Your Fruit Shall Remain

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain (John 15:16).

That Christians are to be fruitful in the Kingdom of God is the product of salvation in the life. This fruitfulness is Christlikeness - to become more and more like Jesus with each passing day. That the fruitfulness of the Christian should be permanent is the effect of salvation in their life. Being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ is a reality that does not fade away in one’s life, but continues on forever. While fruit trees in orchards start off as saplings, grow into mature trees that bear fruit, and then wane in their power to produce fruit after so many years, such is not the case in the spiritual life of the believer.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of God in and through one’s life, is designed and intended to remain (meno), to stay, abide, continue, dwell, endure. The effect of the Gospel is permanent on mankind. Its work is not like the fruit of false teachers, the result of whose efforts soon pass. Gamaliel, a wise and learned Pharisee, head of the Sanhedrin, and mentor to the man who would later become the Apostle Paul, said (Acts 5:38-39), For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men (Christians) and let them alone; for if this plan or this work (the ministry of the Gospel) is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it - lest you even be found to fight against God. 

Jesus, in effect, said the same thing in (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33) Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. The Gospel will continue on in the life of the true believer, making him/her more and more like Jesus until that Christlikeness is perfected in glory, and the Gospel will continue on in the earth until it, and all of creation, is perfected with the new heaven and the new earth. (Revelation 21:1-7) Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Amen.

Pastor Martin