God has for us and remind ourselves that He is our Father and then make the choice to go back to abiding in Him and keeping His words. It’s not about how we feel or what our emotions are; it’s about walking according to the Spirit and our new identity in Christ. Always, as we keep His word, we are blessed. Back to the fruit: we could never list all of the fruit that one might bear, but it can be summed up in Galatians 5:22-23 which says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Let us abide in Christ and be led and empowered by the Spirit and be those who bear much fruit because we are connected to the vine.
John 14:23,26 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make our abode with him.” “But the Helper, the Holy Spirt, whom the Farther will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Blessings, Buddy
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