“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5 NIV
In this passage, Jesus likened himself to a grapevine, and his followers as the branches of that vine. He explains that in order for his followers to live spiritually fruitful lives, they must remain in him, or remain in close communion with him, in a similar way that a branch stays connected to the main vine.
The kind of fruit that Jesus wants to produce in our lives is reflected through what the Bible describes as the “Fruit of the Spirit”: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
There is also another kind of fruit that Jesus grows in the lives of his followers that is only available through Christ himself. This is the fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:11). Righteousness is rooted in God’s holiness and justice. According to the Bible, all humans have sinned and fall short of God’s holy standard of righteousness or “right-ness”. (Romans 3:23)
But the Good News is this: that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is holy and without blemish, is himself the righteousness of God! By dying on the cross to make payment for the sins of all of humankind, anyone and everyone who receives Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, can receive God’s “right-ness” or righteousness which includes His forgiveness of all our sin and shame, and offers us the free gifts of eternal peace and life with Him.
“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” -Romans 3:21-24 NIV
So, no matter what any of us may have done in our lives that is a source of shame and regret, God stands ready to forgive and redeem us! Jesus paid the price for all our sins and it is through Him that we can be made right with God for all eternity! That sounds like some pretty amazing fruit!
LESSON꞉ John 15꞉1-8 – Jesus teaches us that if His followers are a part of Him, they will bear fruit. (Lesson from GNPI.org)
Question 1꞉ How do you make sure you are attached to Jesus?
Question 2꞉ As a branch on the vine of Jesus, how would you describe the fruit being produced in your life?
Question 3꞉ How do you think God prunes us so that we will bear more fruit?
https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/gnpi-088-vine-branches/