John 15

This is a continuation of Jesus speaking to the disciples before His arrest.

He told them that He is the true vine and His Father is the vinedresser. Any branch that does not bear fruit He removes, and those that do bear fruit He prunes that they may produce more fruit. The branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in Him.

Jesus told His disciples that they are the branches, and without Him they can do nothing. Those who do not abide in Him are cast out, withered, gathered and thrown into the fire and burned. Those who abide in Him and His words abide in them, they will ask what they desire, and it shall be done for them. This is the way God is glorified and his followers bear much fruit. 

If they keep His commandments, they will abide in His love and His joy remain in them fully.

His new commandment He gave to them:

...that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no other than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

And He continued:

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  

Also, if the world hates His disciples, it is because the world hated Jesus first. If His followers were of the world, the world would love them. But Jesus chose them out of the world. If the world persecuted Jesus, the world will persecute His disciples. 

If Jesus did not go to the world and make Himself known, the world would have remained ignorant, but that Jesus showed Himself to the world, now the world has no excuse to know Him. The world has seen and they still hate Him and His Father. Therefore, the world is in sin. 

BUT, this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause.

Then Jesus promised them again that He would send His Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach them the truth. 

COMMENTARY

Jesus is the TRUE, GENUINE vine, as opposed to the nation Israel -- that is to say, identification with the Jewish nation or Jewish religion is not the Way to God. Jesus is the Way. The same holds true today: it is not through a religion or religious ceremony or organization. We must be identified with Christ. The moment we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we are baptised by the Holy Spirit and born again. The branches must be joined to the Vine for fruit-bearing lives.

In this chapter, Jesus was not talking about salvation or how to be saved when he talked about bearing fruit. He is talking about people who have already been saved. These people are already in Christ. Rather, He is referring to what believers are supposed to do: bear fruit, bear more fruit, and bear abundant fruit. 

Believers in Christ bear fruit as a result of being saved. Fruit refers to the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. "Abiding in Christ will produce effectual prayer, perpetual fruit, and celestial joy." 

Sometimes a believer (branch) does not bear fruit, and Jesus said it will be removed. This does not mean a believer loses his salvation. A person may need to be removed from his place of fruit-bearing, and this could be life changing. Sometimes it could mean death. 

Sometimes branches must be pruned in order to produce fruit or more fruit. God will remove people or circumstances that may hinder us from fruit-bearing. But always, if we remain close to God, the less it will hurt and the more we will grow. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth."

HOW TO ABIDE IN CHRIST

We are cleansed through the Word. We must always be in the Word, studying the Scriptures, and be ready to apply it and obey it. We should be in constant communication with the Lord, through prayer. We need to confess our sins to the Lord to abide in Him. And we are to keep His commandments. 

When we abide in Him, we will bear fruit because the Lord will be able to use us for His purpose, which will bring Him glory. In return, we will experience a life full of joy.

He chose us, and we are His responsibility. He will take care of us.

from Knit Pray Share