BUT how can fruit be borne? There is but one answer― “Abide in Me and I in you.”
Dependence on Christ, communion and intimacy of heart with Him is what we understand by this abiding in Christ and Christ in us. It must be borne in mind that we are not here considering how salvation is obtained, nor how eternal life may be procured. Other Scriptures abundantly testify that these become ours by faith in Christ. But how can those who are already saved, and who already possess eternal life, how can such bear fruit? Only in one way, and that is by a life of dependence on, and communion with Christ.
The branch cannot bear fruit of itself―it cannot, it is an utter impossibility. Apart from that vital connection with the vine whereby the sap in its richness and fullness can flow into the branch, no fruit can be borne. In like manner, “no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” We may have our minds stored with truth, we may be able to discuss the most intricate theological questions, we may occupy the most correct ecclesiastical position, but fruit, FRUIT, yes fruit, is the whole subject here before the mind of the Spirit, and fruit can only be borne when we abide in Christ.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches.”
How clear this is: Christ was the vine, those whom He addressed were the branches. And who was He addressing? Primarily, no doubt, the eleven apostles, for Judas had gone out.
Those to whom He speaks were already cleansed― “already ye are cleansed through the Word which I have spoken unto you” (verse 3). In this sense they represent all who are really born of God. But for fruit-bearing, the branch must abide in the vine, for, severed from the vine, it bears no fruit; and so it is with the disciple, “separated from Me ye can do nothing?”
Oh, how needful it is to learn and practically experience these things; and how it lifts the soul above the withering influences of our pilgrim pathway! It matters not what others may say or do, to walk with Christ day by day, to seek His glory in all things, to aim at being well-pleasing to Him, this should be the main business of the Christian’s life, and thus only can he bear much fruit. Note the stages: fruit―more fruit―much fruit.
Another has said, “Christ and Christ only is the dwelling-place for the soul in this world of snare and danger, in this desert where no water is. Make Him the resource, make Him the object; and the sap, as it were, flows without hindrance, and fruit is borne. Without Him no teaching avails, and all religious excitement fails; bring Him in, confide in Him, and, no matter what the difficulty or the pain or the shame, no matter what the opposition or the detraction, He sustains the heart, and fruit-bearing follows. Apart from Him we can do nothing; with Him, all things.”
And as yet another has written, “the illustration of the branch and the vine will help us to understand what abiding in Christ must mean.
“The branch draws its life, its strength, its nourishment, from the vine, being entirely dependent on it for all that it needs in order to be fruitful.
“So believers are as really dependent on Christ to bring forth fruit for God. ‘Without Me,’ says the Lord, ‘ye can do nothing’ a word to be remembered by each one. The new birth is one thing, fruit-bearing is another. Salvation from the wrath to come is a wonderfully blessed portion, but fruitfulness, it should be remembered, is God’s desire for His people, and the Lord would provide for that. To be receivers, without caring to bear fruit, would indicate neglect of God’s gracious provision for the outflow of life down here. On the other hand, if we abide in Christ, we know He abides in us. All that we need we can therefore receive. Life in its fullness, wisdom, and strength, all are in Him for us. And he that abideth in Him bringeth forth much fruit. Habitual dependence on Christ will result in fruitfulness indeed.”
But in verse 6 a notable change occurs in the language. Our Lord does not now say, “If ye abide not in Me,” as though He were addressing one of those already cleansed by His word, but, “If a man abide not in Me.” This is much more general―
“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
How carefully it is avoided calling such an one “a branch.” The mere professor no doubt takes the place of being a branch, but the Lord does not call him a branch― “he is cast forth as a branch.” Many a soul, ill-taught in the gospel, has trembled before this verse, as though a true child of God might be lost. But this is not the teaching of the passage. It is a warning to the professor, but not a source of dread to the true believer.
The true believer has even now eternal life; moreover, he will never perish, as John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28) so clearly and so blessedly assures us. No true believer, then, will ever be cast forth and burned, but a professor, if to the end he remains a mere professor, will be thus treated. What a warning this is, introduced as a parenthesis between verses 5 and 7, which are addressed to the eleven. A true believer can never be lost, but a mere professor may be.
Once again the Lord addresses the eleven:
“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.”
Communion, obedience, and prayer―these are the conditions for fruitfulness and practical discipleship. All this is intensely real, but it is simple and unartificial.
An aged servant of Christ lay dying. It had been our privilege to watch at his bedside for nearly two months. “What were you reading this morning?” he asked, as we entered his room. At family prayers we had been reading John 15, so we replied, “We were reading about abiding in Christ.” “Ah,” said he, “that’s just what I was not doing last night, for I lost my temper with―.”
And so communion may be interrupted― angry words, idle gossip, evil speaking, jealousy―all such works of the flesh, just as much as those that may appear worse in the eyes of men, will hinder communion, and rob us of all power to bear fruit.
But communion is not a mystical thing, of sitting down to try and think oneself into an ecstatic state; it is simply doing those things that please Christ, and avoiding that which is not according to His mind. And how shall we learn these things? By His Word. And thus it is added, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you.” The Word of God becomes my food, my strength, my delight, and my guide.
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love” (verse 10.).
Thus abiding in Christ in communion, and His word abiding in us, giving us intelligence in His mind and desires, our thoughts flow in sympathy and unison with His, so that when we pray we have the confidence that God hears and will grant our petition.
Let it be the desire of both reader and writer to be fruitful branches in the vine, and true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ!
A. H. B.