” Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12: 24, 25).
Unless a seed is planted, it will never produce fruit. If it is never planted and never allowed to be changed, it will never become that for which it was created.
If a Christian is not willing to die to self, there will be no fruit as described in John chapter 15. In this chapter the fruit of the believer is another believer, who also produces fruit– another believer. The branch (the believer) gets life from the vine (Jesus) and the result is fruit.
Jesus said, ” I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I and him, he it is that bears much fruit (John 15:5). (This fruit is in addition to the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5: 22, 23).
If we are not producing John 15 fruit (disciples), who in turn are producing fruit (disciples), we are Galatians 5 believers.
The last words of Jesus to the disciples emphasized this. He said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make “DISCIPLES” of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “TEACHING” them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mattthew 28:18-20).
The Church today is comprised of Galatians 5 believers and very few John 15 believers .
May God bless you as you die to self and pursue your calling to be a disciple and to produce disciples wherever He places you.