Is Christ producing kingdom fruit through me, according to the unique gifts I have been given, or am I in danger of being cut off?

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. IF a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 IF anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

INSIGHT:  Oh, what good news and tragic news there is in this passage.  Notice that Jesus says “IF” [All caps by me for emphasis], three times in this passage.  We must choose to remain in Christ so that we produce fruit and are not cut off.  I see four types of fruit in Scripture, the fruit of our lips (Pro 12:14, Mat 12:33-34, Heb 13:15) the fruit of our behavior (Gal 5:22, Phi 1:9-11), the fruit of good works (Eph 5:9, Col 1:10), and the fruit of evangelism (Pro 11:30, Phi 1:22, Col 1:6).

Ironically though, we are not to strive to produce fruit!  Our only striving is to remain in Christ, through faith, daily dependence, and obedience (Lk 13:24). Then He will produce the fruit through us.  No branch on an orange tree spends its day struggling and striving to produce an orange.  The orange comes because the branch remains attached to the vine.  God has sometimes produced more fruit through me in one week (not including by this book or the internet) than in an entire year, before I learned this spiritual secret.  As can be seen in God’s miraculous timing in my life, He is completely sovereign and in control of all people, spirits, animals, events, and time.  However, we must still listen, obey, and participate with His leadings.  He has sometimes directed me to people externally (by providence or signs) and other times internally (by the Spirit’s leading).  Our responsibility is to watch for His leadings and then to step by faith into the opportunities He opens.  Then He gives us grace (power) and we will start to see more abundant fruit.  Oh, what joy my friend!

One time, while I was writing this book, I headed toward my normal coffee shop to work, but at the last minute I turned right instead of left (Pro 16:9) and I went to a different one.  I met three nice older Christian ladies.  Before I left, we stood and prayed.  When we ended the prayer, I got tapped on the shoulder by a man who asked if we could pray for him too.  I made friends with him and found out he was trapped in a 20-year sex-addiction.  Within weeks of discipling him, God set him completely free!

A false believer, or a non-maturing believer, is someone who claims to be a Christian, but who is not showing or producing fruit, in accordance with the spiritual gifts and resources they have received. (1 Peter 4:10) If a Christian has been given spiritual gifts (and if they have the Spirit of Christ in them, they have been – 1 Cor 12:7) and they are not using them, Jesus says they are taking up the soil and are in danger of being cut off (Luke 13:7).

(2024 Update): When I originally finished this book, ten years ago, I never imagined I would have such a close call with these terrifying words and warnings from Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ warning in today’s passage were ignored by my 2nd spouse, once so vibrant in her pure and sincere devotion to Christ.  She failed to abide in the Vine, and after several years of taking up the soil, she was completely cut off from Christ, as told in the tragic series  The Apostate Bride of Christ.  These warnings of Christ are to be taken more seriously than any other words you have ever read or heard spoken.  These are very serious matters and none of us, including myself, are beyond being cut off, if we do not remain in Christ just as He commanded.  (Rom 11:19-22)  We should not toy with our faith or mock God without remembering we will eventually reap what we sow.  We must truly fear God and have reverence for Him.