“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:1-5 (NIV)
Spoiler alert! One can do nothing eternal apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit’s power. Nothing. Flesh will fail us and fleshly works will never make it through the fire which tests the quality of each man’s work. We must be careful how we live and build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ through His power for His glory as all our works will one day be revealed with fire and be shown for what they are (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Those works built with gold, silver, costly stones – meaning done through our vessels by the power of the indwelling Spirit - will remain. Those works built with wood, hay, or straw however – meaning those done in the flesh - will be consumed by fire. Flesh fails. The Spirit succeeds. All in God’s perfect timing.
Further, those living through His power maintain the beautiful fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They will leave the aroma of Christ in their every circumstance not the stench of death. And they will bring forth much fruit in keeping with a child of the King. If you remain in Him you will bear much fruit. Fruitfulness is the result of walking as Jesus walked, loving obedience, righteousness and justice.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)