John 15:1-11
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Introduction
One of the most explicit images Christ has crafted to describe the refining work of God in our lives sits in this very passage. There are those who will say that a Christian is not required to bear any fruit, but only needs to believe. On the surface this seems accurate: we are not justified by what we do, but by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
While it is true that the gift of life is freely given and is not dependent on our works, it is also true that this gift of life necessarily produces good works in us. If we look closely at the analogy Jesus presents, we quickly see that our life is drawn from Him in order to “bear much fruit.” Just as a branch from a grapevine draws its ability to bear fruit from the vine itself, so too we draw our ability to bear fruit from the Son of God.
Drawing precious life from the Son
This intimate connection to the Son from whom we draw all life is made all the more extreme in His statement, “As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” Not only does He cause us to bear fruit, but those who are not connected to the vine are incapable of bearing fruit.
This seems outrageous at first glance. Surely there are non-believers who do good deeds, perform charity, and love their neighbors. Does this not constitute fruit? They do not, because the heart behind them is one which refuses to submit to God in worship. Every act someone performs is bound to a motive. The famous stage director Konstantin Stanislavski formalized this principal into what is widely known as “The Stanislavski Method of Acting” or simply “Method Acting.”
Stanislavski observed that the most believable scenes were performed by actors who harbored and maintained an invisible motive behind every word and deed. No longer would an actor cross the stage simply because it made for a better visual, but instead they walk with intention that convinces audiences it is not for nothing. This quickly became the dominant acting technique across the world due to the believability of the performances.
Whether you know it or not, everything you do is motivated by something. Either you are a lover of God, in Christ, bearing fruit, or you are a lover of self, set on selfish ambition. So when Jesus tells His disciples that “he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit,” He is not presenting something that is optional. The one who is in Christ will bear fruit because he must bear fruit. This becomes an easy litmus test we can use on ourselves for the sake of assurance: if you see yourself growing in godliness and goodness, you can be assured that your faith is genuine.
Glorifying the Father
Not only does the one in Christ necessarily bear fruit, but in bearing that fruit, you bring glory to the Father. This act of worship is something ongoing and continual through the life of a believer (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18). Worship is not always formal. It does not always take the shape of a formal gathering where words are said, rituals are performed, and prayers offered. In fact, the worship we engage with the most is mundane and daily. It is our disposition toward God and others, the very expression of our faith.
Jesus promises that each branch, or believer, who bears fruit is someone the Father cleans so that he may bear even more fruit. I cannot help but be reminded of Psalm 51, a prayer of David for God to make His heart clean:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
…
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:10-11; 15-17
The worship of God is found in this daily renewal of our hearts by the Father through His Spirit. He has promised the Spirit for all believers in Christ, refining them and purifying them to glorify the Lord forever and ever.
May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.
Leave a Reply