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“You did not choose me, but I chose you sand appointed you that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)

For ten weeks we have been exploring Freedom in Christ. The objective in all this teaching has been to grow in our Christian maturity and fruitfulness for God. Key to this is our remaining in Christ. John 15 concerns the post-Easter mission of Christ’s disciples. Jesus is preparing His closest friends for His departure and with a strong message that to bear fruit, they must remain in Him like branches to a vine. Without their friend and leader, it would have been tempting to drift away and become detached from the true vine. But the result of their remaining is todays church. We too can be tempted to break away from the true vine. We can break ourselves away from the true vine, find attachment to another less worthy vine and at least lose our fruitfulness for God. The warnings are even more stark from Jesus in John 15. But we must remain in Jesus. It is only in Him that we will produce fruit. Fruit as the creator intended and fruit that will last. It’s the first day of the rest of your life. So, remain in Jesus.