Friday, May 4, 2018
John 15:1-4 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
POMOLOGY: THE SCIENCE OF GROWING FRUIT
Our Lord gives us a lesson in "pomology" because it's absolutely vital to our Christian faith that we understand how to produce fruit. Jesus is the true Vine and His Father is the Gardener. The garden our Lord speaks of is the world. Jesus, the Vine, was "planted" here by the Father, the Gardener, for the sake of our salvation. The Gardener is very concerned about the growth of the Vine (the Christian Church) and every branch (believer) that grows out of it. Each productive branch is given the absolute best care.
The Spirit works through the Gospel to create and preserve faith in our Savior who by His life and death has paid for every transgression--that whoever believes in Jesus may have full and free forgiveness and life eternal. Spirit-created faith takes hold of all the blessings Jesus won. Only then can we truly bring forth "fruits of faith" to HIS glory!
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. This is a simple and clear fact of pomology. In order to grow and be productive Christians we must remain in Jesus and His Word. Through the Gospel--the power of God to salvation--He supplies us with strength and life, enabling us to be fruitful. As long as we are connected to Him by faith His strength flows into us continually by the Spirit working through the message of Jesus crucified and risen for the sins of the world. Fruits always accompany faith in Jesus as our Savior. They don't merit anything or help give salvation, but they are an outpouring of love and faith for the Lord. You see, faith alone saves but faith is never alone! Where there is true Christian faith there will be fruits of faith. As long as we are connected to the Vine we are enabled to bear these fruits.
