Introduction: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from John 15. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- I suppose that before we begin thinking about what Jesus teaches us about “bearing fruit” in these verses, we might want to consider the whole matter of motivation and priorities. It sounds good – that we should bear much fruit – especially if we consider the alternative, what happens to the fruitless, broken away, and dried up and withered branches that are thrown into the fire.
- But often negative motivation is not enough for us. The positive motivation is also provided for us: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.” But again, as good as this sounds to us at times, our sinful nature gets in the way. We have a lot of other things that we are compelled to accomplish, and a lot of things that we are ambitious and desirous of accomplishing and enjoying. The question arises in regard to bearing much fruit: “But what’s in it for me?”
- When we think of life as somehow missing things that we have to provide for ourselves, it is difficult to get motivated in “bearing fruit” for others, even God. But if we can get to a point where we realize that all good things are provided to us by God – and that He has promised to be watching over us and providing for us, yes, as we also work – then we can begin to turn our thinking around and value bearing fruit for God more highly. And as we value our discipleship to Christ and bearing fruit for His eternal kingdom more highly, then we begin to prioritize eternal and heavenly things more highly.
- Hopefully, the real motivation for this is also gratitude to God and the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and salvation and eternal life that He has already given to us as His free gift to us! So as we think about the dynamics of bearing fruit for the kingdom of God, let us also open our hearts and minds to considering greater motivation and even zeal for bearing much fruit!
- And we should not consider this unimportant to God, for:
I. Our Heavenly Father Is The Vinedresser – Obviously Concerned About Our Fruitfulness
Text: “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.”
A. He Is So Much Concerned About Our Fruitfulness That He Removes Branches That Bear No Fruit
Text: “Every branch of Mine that does not bear fruit He takes away.”
B. Likewise, He Cares Enough About Us To Prune Us
Text: “And every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Statement: If we understand that the fruit He seeks to bring forth from us is everything that is good, decent, upright, and truly fulfilling, then we understand that His concern is first and foremost for us – that we may have nobility, good purpose, and bring blessings to others. And it is actually an aspect of His great love for us that He cares about our fruitfulness – much more than we care about ourselves.
Application: So rather than seeing this as negative, we should instead see God’s caring love for us, His eagerness to nurture us and restore us to greater goodness! And yes, the fruit glorifies Him, but the benefit goes to others around us – especially our loved ones; and we are intrinsically benefited as well, in our spirit, our heart, and our core being.
Transition: And Jesus makes clear that our “fruit-bearing” is not a matter of earning salvation, but rather a consequence of His free gift of salvation, for He assures us that:
II. We Are Already Clean Because Of His Word Spoken To Us
Text: “Already you are clean because of the Word that I have spoken to you.”
1 Jn. 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
A. We Receive This Cleansing By His Word
1 Jn. 1:9 “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
B. We Appropriate This Cleansing And Salvation By Simple Faith And Trust In His Word
John 3:36; 5:24 “He that believes the Son has everlasting life . . . and shall not come into condemnation but has passed from death to life.”
Statement: This goes to motivation – considering and contemplating what Christ has done for us and for our salvation, His forgiveness and deliverance from the just consequences of our sin and guilt. This is not intended as a cold and harsh motivation – an “or else” pushiness! Rather, it is intended as a warming, heart-warming, affirmation of God’s eternal and complete love for us, His good and gracious will for our greatest good and blessedness.
Application: We dare never be confused about this, or we will never have any real motivation for “bearing much fruit.” God does not want externally compelled and coerced behavior from us – this is no good fruit at all, but plastic, waxy, and fake-fruit! True fruit comes from within, growing naturally from hearts warmed by God’s love and renewed by His presence! And the difference is quite obvious and apparent even to us!
Transition: And this is crucial – for faith, and an understanding of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus is our point of connection to Jesus! And as our dear Savior asserts:
III. Jesus Is The Vine
Text: “I am the Vine; you are the branches.”
A. We Can Never Bear Fruit On Our Own, Disconnected From Him
Text: “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. . . . Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
B. He Is Sustenance To Our True Life, Our Spiritual Life, His Word In Us, So That We Can Bear Fruit
Text: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”
C. So That What We Need To Bear Much Fruit He Promises To Provide
Text: “Ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”
Statement: So we must understand the dynamics – that our fruitfulness for God, for good, for the good of others around us, all depends upon our connection to Jesus, our faith and trust in His love. And His love covers all matters of our salvation and eternal life, and His love also covers all matters of what we need to survive and thrive in this earthly life, and His love provides the sap and nurture we need to become good trees and to bear good fruit. “We love because He first loved us.”
Application: We continue and abide in Him through repentance, confession of our sins, and through faith, which He provides and strengthens in us through His Word. And His Words provide us with direction as to what is truly good and beneficial fruit. So the importance of continuing to hear His Word, to study His Word, and to abide in His Word. And in this context – of His Word – He promises all that we need to bear much fruit.
Conclusion: This is “what’s in it for us.” It is counterintuitive that by giving we get more than we give. And this can never become a selfish consideration – if we give out of selfishness we only cheat ourselves and forfeit any return. We do not bear good fruit out of selfishness, but only artificial fruit! But it is a mystery, the mystery of God and goodness, that bearing fruit for the glory of God and for the good of neighbor actually brings more good to us than we give away.
But the motivation is not selfishness but gratitude to God. The power is not supplied by self-interest, but rather by the interest and love that God has for us. If we understand this, if we dwell upon these things deeply and seriously, God will move us to greater eagerness to love one another as He has loved us – and these are the good fruits He seeks to grow in us!
May God grant each of us grace to hear His Word, and to cause His Word to truly abide in us, that we find ourselves in His will and under His blessedness, bearing much fruit! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.