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We are called to reject religion & place our faith in Christ, so we might experience real life, enter into real relationship, understand real truth, know real power, enjoy real freedom & live a life of real significance. The key verse in our passage for today is John 15:16. As we look to what Jesus tells us about how to bear fruit that will last, we will seek to answer three questions:
1. What is the fruit that will last? Some thoughts from Scripture:
A. The fruit of our lips - Confession of Christ.
“Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.” - Hebrews 13:15 (Amplified)
B. The fruit of the Spirit - Character of Christ.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” - Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
C. The fruit of our lives - Conversions to Christ.
“I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.” - Romans 1:13 (NLT)
We can take these things with us into eternity; and what better things could be said of us at the conclusion of life than we lived for Christ, lived like Christ, and led others to Christ? Jesus says the secret to bearing lasting fruit is the same secret to getting connected to Him in the first place - vs. 4-5. This is consistent with the rest of Scripture:
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.” - Colossians 2:6 (NLT)
“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” - Romans 1:17 (NIV)
If our life is going to be one of significance, it will only be as we maintain our connection to Christ, for He is our source of life (v. 5b). Notice that we don’t “produce” fruit, we “bear” fruit.
“Fruit-bearing is not a matter of being strong or weak, good or bad, brave or cowardly, clever or foolish, experienced or inexperienced. Whatever your gifts, accomplishments, or virtues, they cannot
produce fruit if you are detached from Jesus Christ. Christians who think they are bearing fruit apart from the Vine are only tying on artificial fruit. They run around grunting and groaning to produce fruit but accomplish nothing. Fruit is borne not by trying, but by abiding.” - John MacArthur
2. How do we draw on Christ’s strength? Three things:
A. Choose to surrender - v. 4
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.” - Ephesians 3:16-17 (NLT)
Have you ever been uncomfortable in your own home? Now that Christ has made His home in your heart, is there anything in your life that would keep Christ from being “at home” there (1 John 1:9)?
B. Apply the Scripture - v.7
Two application questions:
1) So what?
2) Now what?
C. Obey the Savior - v. 10
“Our Lord told His disciples that love and obedience were organically united. The final test of love is obedience.” - A.W. Tozer
3. What kind of branch am I?
A. The branch that bears no fruit - vs. 2a; 6
It is important to understand that while a branch on a grape vine doesn’t have free will, we do. Therefore, we need to understand that as believers whose lives are unfruitful, we have a choice. We can choose:
1) To remain in Christ - v. 2a
A vine puts out new shoots which grow into branches. However, these new branches often grow along the ground; they get covered with dirt and are shaded from the light of the sun. Although they are alive, they can’t produce fruit. The gardener will wash the dirt from the leaves and lift these branches up onto the trellis to get the needed light from the sun. The branch is cleansed, lifted up and trained to grow in a place where it can produce fruit.
The Greek word “airei” translated “cuts off” also means “lift up.”
Some believers are unfruitful because they are laying in the dirt of this world. But if they will choose to surrender, apply the Scripture, and obey the Savior, they can begin to bear fruit for God’s glory.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”- James 4:10 (NIV)
2) To not remain in Christ - v. 6
We can choose to let this world influence us and stay in the “dirt.” This can refer not just to falling into the error of “license” where we think we live as we please because we belong to Christ, it can also refer to our falling into the error of “legalism” too.
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’?” - Colossians 2:20-21 (NIV)
Some believe this is a passage that teaches a believer can lose his salvation. But we must interpret confusing passages in light of clear passages. The Bible clearly teaches that one who is saved is secure:
“The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.” - John 10:27-29 (Amplified)
The focus here is on how believers can live a life of lasting significance by remaining dependent on Christ. Jesus teaches us that believers that do not remain focused on cultivating their love relationship with Christ will be discarded. Their life is a waste.
B. The branch that bears some fruit - v. 2b
This is the believer who is not yet reaching our full potential, because he wavers between dependence on self and dependence on the Savior.
When we discipline ourselves to surrender, applying the Scripture, and obeying the Savior, we will be fruitful. But when we don’t practice these cooperative disciplines, God brings about corrective discipline.
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
This is what Jesus means when He talks about “pruning.” What is the Father doing? He is calling us to stop depending upon self, but rely fully on Christ to bear more fruit. It may be painful, but if we submit to the Father’s work in our lives, we will find that pruning is productive!
“Discipline may be either corrective or remedial. It may be sent for the purpose of correcting some sinful attitude or action, or to remedy some lack in our character. In either case, it is administered by our heavenly Father in love, not in wrath. Jesus has already borne the wrath of God in our place, so all
adversities that come to us, come because He loves us and designs to conform us to the likeness of His Son.” - Jerry Bridges
3. The branch that bears much fruit - v. 5; 7-8
These believers have been trained through corrective and cooperative discipline. They know that apart from Christ they can do nothing, so they daily choosing to surrender, apply the Scripture, and obey the Savior. As a result, three things are true of them:
A. They are growing - v. 7
These believers have died to self and live for Christ. Therefore, whatever they ask for is what Jesus would ask for. They are living in partnership with God. Their knowledge of God isn’t just a knowledge base on learning the Word, but on living the Word!
B. They are glowing - v. 8a
These believers will give God glory through what they say (their confession of Christ) and do (reflecting the character of Christ).
C. They are showing - v. 8b
Though showing themselves to be Christ’s disciples, their lives will influence others to convert to Christ.
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” - 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Conclusion: Jesus, the true vine is producing fruit within His branches. Christ’s fruit is good; it alone will endure. How much fruit are you letting be produced through your life? Is there no fruit, some fruit or an abundance of fruit?
