Free to Bear Fruit

This week we will close out our exploration of the Transformational Good News.  Our new hearts, as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) are now free to shift focus from not sinning to being obedient and loving. This then takes us another step. We are now free to bear fruit. Our healthy hearts are unencumbered and therefore able to bear good fruit.  Matthew’s gospel states:

“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17-18 ESV)

If you ever consider becoming a viticulturist you will undoubtedly need to study up on how to produce the best grapes. Exploring this subject, you will learn that obtaining a good harvest takes both care and knowledge.  Some liken it to parenting. The vines require soil rich with the correct ratio of nutrients as well as the right amount of water. Too much water and the plants drown before the fruit is ripe.  Too little means the vines wither leading to small or shriveled grapes. The amount of sun and wind also play significant roles in grape production.  Good, long exposure to the sunlight is ideal, but too much can scorch.  Wind is necessary, but desired in moderation.   The wind keeps the plants and grapes from growing bacteria and molds from too much moisture.  However, heavy winds can rip the fruit from the vines or the vines from their trellises. The balance of these factors is critical.

Can we see the parallels?  Is it any wonder that Jesus likens Himself to the vine and us to branches?

So with our transformed hearts, we have this ability to produce good fruit by living out our new natures through the work of the Holy Spirit. But our natures can need careful tending. That is the job of the Spirit working in us to bear fruit. And that fruit is:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Bill Tell in his book, Lay It All Down (p. 161) suggests that the phrase “against such things there is no law” is referring to the inner qualities that direct our behavior.  These cannot be legislated, unlike our behaviors. As new creations we are free obey, free to love and free to bear fruit in the form of these inner qualities. May we continue to realize all are our transformed hearts have available and be fruitful.