The Words of Jesus That Cannot Be Ignored
Jesus declared plainly: “Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19). And again: “By their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20).
The Words of Jesus Christ are not suggestions to consider; they are divine truths to be obeyed. His words are Spirit and life, and to disregard them is to reject the truth that brings salvation. This is important; fruit is not optional. It is the evidence that the life of Christ within a believer is real and active.
Jesus demonstrated the seriousness of fruitlessness when He approached a fig tree covered in leaves but bearing no fruit. “And presently the fig tree withered away.” (Matthew 21:19). It looked alive outwardly, but there was no fruit within. Jesus was not deceived by appearance. He warned again: “Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10).
Almighty God patiently seeks fruit, but His patience must never be mistaken for approval of barrenness. Jesus said of the unfruitful fig tree: “Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none; cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” (Luke 13:7). And the warning concludes: “And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:9).
Jesus leaves no room for religious appearance without spiritual reality. He said: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21). The answer is not human striving, but abiding in Christ.
Jesus said: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” (John 15:4). Then Jesus made the matter unmistakably clear: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
The consequence of refusing to abide is sobering: “If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6). Fruitlessness is therefore not merely disappointing—it is a matter of eternal consequence.
Now is the time to examine the heart. Jesus said: “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.”John 15:8. True discipleship is revealed by fruit. Let every believer therefore turn from barrenness, surrender completely to Christ, and return to the abiding place.
Let His life flow unhindered through every thought, word, and deed. Jesus has spoken. The choice is clear: Abide, bear fruit—or be cut down.