…(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)…

      Ephesians 5:9

Ephesians 5 is such a vital and important passage for us, as Christians, to study, meditate on, and apply to our lives. Not only is our Christian witness at stake but this portion of scripture can also assist us in avoiding all of the trappings and pitfalls common to living in a fallen world. Here is a paraphrase of what we have seen so far:

We can be certain that unrepentant, rebellious people, who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, have no inheritance in the kingdom of God (v 5)

Don’t be fooled, this is the reason why the wrath of God is coming for those outside of Christ (v 6)

Therefore, don’t participate in the things that they do (v 7)

For you used to be in spiritual darkness as they are but not anymore. Now you live in the Light of Christ…so act like it! (v 8)

It’s not difficult to see where Paul is going in this passage of scripture and because all of scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), we know that these are God’s instructions to us. We are to be different than the rest of the world as a demonstration that we truly have been transformed by the power of the Spirit of God. 

Today’s verse is parenthetical but finishes Paul’s thought from the previous verse. When we say that we are living in the Light of the Lord, there should be some characteristics to look for in our daily lives. Paul mentions three of these: goodness, righteousness, and truth. But instead of looking at each of these traits, let’s look at the idea of bearing fruit for the kingdom.

Jesus says a lot regarding the reality that Christians should be bearing fruit (being productive for the kingdom). My gifts may not match yours and vice versa but, to be sure, we are to be productive for eternity. And working for the kingdom is not like working on earth. It’s not heavy, cumbersome, or even restrictive (Matthew 11:29-30) rather is is a joy, delight, and the most rewarding thing that we could ever do. To see the evidence of the Spirit of God flowing through our lives, allowing us to accomplish things that we could never do on our own, is nothing short of amazing! Consider Jesus’ words regarding bearing fruit:

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 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. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

      John 15:5-8

So let’s break this down. First, we have to abide in Christ in order to bear fruit. He is the life-giving vine. We are but the branches. If His presence is flowing through us, nourishing us, and giving us life, then the logical result is that fruit will come forth. Just like a healthy tree brings forth fruit while a sick tree doesn’t, so too, in your spiritual lives will we see either fruit coming forth from our life or the absence of fruit. The key is remaining in Christ and receiving power from the Holy Spirit, something only true, born again believers can receive. 

Secondly, Any branch that does not abide in Christ is like a useless branch that has dried up. And because it does not bear fruit, it is gathered and thrown into the fire and burned. Jesus isn’t talking about horticulture. He’s referring to people’s lives. We were created for relationship with God. And because our sin prevents us from enjoying that fellowship, Jesus came to make a way so that our relationship with God could be restored. When we reject and abandon this life purpose and design by God, we find ourselves drying up and withering due to the absence of God’s presence and Holy Spirit in our lives. No wonder Paul is so emphatic, in Ephesians, that we make sure not to emulate the actions and behaviors of the lost, dying, and unbelieving world. 

Thirdly, Jesus says, “ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” This is consistent with other passages about our asking and praying (Matthew 7:7-11, Mark 11:23-24, James 1:15-8). We have the tremendous privilege of not only being heard by the Savior but we can rest assured that He will answer our prayers and meet our every need. Why would anyone trade that for temporal things that are here today and gone tomorrow? 

Lastly, Jesus reminds us that bearing fruit for the kingdom is something that glorifies God while also proving that we are truly His disciples. Do you want to glorify God with your life? Bear fruit for the kingdom. Stop living for the here and now and invest in eternal things. Does your life appear to others to be one that is being lived for Christ? Is there enough evidence in your life to point others to the Savior? But Jesus goes on:

“You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

John 15:14-16

We are not slaves rather we are God’s friends and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Christians are appointed by God to go and bear fruit (2 Corinthians 3:5-6). And Jesus says that our fruit should remain. Kingdom fruit is eternal fruit. When we invest in the eternal, we know that our reward is kept safe by God Himself (Matthew 6:19-21). And then another tremendous promise from our Savior…”so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” Why would anyone settle for less than what the truth of God’s Word reveals to us? Friends of God, fellow heirs with Christ, and people that will reap eternal reward…that is what we have in Jesus Christ!

But shortly after pouring out these amazing truths and promises, Jesus reminds us that the world will not like that we now belong to Christ. Consider the following:

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

  John 15:18-19

Going back to Paul in Ephesians, we are not to be partakers with the world and its ways. If we did, Jesus tells us that the world would accept us and consider us part of them. But we are not part of them for we have been chosen out of the world to be different (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). The world may hate us because we now belong to Christ and are living for goodness, righteousness, and truth, but better is acceptance by God than acceptance from the world (Galatians 1:10). 

So are you enjoying God’s presence in your life? Are you bearing fruit for the kingdom? Are you claiming the promises of God over your life and the life of your family? If you haven’t already, surrender your life to Christ today and begin your life’s journey with Him! There is nothing to compare with the transforming power of God’s presence in your life!