"Be Fruitful and Multiply," Spiritually

by Stephen Otto

When God created Adam, He placed him in the Garden of Eden, blessed him with unmerited dominion over it, and commanded him to work by tending and keeping it (Gen. 2:15). He also instructed him to “Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:24-31), effectively extending his blessing of dominion to his physical descendants. 

Likewise, when God creates each believer as a “new man” (Eph. 4:20-24; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:14; Col. 3:9-11), He grants him unmerited dominion over the Kingdom of God and commands him to work by tending and keeping it spiritually. He also instructs believers to “Be fruitful and multiply," thereby extending his blessing of dominion through the gospel (the good news) to their spiritual descendants.

If Adam refused to work by producing food in the Garden of Eden, he would have died. Similarly, if we also refuse to work for the Kingdom of God by producing spiritual fruit, we too will die spiritually. James 2:20 states, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"