LIVING A FRUITFUL LIFE IN CHRIST

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

John 15:1-8 (NLT) – 1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

John 15:1 (NLT) – “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.”

• By calling Himself the “true grapevine,” Jesus is declaring that He alone gives real life.

• Definition – LIFE (zōē): the highest form of life – the life of God. It refers to spiritual life, eternal life, or the divine, abundant life that comes through a relationship with Christ.

• Every other source (e.g. success, people, religion, etc.) will eventually fail us.

• The only true source of life is a relationship with Jesus.

John 15:2-3 (NLT) – 2 “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.”

• God removes unfruitful branches and prunes the fruitful ones to bear more.

• Fruitfulness is not optional in the Christian life, it is the evidence of real faith.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) – But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control…

• Definition – FRUIT (karpos): harvest or produce, that which is produced by a person’s life or actions; results, outcomes, or evidence of character.

• Fruit is both the evidence of authentic faith and the overflow of Christ’s life within us.

• God’s pruning is not about punishment, but preparation. It may be painful but it is His way of lovingly preparing us for a new season of greater fruitfulness.

Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) – For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

• The Word of God prunes, purifies, and prepares us. The more we study, memorize and meditate on His Word, the more our hearts and minds are cleansed and transformed.

John 15:4-6 (NLT) – 4 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”

• Remaining in Christ is not optional—it is the only way to grow and bear spiritual fruit.

• Just as a branch cannot survive without the vine, believers cannot thrive apart from Jesus.

• Definition – REMAIN (menō): to abide, stay, continue, dwell, endure, or remain in a fixed position. A continual, intimate, and enduring relationship.

• Jesus promises to remain with us. His presence is always available, but we must choose to abide in Him day by day.

• Apart from Jesus, we are spiritually powerless and vulnerable to destruction.

• Our talents or efforts cannot replace a real relationship with Jesus.

• Fruitfulness comes through dependence on Him, not self-sufficiency.

John 15:7-8 (NLT) – 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

• Remaining in Christ makes our prayers powerful and fruitful!

• When we abide in Christ and His Word, He transforms our hearts, changing our desires to align with His, making us more effective in prayer, and helping us to produce “much fruit.”

• The Word will purify our motives, renew our minds, mature and produce godly character within us.

• This spiritual fruit will be so plentiful and visible to others that it will reflect God’s glory and bring honor to His Name.