LOVE in turn, sees all committed to it, existing in a state worthy of it; fearing THE LORD, surrendering, and adapting to HIS WILL, LOVING HIM, then others, promoting what is right, just, and good, and on the bearing of fruits of THE SPIRIT go! None of which can be done aside, or away from HIM, instead, which is nurtured, sustained, and encouraged IN HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS!!!
To put it simply, bearing fruit is a changed existence; one which FOCUSES UPON THE LORD *GOD*, and patterns itself after CHRIST JESUS, who TAUGHT, and SHOWED us HOW to do so in THE FATHER'S WILL! One bearing fruit worthy of THE VINE will HONOUR *GOD*, and HIS WILL OVER all else, even when it seems nearly impossible, for we KNOW there is NO PRIORITY GREATER THAN HIM, and HIS GLORY!!!
We REJOICE, and give THANKS for having been grafted into THE VINE, for without this act of LOVE, we would not be offered LIFE eternal, and therefore, we exist in fruits of THE SPIRIT, which are LOVE, PEACE, JOY, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL, in which there are varying levels of behaviours, characteristics, and mentalities to be mastered in order for their FULLNESS to be, as we SHINE OF HIS GLORY for all the world to see, none working apart from the other, instead as ONE! We MAINTAIN steadfast strength, REMAINING IN HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS, no matter what, as we GROW, and DEVELOP into the TRUTH OF THE SPIRIT, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of those who are caught up in darkness!!!
WORKS ARE the evidence OF HIM IN us; the ABSOLUTE TRUTH that we ARE now OF HIM, and NOT of the flesh, though they are NOT for us to boast of, for they came by way of THE LORD, whom we comply to, not through ourselves! WORKS ARE FAITH IN ACTION, FAITHFULNESS ALIVE, as we exist IN HIM now, and forever!!!
1+++“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2+++“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
3+++“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4+++“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
5+++“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6+++“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7+++“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8+++“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9+++“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10+++“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.
11+++“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Believers are branches of this Vine. The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies. The branches of the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as they are borne up.
The Father is the Husbandman. Never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which therefore must prosper. We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes, and from a Christian we look for a Christian temper, disposition, and life. We must honour God, and do good; this is bearing fruit. The unfruitful are taken away. And even fruitful branches need pruning; for the best have notions, passions, and humours, that require to be taken away, which Christ has promised to forward the sanctification of believers, they will be thankful, for them.
It is the great concern of all Christ's disciples, constantly to keep up dependence upon Christ, and communion with him. True Christians find by experience, that any interruption in the exercise of their faith, causes holy affections to decline, their corruptions to revive, and their comforts to droop. Those who abide not in Christ, though they may flourish for awhile in outward profession, yet come to nothing. The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they are good for nothing else.
Let us seek to live more simply on the fullness of Christ, and to grow more fruitful in every good word and work, so may our joy in Him and in his salvation be full.
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