Life on the Vine: Increasing Fruitfulness
January 30, 2022
Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
John 15:1-11
Introduction
Over the last several years, I’ve been amazed at how our world has changed. Christianity is under assault and that is true, even in our home of America. Christians are being persecuted; the Bible is being marginalized, put out of the public square. It was Christians -Puritans- that established the Plymouth Colony in 1620. We celebrate the root of that colony with Thanksgiving. Throughout our history, we have witnessed tremendous moves of God -Great Awakenings and revivals spread as the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread through our land. Most Ivy League universities were at one-time Christian institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. There is no argument that throughout our history, we have had blemishes and periods where Christ was not exemplified. Slavery, the Salem Witch Trials, and the like certainly do not reflect a Christian value. But our early country was not Muslim, Hindu, or even atheist. It was Christian.
But today our faith is being assaulted and a major part of that was carried in by COVID-19 regulations and power grabs. The COVID-19 pandemic has been an opportunity for religious liberty opponents to expand their assault against Christians.
During the shutdowns we saw tremendous attempts to marginalize our freedom of worship:
• In Nevada, a church was only allowed to have 50 people in attendance while casinos operated at 50% capacity
• In California, churches were ordered closed, while strip clubs remained open. Some churches were fined massive fines for defying this order
• In Canada, pastors are being arrested and imprisoned without due process for abiding by their faith
• Across the US, those who opposed forced vaccinations for religious reasons are being denied exemption.
They are losing their jobs for opposing the immoral forced vaccinations of people.
The constant social and governmental attack against the Bible and the increasing assault on Christians worldwide proves the period the world is living in; we are in the End Times.
Christianity is in decline in America. It’s in decline because Christianity was not instituted by our Lord Jesus to be popular with the world, but a paradox of the world
There is a continuous satanic agenda against the sanctity of marriage and life while groups like Planned Parenthood fight for legalized abortion
Curiously, while the church and the Bible are being marginalized, it is interesting that it’s become popular among worldly people to claim to be Christians. There are plenty of celebrity pastors to accommodate the people who look to Christianity as some sort of social event, especially prominent people. Let me be clear to you, spiritually and culturally, it is actually dangerous to be a true Christian... but cool to be a false one. That takes us to our text in John 15.
John 15 is part of a discourse of Jesus to the remaining 11 disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. They have left the upper room and they are on the way to Gethsemane. Just a short time before, Judas had left to go betray Jesus. In fact, it is likely that as Jesus is speaking these words, Judas is accepting the 30 pieces of silver for Jesus’ betrayal. The contrast between Judas – the false follower– and the eleven who were genuine is a distinction our Lord brings into very bold and clear terms through John 15.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1–11)
1. Increasing Jesus’ Lordship
Here, Jesus answers some important questions: “What is true Christianity?” “What are the marks of a true disciple?” “How are we to understand and explain our actual relationship to God through Jesus Christ?” These are foundational questions and fundamental questions for our life as true believers.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:22–23)
In chapter 13, He said there are people who appear to live a real-life of a believer, but they never bear fruit because of the love of riches, the care of the world, or the persecution that being a Christian brings. And so, they wither and die. Jesus said there are going to be false Christians growing alongside true Christians in Matthew 13. They will not be able to be distinguished until the judgment when the angels make the separation. My goal here is not to condemn but to make sure that your life is built on the solid rock of Jesus. If you are living marginally in your faith, then you are on sinking sand and in danger.
There were many people that came to Jesus with the desire to follow him that Jesus turned away. He did it with the rich young ruler who came asking the question: “What do I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus told him what was required and the man went away sorrowful. He said things to people like Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” He goes on to tell them in verse 28 that they must count the cost of following him.
Following Jesus means that we must “Deny yourself” (Matthew 16:24) And it could cost you your life: “Take up your cross.” Judas is an example of a false believer. For three years, he followed Christ, and then, he sold his faith for a little bit of money. There are many who have done the same since. People who have compromised on their faith and values for notoriety and riches.
