⁶ “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

Horror comes the thought of not being fruitful as a Christian! How can that even be possible for those of us who have been blood-bought, grace infused and hope secured by the One from whom we can never be separated (Romans 8:39)? Just as the grace of God is unfathomable, that is, that God can and does justify unrighteous sinners who place their faith in Christ (Romans 3:26), so too it boggles the mind that sinners who have been justified by God’s righteousness through faith would even think of sinning in any form. But it is true; we best admit it lest we be found calling God a liar (1 John 1:10).

Paul certainly struggled with sin (Rom 7:14-25). He feared that he might do something that would disqualify himself from a reward in glory, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:27). So we are in familiar company.

Certainly, there is a place for Christians to, “test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor 13:5). But, there is also a place for Christians to examine themselves concerning fruitfulness, and take action: “If you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13).

The solution to fruitlessness, then, is to death the old nature. And keep putting it to death. In the words of Romans 12:1-2, Christians should, “… by the mercies of God … present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Ro 12:1–2).

Some might object, “If, as you say, a Christian is secure and not in danger of losing his salvation, what motivation does he have for being fruitful?” This is an amazing statement to make (for it really is a statement disguised as a question). It presumes the only reason for doing good is fear of hell’s punishment. But the truly redeemed individual has become a new creation, old motivations have passed away (2 Cor 5:17). The love of God produces in us the desire for fruitfulness. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And our love for God motivates us to be fruitful.

Lord, I do love You and desire to be fruitful because this brings You pleasure.