Phil 1:11 KJV
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Here the Apostle Paul draws our attention to one of the fruits that will be produced by the relationship between the Vine and the branch. The only part of the tree or vine that bears fruit is the branch. So, Paul like Christ, is confirming to us that as branches, our lives in union with Christ will bear fruits; and here, the fruits of righteousness. We wish to quickly note that it is ‘by Jesus Christ’ that the Christian or branch is able to bear these fruits. The branch must abide in the Vine in order for the life of the Vine to flow into the branch to produce the fruit that the Vine desires through the branch. The key to bearing fruit must be stated clearly: by Jesus Christ. We remember the words of the Lord, ‘…neither can ye except ye abide in me,’ ‘…without me ye can do nothing.’ These are very clear statements that must not be overlooked by anyone who is serious and earnest about bearing fruit for God. There must be such trust, reliance, dependence, seeking and all that could show that He alone is reason for fruit bearing.
The Lord Jesus in Jn 15:4,5 gave the conditions for fruit or much fruit bearing; apart from being a branch, one must abide in Him and I in you. If to use the words of Paul, one wants to be ‘filled with fruits…,’ the same condition must be fulfilled; abide in me and I in you. This is the way to bringing glory and praise to God. Fruits that are borne by a life that is rightly and continuously connected to Christ and He is working through that life will glorify God and put praise in the mouths of men unto God. Such fruits are not the results of human efforts. A fruit borne by human effort cannot reveal God; it will only reveal the best of the man. Only fruits that are borne by the operations of God can reveal God. This is the reason fruits borne ‘by Jesus Christ’ through the branch will glorify God.
The major work of the believer therefore is to ‘abide in Christ’ so that his works will be done ‘by Jesus Christ’. Those who seek to exert themselves may ignore this way but the result is very clear. That person will bear some other kinds of fruits that are not ‘by Jesus Christ’ and God will not be glorified in such a life. Men may talk about the man’s accomplishments but the glory will not go to God but the man. There are such men that have accomplished great things in the world but God is not glorified by their great accomplishments. If Christ is not at the center of a man’s whole activities, he himself will occupy that place. But to be filled with fruits… we must make Christ our only occupation and profession. Our whole life and conduct must gravitate around Him; He must be the source, the motivation and energy (power) behind all our activities. The believer must pursue Christ alone if he is to fulfil the reason for which Christ apprehended him.
‘By Jesus Christ’ is the active clause for being filled with the fruit of righteousness or any other spiritual or godly fruit. That clause is the same as “I in you.” It follows after ‘abide in me’ and it is the result of it. It is inseparable from ‘abide in me.’ A branch that has learnt to abide in Christ will automatically experience ‘I in you’ or ‘by Jesus Christ.’ The latter speaks of the workings of Christ in and through the branch whereby His grace, like sap, is poured into the branch so that it may produce the fruits that the Vine desires. ‘By Jesus Christ’ is the ability of Christ through His Spirit working mightily in the believer. The results are supernatural, hence praise unto God. The greater works that Christ promised the believer he will do are possible ‘by Jesus Christ.’
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness… describes the capacity of a branch that abides in Christ and all his works are done by Him. This also applies to other fruits; fruits of the Spirit, fruit of light, gospel fruit, good works, sacrifice of praise and every good fruit. It is simple and seems easy to bear fruit by this principle, but many of us prefer fleshly exertion. We would like to task our brain, exert our bodies but not in dependence on Christ. No wonder there is much frustration because the outcomes are not commensurate to the efforts. Depression, becoming irritable, anger and other symptoms are easily noticeable our own ‘sap’ is flowing and not the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God help us to learn this old and unchanging way to fruit bearing.