The Coolidge examiner., 1937-11-25
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By REV. HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST.
Dean OF the Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.
G Western Newspaper Union
Lesson for November 28
CHRISTIAN FRUITFULNESS

| SO snail ye be my dlScipleS.-John 1873.
| PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus' Rule of
Love.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Loyalty of Love.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
| IC-What May We Expect to Achieve?
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-How Christians Become Fruitful.
Thanksgiving day has just afford
ed each one of us a special oppor-
tunity to return praise to God for
the fruitfulness of Americas broad
acres. 1t is appropriate that we
think today of the Christian life as
manifesting itself in the bearing of
fruit
Christian work of which we spoke
last Sunday may Cat least in a meas
ure) be initiated, but fruit cannot be
initiated. 1t is the result of life and
only those who know the new birth
bear the fruit of Christianity.
The chapter before us is a portion
Of Scripture which has been the Pc
culiar favorite of Gods children in
all generations. 1t is at the center
Of our Lords words with his disci-
pies Immediately before his death
on the cross.
Many are the expositions Of this
! passage, but a beautifully simple
one which came to the writer from
DR.. w. Graham Scroggie is suggest
ed as most helpful.
/. Life and Fruitfulness wv. 1-8).
Life results in fruit and there can
be no true fruit where there is no
life. Christ is the vine. the Fa-
ther is the keeper Of the vine. We
who are Christ's are the branches
abiding in him, that is, living our
whole life in and for him in such
close union with him that his life as
the vine brings forth fruit in us as
the branches. That is real Christian
living.
But, alas, there are branches that
seem to belong to the vine but they
lack the one indispensable evidence
of life which is the normal bearing
of fruit. These the Father must
take and cast away to be destroyed.
While we must not read into these
words more than our Lord intended.
let us beware lest we explain away
their serious import. These are
grave words of warning to false pro-
fessors of Christianity, but they are
not spoken to distress and disheart-
en- true followers of the Lord Jesus.
Fruit in the Christian is undoubt-
edly first Of all the fruit of charac-
ter but that character is also to
show in conduct. Note the progress
fruit ". p, more fruit" (v. D.
much fruit" (v. 81. In order to
bear more fruit there is need of
pruning and cleansing (vv. 2, 81.
Pleasant? Not always, but always
profitable. Let us thank God for
even the pruning knife when it's work
is needed.
Do not miss the prayer promise
in verse 7. It is an unlimited prom
ise with a closely limited condition.
Let us meet the condition and claim
the promise.
III. Love and Friendship (vv. 9-16).
This is my commandment that
ye love one another" In verse 10 we
read that to abide in the love Of
Christ we must keep his command
ments and now we learn that it is
his command that we love one an
I other. We are not to await the
impulse prompted by the beauty or
kindness or propinquity of someone,
but we are to love one another.
Many a Christian who has obeyed
the commandments against steal
ing, adultery, and blasphemy has
never noticed that he is commanded
to love.
The joy of Christ was fulfilled on
! the eve of Calvary by the love of his
disciples for one another and for
him. He rejoices today when we
love the brethren and love him, for
thus we enter upon the beautiful
relationship of friends.
DR.. Scroggie says, 1--WE may be
Gods children without being his
friends; the one is based on his gift
of life to us; the other, upon our Of
fering of love for him. Are you
friend of God? You cannot have
God and the world for friends at
the same time The friendship of
the world is enmity with God. The
world hates Christ, and therefore
will not love you if you are like
! him."
But, oh! the sweet intimacy of
fellowship with him. Read verses
ID to 16. Chosen and appointed by
him, for che first loved u.s." we are
not kept in the distant position of
servants but are brought into his
circle of friends with whom he
shares the glorious secrets of
his Father, and our Father. 1t is
a great thing to be Christian,
friend of the Saviour.
Note how closely this friendship
is linked with assurance and power
in prayer. DR.. Gray points out that
there is nothing in this sublime
discourse of more practical value
than what it teaches about prayer.
See 14:13; 1916; 16:23-27. To ask in
Christ's Name is as though He asked
al Of