By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo 3/7/2022
John 15:4-6 "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." - NIV
Jesus repeated the word ‘remain’ in these three verses six times. That shows the level of emphasis on the action of remaining in Him. He was teaching about bearing fruit and used the analogy of a branch on a vine of a tree that cannot bear fruit unless it is attached to the vine. He is the vine and we are the branches.
None of us should think we can bear fruit while detached from God. No one can do good outside of a living relationship with God. A branch detached from the vine dies. So do we, if we don’t purposefully remain in communion with God. In Christ, we draw nourishment that not only keeps us healthy and alive in fellowship with Him, but also to bear fruit. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are only alive and fruitful while in Him.
To remain in Him is by choice and voluntary. One can choose to remain or disconnect from Jesus, but He himself will never cast those who come to Him away. We are called to bear fruit for God’s glory. Just as the worth of a tree is in it’s bearing much fruit, so are we in Christ. The more fruit a tree bears, the more useful it is. A branch in Him that bears no fruit is cut off and burnt (v.2). It’s useless. Remain in Jesus and bear fruit or detach yourself and die.
Matthew 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Shalom children of God. Blessed Sunday