– Every branch that is “IN” Jesus but does not bear fruit is taken
away (John 15:2).
– Those in Christ who become unfruitful are severed, gathered,
cast into fire (15:6).
– “As” Jesus kept His Father’s commandments, He calls on us to
keep His (John 15:10).
– “As” Jesus loved others and loved us, He calls on us to love one
another (15:12).
– He not only did this for His friends (15:13), He did it for His
enemies (Rom. 5:6-10).
– Jesus is the true vine (John 15:1). Bears fruit Himself & is our
only source of life.
– The Father is the owner vinedresser/husbandman/owner (John
15:1).
– Individual disciples are the individual branches on the vine
(John 15:2, 5).
– The branch on the vine cannot bear fruit of itself, apart from
the vine (John 15:4).
– The Greek word for “abide” (meno) is found 12 times in 8
verses in John 15.
• The word means “to remain, abide, continue, be present, dwell, not
depart.”
– Abiding in Christ is not a “take it or leave it” proposition in
order to please Him.
• 2 times “abide” is used as an imperative—command to be followed
(15:4a, 9).
– Abiding in Christ is not something that automatically continues
once a Christian.
• 6 times “abide” is used in the present tense—continuous activity
(15:4b,5,6,10,16).
– Abiding in Christ is not designed as a “one time” event in
someone’s life.
• 2 times “abide” is used in the aorist tense—an overall summary of life
(15:7).
– Abiding in Christ is conditional (cf. word “if” used frequently—
John 15:6, 7, 10, 14).
• 1 time “abide” is used in the future tense, following the conditional “if”
(15:10).
– To “abide” in Him one must first be “in Him” (cf. Rom. 6:3-4).
– Jesus gives two vital keys in order to abide in Him:
• Abide in His words & let His words abide in you!
– “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you…” (John 15:7).
– See “word(s),” “commandments” & “command” in 15:3,10,14,17,20.
– To abide in Christ, we must keep His commandments/words.
• Abide in His love & let His love abide in you!
– “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (15:9).
– “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…” (15:10).
– To abide in His love, we must keep commandments & “love one
another” (15:12,17).
– We must faithfully maintain a continuous connection with the
life-giving vine (15:4).
– Each & every branch is individually responsible for bearing fruit.
• “Every branch that bears fruit…” (John 15:2).
• “I chose you… [for the purpose that] you should go and bear fruit” (16).
• “…And that your fruit should remain” (15:16, present tense means
continuous).
• Faithful disciples of the Lord are to be workers, fruit-bearers, in every
part of life.
– Winning souls to Christ, serving those in need, growing in knowledge,
praising our God, sacrificing for the cause of Christ, loving one another, etc.
– Christ is not looking for “some” fruit or “a little” fruit.
• “He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). “…Bears much
fruit” (15:5).
• “By this My father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (8). Our aim!
– We cannot abide in Christ if we fail to “love one another”!
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Loving one another is a commandment of Christ (15:12, 17; 13:34-35).
Model & measure we have for love is the love of Jesus for us (15:12-13).
Loving one another is a badge of discipleship (John 13:34-35).
Loving one another is a condition for gaining His approval of us (15:14).
Loving one another is a requirement in order to abide in His love (15:10).
– The Father “prunes” them or “cleans” them, so that they can
bear more (15:2-3).
• His word cleanses, disciplines, teaches, in order to bear as much fruit as
possible.
– Bearing fruit, working for the Lord, is not a burden (cf. 1 John 5:3)!
– The more a Christian can do for the Lord, the more satisfied he will be!
– And, God will continue cleansing & forgiving, so that more can be done!
– The Lord promises to answer the prayers of those who abide in
Him (John 15:7, 16)!
– When Christians “bear much fruit,” our “Father is glorified” (8)!
No greater motive!
– Those who “bear much fruit” are privileged to be called “His
disciples” (John 15:8).
– Fruit-bearers are the recipients of & dwellers within the love of
Christ (John 15:9).
• Jesus loves His fruit-bearers as much as His Father loved Him (15:8-9,12).
– Keeping His commandments, abiding in Christ & bearing fruit
brings great joy.
• We share in the joy Jesus had when He did His Father’s will (John 15:11).
• The Christian life is a life of joy – a life “full” of joy (John 15:11).
– Those who abide in Him & obey His commands, Jesus calls
“friends” (John 15:13-15).
• He died for (in behalf of, in the place of) His friends (John 15:13).
• His friends do whatever He commands & serve the Father willingly
(15:14, 15).
– The world hates those who follow Christ (John 15:18-25).
• It hated Christ first (John 15:18), therefore it hates those who follow
Him.
• Being hated by the world is evidence that you are not “of the world”
(15:19).
• To be hated and persecuted for His name’s sake is to be united with Him
(20-21).
– “Every branch in Me that does bear fruit He takes away” (John
15:2; cf. Gal. 5:4).
– “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and
is withered…” (15:6).
– “…And and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and
they are burned” (15:6).
– The possibility of apostasy is absolutely possible (cf. Mt. 25:41;
Rev. 14:10-11; 21:8).