So, with Judas off and betraying Jesus, he tells the remaining 11 some critical words that we all need to hear. “Abide in Me.” That’s a command. Don’t do what Judas did. Don’t leave but stay and remain in your faith. I would simply echo that to you if you have made a profession of faith in Christ, stand firm in the profession, especially in a world so difficult and compromising. He will be there with you. If you are a Christian and Christ is in you, you are a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:13–16)
That’s salvation. You’re a new creation because you became a partaker of the divine nature. You are presently the possessor of the very life of God, which is as eternal as God is. You will never die; you will only go into eternal glory. That’s salvation. So the first thing that comes to one who abides is salvation.
2. Increasing Righteousness and Sanctification
“4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5) So if you are a true believer, then God has taken up residence in you. That presence of God, that indwelling of God will manifest itself in you as righteousness.
Philippians 1:11 speaks of the “fruit of righteousness.” Romans 6:22 speaks of the “fruit of holiness.” Romans 7:4, “fruit unto God.” James 3:17, “good fruit.” Colossians 1:10, the “fruit of every good work.” Ephesians 5:9, “all godliness, righteousness, and truth,” the fruit of righteousness, godliness, truth. Hebrews 12:11, the “peaceable fruit of righteousness.”
In other words, if you are connected to the vine of Christ, that which is pure and holy will manifest itself through you. You will be characterized by His holiness through righteousness thoughts, righteous words, and righteous deeds.
And because we are not perfect, our lives will be fruitful in repentance and a life-long attitude of repentance
3. Increasing Answered Prayer
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)
That is an amazing statement from Jesus. I hear people say all the time, “We’re praying for you,” and I want to ask, “To whom?” Jesus promises that the believer that abides in him - and dare I say, the church that abides in him is a believer or church that witnesses a continuous chorus of answered prayers. You are going to hear next week about Lisa and when she was getting ready to pass from this life to the next, God answered a church who gathered to pray.
Jesus said, “You can ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Now that sounds broad and frivolous. Some people think it should be. That God is reduced to some sort of Santa Clause or Genie in a Bottle. But that’s not what Christ said. It’s conditional. The first condition is that you are abiding in him. The second condition, Jesus says “and My words abide in you,” meaning that truth from God abides in you. To be a believer, you have the promise your prayers will be answered, but at the same time, your life is characterized within the framework of God’s revelation.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
The disciples one day asked Jesus to teach them to prayer, and so Jesus taught them what we know as the Lord’s prayer
“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:1–4)
Prayer starts with the recognition of God’s Name - His Greatness that is what is consistent with His glorious person; God’s will, what is consistent with His glorious purpose; and His kingdom, what is consistent with His glorious unfolding plan. Person, purpose, and plan. That is why we need a church that is biblically literate again. If we are illiterate of God’s Word, how can we victoriously pray?!
Jesus said, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” Does that mean if you just add “in Jesus’ name, amen” at the end, you get what you want? No. In the name of Jesus means anything consistent with My sovereign lordship.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
“and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (1 John 3:22)
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
Lastly, there is one more thing I want to add to our study on the life of the vine. John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” What does this mean? It means that now that we’re abiding, we don’t just sit on the vine looking pretty. No, we get busy and as we get busy, we deepen that abiding.
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (2 Peter 1:5–10)
What do we do? We cultivate the faith that is in us. If you don’t do that, verse 9 says, “If you lack these qualities, you’re blind and shortsighted, and you will forget your purification from your former sins. You will lose touch with your true state.” A disobedient believer, a sinful believer, an irresponsible believer may be a true branch but lose touch with that reality. If we’re abiding in the branch we will experience perpetual growth in Christ, but also see what is going on in the world with discernment. That’s why the world hates Christianity so much because we are not ignorant, like the rest of the world of Satan’s plans.
The Christian life is not a life of rigidity, restriction, restraint, deprivation. This is not unhappy legalism, but it is abundant living “with joy unspeakable.” The question is are you hanging the certainty and hope of your life on the throne of this world of the eternity and hope of Christ. That will be evidenced by the fruit of your life.
