Post
by kenblogton » Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:15 pm
Reply to Paidion
How do you know that Jesus meant that? He didn't say so. Rather he spoke of "bearing fruit". He said to his disciples that unless they remained in him, they would be unable to bear fruit, just as a branch of a grapevine cannot produce fruit unless it remains in the vine. So if they didn't remain in Him, they could do nothing.
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
I am not sure that "bearing fruit" means "doing good." I think Jesus meant the fruit that his spirit bears in his disciples. Here is how Paul understood fruit bearing:
...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; there is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:22-24)
The apostle John records that Jesus said:
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, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)
"That your fruit should remain"
I see this as the difference between those who remain in Jesus and those who don't. The latter may do truly good deeds sometimes. They may even at times exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. But these characteristics do not REMAIN. They come and go. They are not a permanent part of those who do not remain connected to Jesus. But Jesus chose those who have submitted to him to not only bear these fruits of righteousness, but that these fruits might become a permanent part of each of his disciples character.
In Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19, Jesus tells us no one is good but God. In John 15:5, when Jesus says that without Him we can do nothing, the clear implication is that we can do nothing good without Him. There's lots of stuff we can do without Jesus, but it won't be unconditionally loving good. As your quote of Galatians 5:22-24 indicates, the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in us is unconditional love - that love is the result (the fruit) of Holy Spirit inspiration, not love in our own strength. In Luke 6:27, Jesus tells us we show unconditional love by doing good, and in both Romans15:18-19 and 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, Paul tells us the good he does and we do is through Holy Spirit inspiration.
Do you think anyone can do unconditionally loving good without Holy Spirit inspiration?
kenblogton
