In this issue, which focuses on the subject of FRUIT, it seems necessary to first of all establish the basis for its production.

Fruit of Christ's Death

In John 12:24, the Lord Jesus declared, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." He was referring to the necessity of the death of the cross which was before Him. As to His own intrinsic holiness, as both God and Man, He could have entered the portals of heaven alone. However, He had come to bring many sons to glory. Only by His death on the cross could sin be atoned for, and sinners cleansed by His shed blood to make them fit for the holy presence of God. He would not go back alone! He endured the cross and gave His life a ransom for all. All who accept Him as personal Saviour belong to Him by the purchase price of redemption He accomplished. All such become the "fruit" of His suffering and death on Calvary.

Fruit by Christ's Life

Upon accepting Christ, the repentant sinner receives eternal life, for "He that hath the Son hath life" (1 John 5:12). This life of Christ is reproduced in the believer by the indwelling Holy Spirit and is "The fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22,23).

The apostle Paul expresses it thus: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh [in my body] I live by the faith of [or, in] the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Here, again, recognition of the death of Christ in the believer being crucified with Him is seen as the basis for the bearing of fruit. As the believer counts himself by faith to have died with Christ, and then yields his members to God, the flesh is rendered inactive. It is then the life of Christ by the Spirit's power produces His lovely characteristics. "Love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control" produced in the believer will cause men to see Christ in him. But above all, as Jesus said in John 15:8, "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit."

Fruit of Faithful Sowing

The believer is given a most wonderful privilege to sow the seed of the Word of God. From this sowing of the seed and the watering by prayer, God works in marvelous ways to give the increase. By personal witnessing, by the giving of a tract, by taking advantage of every opportunity to present the gospel, fruit in the salvation of souls will result. In the glory, God will fully reveal what will be for His eternal praise. Let us, therefore, "Sow beside all waters" (Isaiah 32:20), and at all times (Ecclesiastes 11:6).