Jesus said, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8) Many of us desire to bring God glory with our lives, but as we now see, abiding in the Vine, living in experiential union with Christ requires our lives to be washed and immersed in the glorious Gospel. Bearing good, kingdom fruit is the result of our union with Christ and it is through this abiding that we will finally be able to do things that please our Father. Any fruit we try to bear on our own, apart from Christ, is worthless. Even Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own.” (John 5:30) The things we do to glorify God are meant to be sourced by the divine Life and Presence of Jesus in us by the Holy Spirit.

John 15

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Note that Jesus states that they are clean because of the word that he had spoken to them. This cleanness precedes the invitation to abide in Him. It is because if you don’t allow him to cleanse you (salvation + righteousness) then you will strive to clean yourself up which inevitably will keep you from abiding in Him. In order to truly abide in Christ, we must receive the grace of God that cleanses us from every defilement and effect of sin on our lives. This requires faith in his word and in his work…as the Word says, “The righteous shall live by faith.” The cleaner our conscience through the work of Jesus…the The easier it is to abide in His love and presence will necessarily mean that we will bear much fruit!

A quick review of the word “abide” in the original language:

• ABIDE – menó

• α. equivalent to not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present.
• to maintain unbroken fellowship with one
• In the mystic phraseology of John, God is said μένειν in Christ, i. e. to dwell as it were within him, to be continually operative in him by his divine influence and energy
• something has established itself permanently within my soul, and always exerts its power in me

Think about this -

1. Where do you feel fruitless in your life? Could it be that your lack of fruit is connected to striving instead of abiding?
2. If you are struggling with abiding in His love, spend time with the lessons on Grace, Salvation and Righteousness. Allow his word to cleanse your conscience!
3. If abiding in Jesus will result in a fruitful Christian life, bringing our Father glory, what do we do now? How can we respond to this truth?