The Persistence of God's Fruit Bearing Grace

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down’” (Luke 13:6-9).

The life of Christian discipleship s all about bearing fruit that glorifies God. Earlier in this gospel, the Spirit inspired Luke to record Jesus’ exhortations to His disciples to bear fruit that pleases and glorifies God. With the Teacher’s help we’ve examined the teaching and the heart that bear fruit. Today we discover more truth about bearing fruit. Today Jesus tells a parable that shows that bearing spiritual fruit is the result of God’s persistent work in the believer’s heart. Scripture often describes the children of Israel like a tree planted by God to bring Him glory… “They may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3). The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that like branches grafted into a well cultivated olive tree, born again disciples are part of the children of Israel through faith in Christ… “You, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree” (Romans 11:17). Therefore, the lesson of this parable about a fruit-bearing tree is for true disciples. Jesus wants us to bear fruit that glorifies God… “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Jesus encouraged His disciples with this parable about the persistence of God’s fruit bearing grace.

God is persistent in His planting of fruit bearing disciples. The parable says that it was the owner’s good pleasure and choice to plant a fig tree in the middle of his vineyard. Now a vineyard is a plantation of grapevines, especially one producing grapes for winemaking. It was unusual for someone to plant a fig tree in a vineyard because this kind of tree required lots of nutrients from the ground and would steal those nutrients from the grapevines. This owner must have really liked figs, but when the tree did not bear fruit he was forced to remove it from the vineyard so his grapes could thrive again. What a beautiful picture of God planting His born again children in the midst of a rebellious world, so we might brighten the darkness around us…”That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). As we bear fruit that glorifies God we light up our world… “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

God is persistent in His pursuit of fruit bearing disciples. With the words “For three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree” Jesus identifies the owner of the vineyard as God who traveled from heaven to earth and spent three years seeking out true disciples… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). With the words of the vinedresser Jesus included the nurturing work of the Holy Spirit in helping disciples to bear fruit … “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure” The Spirit is relentless in exhorting us to grow up into fruit bearing disciples of Christ… “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

God is persistent in His pruning of fruit bearing disciples. Jesus spoke about the indispensable work of pruning elsewhere in His teaching… “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Note that it is the fruit bearing branch that gets the most pruning. Fruit bearing disciples experience the most difficult, faith perfecting trials in this life… “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

As we grow up into Christ, we increasingly bear fruit that glorifies God because of…

The Persistence of God’s Fruit Bearing Grace.