Reading: John 15:1-14
Hymns: Gospel Hymn Book 30 Hark! Ten thousand voices crying. J. N. Darby 462 It is a thing most wonderful. W. W. How

This discourse took place in Jerusalem. The fifteenth chapter of John’s Gospel stands out, as it is one of two chapters in the Gospel of John where no conversation takes place. The apostles made no interruption; no questions were asked by them. They just listened to Christ and what he had to say to them. In chapter 15 the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of the new life of the believer. Christ speaks of fruit-bearing before God; persecution from the world; the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, and about His death and resurrection.

According the Scofield Reference Bible the reading we have just heard occurred in 33 A.D. Which would indicate that this happened towards the end of Christ’s public ministry. In this passage of Scripture the Lord Jesus Christ describes himself as, “the true vine” and the Father as, “the husbandman”. This is the last of the seven, “I am” statements of Christ in the Gospel of John. A vine is a plant that produces grapes, which are used to make wine. Christ often uses the vineyard as a background for his parables. In a symbolic sense He describes himself here as the true vine; the real vine. We also see Christ refer to the Father in our King James Version as, “the husbandman”. Some translations say, “vinedresser”, which gives us a clearly understanding of the meaning. The vinedresser is the one who fosters the growth and care of the grapevine so it bears good fruit.

In John 15:2–3 Jesus says, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Jesus says here that the branch that does not bear fruit is, “taken away”. This may mean literally as removed and would refer to the physical death of fruitless Christians. Or it could mean “picked up”, which would indicate that the vinedresser encourages fruitless Christians to respond to God’s discipline and begin to bear fruit. They are pruned and cleaned through the Word of God. In biblical times, much like today gardeners often lift up vines off the ground, propping them up on sticks, so the would bear more fruit. If this view is true it would mean that God works in the life of a Christian in such as way that the believer bears as much fruit as possible. There have been other viewpoints put forward on this text, but I just wanted to give you the two most common ones. However you understanding this verse it is clear that there is a a message to believers that fruit-bearing is a sure sign of true faith.

The control of fruit-bearing is within the province of the Godhead. The cultivation of vineyards was very important to the life and economy of Israel. A golden vine adorned Herod’s temple. When the Lord used this image of the vine, he did not speak of something new; it was very familiar to every Jew.

There are four elements in this allegory.

I. THE VINE – There are three different vines found in Scripture. (1). The past vine which is the nation of Israel (See Psalm 80:8-19 & Isaiah 5:1-7 for the references). In an act of grace God transplanted Israel into Canaan and gave the nation every possible benefit and blessing. If there was ever a nation that had everything needed to succeed, it was Israel. When God’s own Son came to the vineyard, they rejected Him. (2). There is a future vine, “the vine of the earth” as described in Rev. 14:14-20. This is the Gentile world system ripening for God’s judgement and justice. Believers are branches in the vine of heaven, but the unsaved are the branches in the, “vine of the earth.” The unsaved depend on the world, the saved depend on Christ. (3) The present vine. The present vine in the Lord Jesus Christ and He is the true vine.

II. THE BRANCHES – Of itself, a branch is weak and useless. It is only good for burning. The branch cannot produce its own life; it must draw that life from the vine. It is our communion with Christ through the Holy Spirit that makes possible the bearing of the fruit. There are many images of Christ and the believer given in Scripture which emphasises the vital importance of union and communion. For example the body and its members (1 Cor. 12), the bride and the bridegroom (Eph. 5:25-33), the sheep and the Shepherd (John 10). A member of the body cut off from the body would die. When a man marries his wife it creates union, but it takes daily love and devotion to maintain communion. The Shepherd brings the sheep into his flock, but the sheep must follow the shepherd to have protection and provision. The sooner we as believer understand that we are merely branches, the better we will relate to the Lord; for we will know our own weakness and confess our need for God’s strength and protection daily.

The key word in this portion of Scripture is abide; It is over ten times in verses 1-11. What does it mean to “abide”? It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit. This involves the reading and studying the Word of God, confession of sin so nothing hinders our communion with Christ, daily praying and seeking the Saviour’s will and direction for us, and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ in all matters.

So, how can we tell if we are abiding in Christ? There is no special feeling that we have, for abiding in Christ does not depending how we feel. Rather there are special evidences that appear and they are clearly marked out in the life of a Christian. For example, when you are abiding in Christ, you produce fruit. Also, you will experience the Father’s pruning and discipline, so you will bear more fruit. The believer who is abiding in Christ has answers to his prayers and experiences a deep love for Christ and for other believers. He also has joy in this life that the world does not know. He has a comfort and assurance that his sins are forgiven and his eternal security rests in Christ alone.

