Last week I responded to the question, How to know who is Christian, by using the two lists found in Galatians 5:19-24 regarding “the acts of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit” as descriptive of two contrasting behaviors that identify who is Christian and who is not.
I then suggested that the visible skin of this Spirit-fruit is “LOVE” and that it holds the cluster of fruit together as one fruit. Since “God is Love” all godly behavior is always wrapped in total love for God and for neighbors. Jesus himself said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35).
Both Jesus and Paul want us to know that the character traits and behaviors that expose the authentic Christian are not natural to human nature but are learned behaviors that are infused into human hearts living in relationship with God. Jesus very clearly describes this fruit-bearing “vine and branch” relationship in John 15:1-17.
In verse one, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” And again, in verse 5, “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.”
Jesus clearly states that we are given life for the purpose of bearing fruit. Jesus could not say it more clearly. We will either bear fruit or be cut off from the true vine of LIFE and thrown into the fire. What good is a grape vine without grapes, or a tomato vine without tomatoes? And of what value is a peach tree without peaches?
I have a vivid reminder of this right outside my window. Earlier this spring, I planted two tomato plants and they have grown into two beautiful 7-foot green plants with many bright yellow blossoms. I have supported the plants with stakes and carefully nurtured them, but there is no fruit. And yet, with each new yellow blossom that appears, I remain hopeful.
The fact is that plant beauty does not naturally transfer into flower pollination and fruit. There must be an intimate relational activity between flower and pollen for fruit to be given birth. And likewise, so it is for spiritual fruit bearing.
In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus warns, “Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Why does Jesus not know them? Could it be that there was no intimate, loving relationship to energize and pollinate the birthing of life into tangible fruits of loving attitudes and behaviors?
This fruit of “love” is the public evidence of the life of Jesus dwelling in us. It is his Spirit being reproduced in us and being shared as it flows through us toward others in loving behaviors. Jesus insists that this cannot happen without our remaining in him, making our home in him even as he makes his home in us.
That is why Jesus can categorically say “apart from me you can do nothing.” No amount of religious activities or engagement in “spiritual” events on our own can produce this “love” fruit. All showy efforts of spiritually is like tying imitation fruit on lifeless branches. And, most sadly, imitation fruit will never satisfy God nor us.
If we, the branches, are not bearing “love” fruit as we ought, it may be that we are not feeding as we ought on the life-giving flow from the vine, who is Jesus. We need daily spiritual nourishment to bear spiritual fruit.
We also need to remember that selfish interests, unconfessed sins, a careless disregard for the truth, or a bitter, unforgiving spirit can block this flow of nourishing life from “the true vine.” And without that flow of nourishing life, we, the branch, will gradually die and be cut off and burned.
These are powerful words. They remind us that life apart from God becomes death. And they also signal an invitation to submit to and remain in Christ for life and love, acknowledging that without Christ’s love flowing through us we are incapable of being Christian. For as Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 5, 2020
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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