Abiding in the Vine

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and 
every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” 
John 15:1-2

There are six prominent characteristics of true branches united to Christ that emerge from His extended metaphor of the vine and the branches. 

First, all true believers bear spiritual fruit, unlike false disciples who do not and cannot bear spiritual fruit. As part of this chosen vine, genuine disciples will manifest the fruit in keeping with the source of their life. They will look like Christ! Doing the will of the Father will be the passion and pattern of their life and they will obey the Word of Christ. 

Second, true disciples will abide in Christ’s love. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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” (vv. 9-10). As we remain in fellowship with God in Christ and enjoy a sustained conscious communion with Him, we experience the blessings of His love.

Third, the Father will prune spiritually unproductive branches. “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (vv. 2b-3). Like every good husbandman, the Father will cut away those things that restrict our ability to bear fruit, that weaken our spiritual immune system, that inhibit our growth—and Scripture will be His pruning shears. 

Fourth, they will be blessed by answered prayer. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (v. 7). Prayers must be offered by those in which Christ’s “words abide”—those who decisively commit themselves to the specific words of Christ, whose lives are controlled by the Word and will of God, not the sinful passions of the flesh and the allurements of the world. It stands to reason that such a person will be controlled by His words and will ask nothing that is contrary to the will of Christ, and therefore receive whatever they ask.

Fifth, they will have the privilege of living lives that glorify God and thus validate the genuineness of their faith. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (v. 8). The spiritual fruit that adorns the true disciple will reflect the character of Christ to whom we are united, especially when it is bountiful. Like Christ, we glorify the Father through our loving and joyful desire to do His will.

Sixth, they will experience the love and joy of intimate fellowship with God. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (vv. 9-11). This is the soul-satisfying, Spirit-generated, subjective joy of Christ in the consciousness of the abiding believer. 

Would that every branch be a live branch that is truly attached to the Vine and abides in the Vine. May we all strive to that end. 

© COPYRIGHT NOTICE 2023 BY DAVID HARRELL AND SHEPHERD’S FIRE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.