Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit: A Review of John 15 and the True Vine

Digging Deeper

Bear Fruit

Bearing fruit is the inevitable result of authentic faith and a vital connection to Jesus.  Christ said: “By their fruit you will recognize them … every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”  Matthew 7:16-18   The fruit Christ speaks of is not achieved by human effort.  Rather it is an outcome of the Holy Spirit working in those who are abiding in Christ.

John 15:1-8 attests to this, quoting Jesus: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing … This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

The biblical description of spiritual fruit is the Christ-like character produced by the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 lists the nine character qualities collectively called “the fruit of the Spirit.”  These are:

Love (agapē) - selfless, sacrificial love that seeks others' good regardless of their response or our feelings. This is God's own love flowing through us, enabling us to love the unlovable as He does.

Joy - deep gladness rooted in God's presence and promises, independent of circumstances. This isn't superficial happiness but profound contentment in God Himself.

Peace - inner tranquility and reconciliation with God and others. This includes both the peace we experience internally and the peace we bring to relationships and situations.

Patience (makrothumia) - literally "long-tempered," the opposite of quick anger. This is endurance under provocation, remaining calm and steady despite irritation or delay.

Kindness (chrēstotēs) - goodness in action, gentle compassion expressed through helpful deeds. This is the tender, caring disposition that actively seeks to benefit others.

Goodness (agathōsunē) - moral excellence and uprightness. This is integrity of character that does what's right even when it is costly.

Faithfulness (pistis) - reliability, trustworthiness, loyalty. This means keeping commitments, following through on promises, and remaining constant.

Gentleness (praütēs) - sometimes translated "meekness".  This is strength under control – power exercised with humility and consideration for others.

Self-control (enkrateia) - mastery over desires and impulses.  This is the ability to restrain appetites and govern behavior according to God's will rather than fleshly cravings.

This fruit develops progressively as the Spirit works in the yielded life of a believer.  You cannot produce this fruit on your own as it is supernatural in nature, reflecting Christ’s very character.  Philippians 1:11 speaks of being “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”  Righteousness itself is fruit of the Spirit and is often received through correction and suffering.  Hebrews12:11 observes: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Because these gifts are Spirit-developed, you must take care to not allow hindrances to interfere with that process.  John 15:4 warns against separation from Christ: “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”   Disobedience by trusting self rather than God produces barrenness.  Jeremiah 17:5-6 declares: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.  That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.  They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.”  In a similar vein, unconfessed sin hinders prayer which hinders fruitfulness.  Psalm 66:18 warns: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

The cares of this world can choke fruitfulness.  In the parable of the seed, Mark 4:18-19 describes the thorns choking the seed: “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”  In this same parable, shallow spiritual roots prevent enduring fruitfulness when trials come.  Mark 4:16-17 records: “Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

Be careful also of the tongue as it can produce positive and negative fruit.  Proverbs 18:20 warns: “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.”  Your words produce consequences – fruit that you must consume.  Take care then.  Your words reveal the condition of your heart.  Matthew 12:33-37 presents Jesus' teaching on words as fruit: "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit... The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

To help you avoid these pitfalls, Scripture identifies those things that promote fruitfulness.  Abiding in Christ is paramount.  John 15:4-5 emphasizes this repeatedly: “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me …  apart from me you can do nothing.”  Abiding in Christ means spending time in His presence in prayer, immersing yourself in His Word, obeying His commands and walking in His will, depending on Him with each step.  Psalm 1:2-3 describes such a person “whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”

As with most gifts in God’s economy, they are not meant solely for your own spiritual maturity. They are intended to flow through you in good works of service, evangelism, discipleship, worship and thanksgiving.  Colossians 1:10 describes the goal of spiritual growth: “So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”  Ephesians 2:10 confirms: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Scripture also describes making disciples as fruit that honors God.  John 4:36 observes: “Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”    Proverbs 11:30 reaffirms this: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”  As you patiently wait, let perseverance gird you: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”