John 15:2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
“born again” (John 3:1-8) Children of God are to produce the “fruit” of loving obedience to the Lord; for, the Lord had just declared, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)! This blessed fruitfulness includes daily prayer, daily reading and considering His Word, transforming our attitudes and behaviors to the Word of God (Romans 12:2), showing love to our Church Family and to strangers, being kind and patient and forgiving to those around us, being good citizens, regularly attending and participating in Church (Hebrews 10:25), being ready to and helping those around us, being ready to explain what we believe (I Peter 3:15), etc. Also, we are plainly told that “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30). The “fruit”; that is, the result or outcome of doing right things according to the Word and Will of God, “is a tree of life” which yields happiness and provision in this present life. A part of our “righteous” behavior is winning “souls”, not to Eternal Life, but winning “souls” to a fruitful life in our Lord’s service and His Church. Our Lord put it this way, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). When we lovingly behave according to the Word of God, other “born again” Children of God see our “good works” and are Spiritually drawn to us and to our Lord’s Church. When others are Spiritually drawn to us, we are to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Peter 3:15); that is, be ready to tell them “how great things the Lord hath done for” us “and hath had compassion on” us (Mark 5:19). Also, when we encourage and guide a Child of God out of error, we often save that person from grave troubles in this present life. James puts it this way, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20). We must never forget that we are to lovingly bring forth the “fruit” of worshipful obedience to the Lord, not to ourselves, to glorify and promote ourselves; but, to worshipfully glorify our Lord by the things we do and say and the things we refrain from!