Fruit-Bearing,

John 15:1-8

In Psalm 80, we read these fascinating verses-

You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.

You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.

It sent out its boughs to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River. (verses 8-11)

Israel, as a vine, was brought out of Egypt and planted in Canaan, by the Lord, after the heathen nations had been cast out like weeds. Even though vine was chosen, planted and kept by the Lord, in the course of time, it degenerated into some kind of freakish plant to God. Consider what the prophet Jeremiah said concerning this-

I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine? (Jeremiah 2:21)

Another prophet wrote this concerning the vine that was Israel-

Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. (Hosea 10:1)

But Jesus Christ is the true vine, brought down from heaven and planted in the earth. He was the faithful and true witness. The word for “true” in verse one is alethinos, which means “genuine.” It is used in the sense of a genuine article over a counterfeit. This word was used earlier in the gospel of John of John the Baptist.  He was a reflecting light, but Jesus was the “true” or “genuine” light. Moses gave bread in the wilderness, but Jesus Christ is the “true” and “genuine” Bread. So, Jesus is tell His disciples that He is the “true” vine, the “genuine” vine. And unlike the other, lesser vine, there was nothing in Christ that would create a feeling of “strangeness” or disappointment in the heart of God. On the contrary, Jesus was ever true to God the Father, true to His own nature, true to His environment, and true to the sons of man. But the principle thought here is that, as a Vine, He is true to those who are associated with Him as branches, so that they might bear fruit.

Our Lord used a very special figure of speech in these verses, and He made it clear to His listeners that it was not their association with a religion or a ceremony that was important. As Christians, we are identified with Christ.

Note the following points:

1. Source of Fruit, verse 4

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.

Another way to translate the last phrase of this verse is-

Apart from me you can do nothing. (RSV)

Impoverished branches are NO evidence of an impoverished vine, for God gives the Spirit with NO limitations; [F]or God gives the Spirit without limit (John 3:34). All the resources of Heaven, of grace, of power reside in Christ; in Him is the fullness of the God-head in bodily form. Again, we read from the prophet Hosea-

O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols?
I will answer him and care for him.
I am like a green pine tree;
your fruitfulness comes from me.” –Hosea 14:8

We, as believers, must arrive at that place in our walk with Christ that we realize our usefulness come from God Himself. God alone is our Source; He is our supply. He enables us, through the working of the Holy Spirit, to produce for His kingdom.

2. Removal of the Fruitless, verse 2

Verse two must be read carefully.

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.

We need to be clear that Jesus is speaking to believers here. He is not talking about salvation; He is talking about a believer’s usefulness. But, can we separate the two? Can one be a believer and not produce any fruit? The sense of this verse is no, at least not for very long; a Christian should bear fruit. This verse may refer to those who are in Christ in a religious way, not a spiritual way. This type of person is raised in a Christian home and brought up with a form of godliness, yet never having experienced the power and the communion of close fellowship with Christ. This person has the outward resemblance to the vine, but does not produce its fruit. The Gardner has no choice but to cut this branch off and get rid of it. And apart of the vine, it will wither and die. Man, apart from Christ, cannot save himself. Only those whose roots are in the river of God shall have leaves that will not wither (Psalm 1:3).

These withered branches are gathered, not by angels, but by men, who throw them into the fire of testing, and they will be burned. A religious, but Christless life will never be of any use to man, let alone God. Like salt that has lost its taste, they are good for nothing.

3. Pruning of the Faithful, verses 2, 3

[E]very 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.

Notice how much God cares for the believer. The word translated “prune” can also be translated “cleaned.” God wants the faithful believer to be even more faithful; He wants the fruitful believer to bear even more fruit; so much so, He continually works on us to that end. Those fit for His service He makes even more fit! The pruning process may at times be painful, but all the while He is shaping us into the kind of people He desires us to be. Acts 15:9 tells us this: [F]or he purified their hearts by faith. Our life; our inner life is kept clean and pure by our faith in God. The pruning knife is the Word of God, administered by the Holy Spirit.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

We are told Tide gets the grime out. But here is what 1 Peter 1:22-23 says about a true stain-removing miracle-

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

God intends for us live according to and in obedience to His Word. In fact, God uses affliction to bring us to the Word.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.

It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees. -Psalm 119:67, 71

4. Condition of Fruitfulness, verse 5

If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

From our perspective, it’s “He in me.” God’s view sees “I in Him.”

No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (verse 4)

“In me,” that is, in my flesh, there is nothing good. Even the great apostle said that: I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. (Romans 7:18)

But in Christ, resides the power of Heaven. His grace will be perfected in us as we, by faith, abide in Him. Constant contact and fellowship with Him guarantees the attitude of continual receptiveness. To abide in Him is to abide in His Word, do His Will and His Work-

[F]or it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

5. Results of Fruitfulness, verse 8

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Notice the results are actually two-fold: the Father is glorified and our true discipleship is proven. It is to the honor of the Gardener that the tree brings forth fruit in abundance. But it is also to the credit of the tree that it so proves its good and godly character by its work. Where there is whole-hearted devotion and discipleship there will be fruitfulness and a life glorifying to the Father.

Fruit is the natural outcome of a faithful following of Christ, as well as an evidence of it. The life lived in Christ and for Christ is the only God-glorifying life. “Much fruit” means much love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).