By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:8 ESV)
Bruce Wilkinson states in his book that he once interpreted, as many of us have, the above passage in John as saying we must evangelize, convert others to Christianity, if we are to please God. However, Wilkinson has determined the Bible uses the terms “fruit” and “good works” interchangeably. While evangelism is part of our good works it is only a part. [1]
The Bible states the type of fruit we bear indicates the type of person we are, what we are like in our soul. A healthy vine produces good fruit and a diseased vine produces bad fruit (Matthew 17:7). And then there is that verse from Galatians which clearly states that 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)
As we have consistently stated in this blog, salvation of more than a belief system. It is God working with us to change our soul so he produces the “fruit of the Spirit” in our lives. Our evangelism is simply telling others, as we travel about the world, what God has done for us (Matthew 28:19).
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[1] Bruce Wilkinson. Secrets of the Vine. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2001, pp. 20-21.
