Are You Connected to Christ in a Way to Produce Fruit?
Good Morning Friends,
The covenant of the law was finished on the cross. All the regulations were set aside and replaced with a covenant of love that was even extended to the Gentiles. Yes, God so love the entire world… Still we do like the idea of regulations. Peter and the other apostles may not have been Pharisees, but they had a similar position regarding Gentiles. Just after Jesus’ resurrection, while Jesus is still meeting with them in his post-resurrection appearances, they think that he came only for the Jewish people. Even at Pentecost, Peter and the others preached to the “men of Israel.” It would take a vision and the experience of seeing Gentiles be baptized with the Holy Spirit before Peter and the early church leaders would awaken to the idea that “God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.” To leaders of the early church considering Gentiles to be included in the Messiah’s work, was unknown territory. The only logical way for many of them to grasp such a premise is that Gentiles needed to come under the covenant that had been given to Israel. Then, in that context, they could be included in the Messiah’s redemption. That is what circumcision is about. It is the sign of inclusion in the covenant, which involves keeping the laws of that covenant. It is logical thinking. Why suppose Gentiles could slip into God’s kingdom by the back door? But God had a bigger plan. God realized we might be inclined to try and keep all kinds of rituals and laws that have nothing to do with what God wants from us. God realized it was unreasonable, for example, to require a 30-year-old male to be circumcised. Nevertheless, we are to be as vine and branches. Are You Connected to Christ in a Way to Produce Fruit?
Scripture: Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter.
Acts 15:1-6 (NRSV)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
John 15:1-8 (NRSV)
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
John 4:22 (NRSV)
“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know”
Acts 2:22 (NRSV)
When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Acts 11:18 (NRSV)
Message: The purpose behind it all is for us to experience the joy of being connected to Christ and yes to our Jewish theological roots so we might produce fruit of the Spirit. Evangelism, membership, mission and fellowship committees might learn an important lesson from this thinking. You see our spiritual soil must be built up through study of scripture, prayer and Christian community but also in the understanding that salvation comes from the Jews. When we build up and replenish the soil we can have hope to increase the harvest. Staying connected to God and abiding in prayer is an essential ministry that is needed for us to be part of a spiritual harvest for the Kingdom. So, discover that it is important to abide in Christ daily through study of the Word… discover that it is fruitful for us to have not only faith in the power of this connection but also a forgiving heart so the connection be clear and pure. Friends to be fruitful is to be compassionate to the needs of others…. extending and growing our love so that our fear be removed. To be fruitful is to believe that God will answer prayers so that He might be glorified. Then if we have learned any of that, then we learn that fruit bearing is a byproduct of abiding in Christ. We learn that Christ is key to the harvest. And we understand that Jesus is a Jew.
Pray we become good soil and bear much fruit. Pray we realize the blessing of honoring those who were blessed by God to be a blessing to the world. Pray God’s truths be empowered by the Holy Spirit in us. Pray that the authority of Jesus be nurtured in us to complement the strength and gifts we have been given. Pray we are honest about our prayers so that they reflect what we believe. Pray we realize that we cannot ignore the obvious needs of others and still have the right to pray to God effectively about our own needs. Pray that God bless us so that we can be a blessing. Pray we realize that we cannot out give or out produce God. Pray we understand the purpose of God answering the prayers we pray. Pray we follow the example of Christ. Pray we abide in the Word. Pray we abide in love. Pray we abide in the abundant joy of Jesus. Pray we are connected to a productive purpose that honors God. Pray we honor God, by trusting the promise, by believing what Jesus says and receiving what Christ freely and mercifully offers. Pray we are connected to what really matters.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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