To abide in Christ is, on one hand, to have no known sin un-confessed and on the other hand the one who is abiding in Christ takes all his burdens, cares and concerns to the Lord Jesus Christ and draws on all the wisdom and spiritual nourishment that the Lord provides in His Word. The one who is abiding in Christ will allow nothing to hinder or separate him for communion with God.

III. THE VINEDRESSER – The vinedresser is in charge of caring for the vines and Jesus said that this is the work of His Father. It is He who prunes the branches so they will produce more fruit. Note the progression in the text; no fruit (v2), fruit (v5), and more fruit (v8). Many Christians pray that God will cause them to bear much fruit, but do they enjoy the pruning from God that is essential and fundamental to bearing fruit.

The Vinedresser prunes the branches chiefly to produce maximum fruit; he cuts off dead wood that can breed disease and corrupt the whole plant. The pruning process is the most important part of cultivation. The greatest judgement of God is to just leave a believer to his own devices and to abandon him to his own flesh and desires. As God loves the believer He will “prune” us and encourage us to bear more fruit for His glory. If a literal branches could speak I am sure they testify that the pruning process hurts, but they are thankful that the vinedresser has cared enough to prune them; as the result is the purpose of bearing fruit. Pruning does not simply mean spiritual surgery that removes all that is bad and corrupt. It may involve cutting away the good, so the best may bear fruit.

How does the Father prune us? Sometimes He simply uses His Word to convict us and cleanse us. Sometimes He chasten us. He may allow us to go through a time of testing and temptation to teach us something and to strengthen us. The more we abide in Christ; the more fruit we shall bear. God is then glorified by a bigger crop that is also a better crop.

IV. THE FRUIT – It takes a living organism to produce fruit. It takes time and care to produce fruit. A good crop does not spring up over night. We must remember that the branches do not eat the fruit; others do. We should be the kind of people who “feed” others by our words and deeds. Proverbs 10:21 “The lips of the righteous feed many: But fools die for want of wisdom.” Several kinds of spiritual fruit are mentioned in Scripture. We bear fruit when we win others to Christ. Romans 1:13 “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” Another sense is found in John 4:35-38 where the Bible speaks of believers being part of the harvest. As we grow in holiness and obedience to God, we are bearing fruit. Romans 6:22 “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Paul considered Christian giving to be fruit from a dedicated life, lived to the glory of God. Romans 15:28 “When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.” I cannot pass by this fourth point on fruit without mentioning the most well-known text on fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is found in Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” This is the kind of Christian character that gives glory to God and testifies of the reality of Christ.

A true branch united with the true vine will always bear fruit. There is always fruit where there is true faith, true abiding in Christ, and true obedience to God. If there is no fruit, the branch is worthless and cast away. Now, I am not suggesting, nor do I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is teaching here that a person can lose their salvation, for this would contradict what He taught in John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” It is unwise to build a theological doctrine based on a parable. Jesus was teaching one chief principle and truth; the fruitful life of a believer.

As branches in the true vine; that is Christ Jesus, we have the joy of knowing Christ as our Saviour, the privilege of abiding in Christ, and the responsibility of bearing fruit to the glory of God.

If there is one thing I want to you take from this message it is this. How can we glorify God? Not by adding to His glory or bringing Him any new glory that He has not. But simply by allowing His glory to shine out through us, by yielding ourselves to Him, that His glory may manifest itself in us and through us to the world.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. What does it mean to bear fruit for God in your everyday life?

2. In what ways can you ensure that you are abiding in Christ daily?

We have just celebrated Remembrance Sunday where we remembered those who paid the ultimate price in defence of our country. It is right that we give thanks to God and remember those who have died and being affected by wars and conflict from yesteryear as the sacrifice they made is the reason why we live in free society today. However, do we remember the One who made the ultimate sacrifice for sin; the one who laid down His life for the forgiveness of sin; the one who shed His blood on Calvary’s cross so that we can be free from the penalty of our sins. If you are one sitting among us today and you have not yet come to the Lord Jesus Christ to pardon all your sins; today is the day to get right with God. Today is the day to come before God and knowledge and embrace the gift of salvation. Salvation is God’s greatest gift to mankind.

In a few weeks time we shall be celebrating Christmas. I am sure you have already started to plan and buy gifts for family and friends. The greatest gift you can receive in this life is God’s gift of salvation. (Spend a few minutes on preaching the Gospel; mention how salvation is a gift like a Christmas gift).