What It Means to Abide in Jesus.

Jesus gives us a beautiful illustration in John 15. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. If we abide in Him, we will have life and bear fruit.

Laws of Illustration – John 15:1-3

An illustration is used to teach a simple truth with something known and familiar to a specific audience, often fitting within a geographical and historical context. It is important to recognize that all illustrations have limitations. We must be careful not to read more into the illustration than is intended.

This illustration of Jesus being the true vine is not specifically about a believer’s eternal security. Many have misunderstood this passage to mean that salvation can be lost. The simple truth of this illustration is that believers abide in Jesus, the true vine, and that in Him, they will bear fruit.

Vines and vineyards were familiar to the disciples and those in the Palestine region. Israel as God’s vine was a well-known illustration in the Old Testament. Jesus begins this illustration stating He is the true vine, and His Father is the vinedresser or gardener. As the gardener, the Father purposes with authority and prerogative to remove branches that do not produce fruit, while pruning those which do.

No one is outside God’s sovereign work as the gardener. Only two kinds of branches are illustrated: those which cannot bear fruit because they are not in the vine and those which must bear fruit because they are in the vine. Regardless of appearances, God the Father knows the truth about each person, whether one is truly in right relationship with Christ Jesus or not.

The gardener takes away those branches which do not bear fruit, while He prunes those which do bear fruit. This pruning is necessary, painful as it may be, for the purpose of bearing more fruit.

Jesus tells the disciples that they are already clean because of the word He has spoken to them. The Greek word for "clean" is the same word for "prunes" in verse two. We know that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). God has placed each believer in the vineyard, attached to the vine of Jesus through the Word of God by the Spirit of God, giving new birth and life in Christ Jesus.

Laws of Fruitfulness - John 15:4-5

Jesus again says that He is the vine, and those who abide in Him will bear much fruit; apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Diligent Effort

The grammar of the text tells us that we must work to be fruitful. It is a command to obey the Lord, which is abiding in Jesus. Our work does not earn our salvation. Salvation is accomplished only by God. We have a responsibility to abide in the vine according to the Word of God.

As we live out each day, our decisions and choices should be in alignment with the Word of God, what is pleasing to our heavenly Father. This work of obedience in every area of our lives is intentional, mindful, requiring effort and diligence. It is this work that leads to fruitfulness in Christ.

Assured Fruitfulness

Those who are in Jesus will bear fruit. Though God is the one who prunes and ultimately produces the fruit in each of us, His goal is for each of us to produce as much fruit as possible.

Though Jesus does not define the fruit in this passage, He has said that if we love Him, we will keep His commands, His words. Obedience to the Word of God will bear fruit in a believer’s life, causing us to look more like Christ.

Other categories of fruit of the Christian life include repentance, sanctification, the fruit of the Spirit, evangelizing and making disciples, answered prayer, and good works.

Laws of Fruitlessness - John 15:6

Jesus says those who do not abide in Him are fruitless. God will remove the fruitless branch to be cast into the fire because it did not produce fruit for Him.

According to the grammar in this text, "abide" is a present reality. A prayer offered in the past is not abiding. Abiding in Jesus is a present, active reality today, right now, this very moment.

Abiding is not mystical but certain, specific, and exclusive. To abide in Jesus is to obey Jesus.

A person cannot be fruitless and be in Jesus Christ. Those who are not in Jesus Christ are fruitless, and the fruitless branch is cast into the fire.

Laws of Faithfulness - John 15:7-8

Jesus says that when we pray according to the will of God through the Word of God, then we will see our prayers answered.

Those who abide in Jesus are faithful to His Word and pray according to His Word. Our praying should be more and more in alignment with the mind and will of God. That does not mean we will always get healing or financial excess.

Those who belong to Jesus are gathered with those who are faithful to His Word. This gathering of God’s people will be pruned and must support one another through the process. God’s people need each other for love, encouragement, exhortation, and correction.

Those who bear fruit prove they are the disciples of Jesus. This proving is not to God or those in the world. God knows who is in the vine, who is in Christ Jesus, while the world refuses the words of Jesus. Therefore, believers are proving to one another that they are abiding in Jesus, bearing much fruit, and bringing glory to the Father.

John 15 teaches us what it means to abide in Jesus, to know and have a relationship with Him. This will lead to fruitfulness in our lives and glorifies the Father. We can be certain now, in this very moment of living, that we abide in Jesus and have a relationship with Him, our eternity secure after death.

Application Points

• Look at the sum of your life. According to Scripture, are you bearing the fruit of Jesus in your life? Are you striving to obey God’s Word, to abide in Jesus? God would have you know Him, know His Word, and live obediently according to His Word, in order that His work in you would bear much fruit.
• How is your prayer life? Are you praying with regularity? Are your prayers in line with God’s Word and His will? The God who hears would have you live faithfully to His Word and pray according to it.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

• Psalm 80; Isaiah 5; Jeremiah 2; John 14:13-14

A Hymn to Encourage: "All I Have Is Christ"

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God's love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

^{Music and words by Jordan Kauflin © 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI (adm. by Integrity Music). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved.}