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Fruits of Life

FIRSTFRUITS.

Ⅰ. Firstfruits of resurrection. “ Become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1. Cor.15:20).

Ⅱ. Firstfruits of the Spirit. “ Which have the firstfruits of the Spirit” (Rom.8:23)

Ⅲ. Firstfruits of the redeemed. “ We should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” ( James 1:18).

Ⅳ. Firstfruits of Israel. “ If the firstfruit be holy ” ＆c. ( Rom.11:16).

Ⅴ. Firstfruits of Achaia. “ That it is the firstfruits of Achaia” (1. Cor. 16:15).

Ⅵ. Firstfruits of Asia. “ Who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ” (Rom.16:5).

Ⅶ. Firstfruits unto God and the Lamb. “ Being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev.14:4).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

FRUIT BEARING.

The evidence of union with Christ is fruit bearing (John 15.)，and where there is no fruit there is no union and no union means no life.

Ⅰ. Fruit of the Spirit. Love. “ the fruit of the Spirit is love” ＆c.(Gal.5:22).

Ⅱ. Fruit of Righteousness. Uprightness. “ Filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ” ( Phil.1:11).

Ⅲ. Fruit of Holiness. Separation to God. “ Being made free from sin and become servants unto God ye have your fruit unto holiness” (Rom 6:22).

Ⅳ. Fruit of our lips. Thanksgiving. “ Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips” ( Heb.13:15).

Ⅴ. Fruit in Work. Consistency. “ Walk worthy of the Lord being fruitful in every good work” (Col.1:10).

Ⅵ. Fruit of Work. Conversion and Consecration. “ That I might have some fruit among you” (Rom.1:13).

Ⅶ. Fruit of Generosity. Ministering to others. “ I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Phil.4:17).

Ⅷ. Fruit unto God. God’s object in saving. “ Bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom.7:4).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

 
The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Suppose I could offer you a life that is guaranteed to give you...
 a. A "joy" that is greater than any other
 b. A "blessedness" that is happiness in its fullest measure
 c. An "assurance" of entering the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
 d. A "peace" that surpasses understanding
 -- Would you be interested?
 
2. Of course
I myself cannot offer such a life; but Jesus can and does!
 As He stated in Jn 10:10...
 
 "...I have come that they may have life
and that they may have it
 more abundantly."
 
3. Jesus offers this "abundant life" not only by His sacrificial death
 on the cross
but also by His teachings recorded by His apostles;
 notice Jn 15:11...
 
 "These things I have spoken to you
that My joy may remain in you

 and that your joy may be full."
 
4. Through His teachings
then
we can learn the "Secrets Of The
 Abundant Life"...
 a. Many of which are found in this very chapter (Jn 15)
 b. Where Jesus pictures Himself as the VINE and His disciples as the
 BRANCHES - cf. Jn 15:1-5
 
5. As "branches" we are to bear "fruit"
and this leads us to the first
 of several "Secrets Of The Abundant Life"...
 
 "The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit"
 
[To appreciate how this is true
consider...]
 
I. DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT WE ARE TO BEAR
 
 A. WINNING SOULS TO CHRIST AND HELPING THEM GROW...
 1. Paul speaks of this kind of "fruit" in Ro 1:13
 2. One of the characteristics of a branch bearing fruit is that it
 produces a product identical to itself
 3. Therefore
one way a disciple bears fruit is by producing 
 another disciple!
 
 B. SHARING WITH THOSE IN NEED...
 1. Paul speaks of contributing to the poor as a "fruit" in Ro 15:
 25-28
 2. In His own way
Jesus certainly did this - cf. 2 Co 8:9
 3. So if the "Vine" did this
we should expect His "branches" to 
 do the same - cf. 1 Jn 3:16-18
 
 C. DEVELOPING CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER...
 1. Notice that the "fruit" of the Spirit is the development of 
 certain graces - Ga 5:22-23
 2. One who abounds in such qualities is growing in the "knowledge
 of Jesus Christ" - 2 Pe 1:5-8
 3. Indeed
he is being "renewed...according to the image of Him 
 who created him" - cf. Co 3:9-11
 
 D. PRAISING GOD AND GIVING THANKS...
 1. The author of Hebrews describes such activities as a sort of 
 "fruit" - He 13:15
 2. Again
the "Vine" was known for such behavior - cf. Lk 10:21;
 Jn 11:41
 3. Should His "branches" do any less?
 
[These are different kinds of "fruits" we can bear as "branches" of the
"Vine." But how does bearing such fruit make for the "abundant life" 
which Jesus promised?
 
Consider...]
 
II. THE BENEFITS OF BEARING SUCH FRUIT
 
 A. THERE IS GREAT "JOY" FOR THOSE WHO WIN SOULS...
 1. John says that there is "no greater joy" - 3 Jn 3-4
 2. Paul's converts at Thessalonica were his "pride and joy" - cf. 
 1 Th 2:19-20
 3. So those involved in the winning and confirming of souls for 
 Christ find great joy as they see the fruits of their labors
 
 B. THERE IS GREAT "HAPPINESS" FOR THOSE WHO SHARE THEIR 
 POSSESSIONS...
 1. They learn by experience the truthfulness of Jesus' teachings
 2. Who said
"It is more blessed to give than to receive" - Ac 
 20:35
 3. The word "blessed" can be translated "O how very happy"
so 
 there is greater happiness in giving than in receiving
 
 C. THERE IS GREAT "ASSURANCE" FOR THOSE WHO DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKE
 CHARACTER...
 1. Those in whom "the fruit of the Spirit" is produced are free 
 from any condemnation of law - cf. Ga 5:23b; Ro 8:1
 2. Those who abound in the "knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" 
 (i.e.
develop the graces described) have the assurance of an
 "abundant entrance" into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord 
 - 2 Pe 1:8-11
 3. For example
those who love in deed and truth have an assurance
 of their salvation - 1 Jn 3:18-19
 
 D. THERE IS GREAT "PEACE" FOR THOSE GIVEN TO THANKSGIVING...
 1. For those with the "attitude of gratitude"
there is the "peace
 of God" - cf. Ph 4:6-7
 2. A peace which...
  a. "Surpasses all understanding"!
 b. "Will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. A life filled with...
 a. Joy
 b. Happiness
 c. Assurance
 d. Peace
 ...surely that is the "abundant life"!
 
2. Thus "The Secret Of Living Is Bearing Fruit"
and this "abundant
 life" is available to only those who will "bear fruit" as "branches"
 of the "True Vine" (Jesus Christ)!
 
3. But is there a secret to bearing fruit? Indeed there is
and our
 next lesson will seek to discern from Jn 15 what that secret is.
 
For the time being
if you have not yet become a "branch" of the "True
Vine"
have you given serious consideration to becoming one...?
 
NOTE: The general idea for this series of lessons was taken from "Five 
Secrets Of Living"
a small booklet written by Warren W. Wiersbe

－－《Executable Outlines》