The following is adapted from a leadership workshop by Brian Brodersen titled, An Abiding Relationship with Christ. This workshop is part of the Servant Leadership class available free at the Blue Letter Bible Institute. Sign up today!
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;fn and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throwthem into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you willfn ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 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. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, andthat your joy may be full.
(John 15:1-11)
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Jesus reveals to us the secret of a fruitful life.
A definition of fruit, as Jesus was talking about it, would really be “Christ manifested through us.” Another way to describe it would be “personal godliness.”
There are four aspects that I want to specifically consider regarding personal godliness, especially in how it pertains to leadership. Remember that Jesus is saying: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” The picture is whatever the vine is, the branch is going to produce in fruit. So if Christ is the vine, then the production of fruit from us—the branches—is really going to be His life manifested through us. What do we see, first and foremost, when we look at Jesus?
The Fruit of Love
The first thing that we would probably have to say in consideration of the life of Christ is that Jesus was love. He was loving. He was full of love for people. Jesus was not aloof or detached from people. Jesus loved people, not theoretically, but practically. It is easy to say, “I love you guys” in theory. But what about practically?
People knew one thing about Jesus: they knew that He loved them. And if we are really bearing fruit, I think God’s people are going to see that in our lives.
The Fruit of Holiness
Secondly, as we consider Jesus, we would of course all agree that Jesus was holy. He said, “I always do those things that please the Father” (John 8:29). It is so easy to get caught up in ministry and making sure that you are getting the right message out to everybody else, that you can neglect your own personal development. You can just overlook your own need to increase in holiness and become more and more like the Lord. Sometimes in our quest to be relevant, we compromise holiness. I think there is a lot of that going on in the church today.
The Fruit of Humility
Thirdly, we can very clearly see humility in Jesus. If there was ever anybody on the planet that could have been on an ego trip, it was Jesus. He was the epitome of humility. He was utterly and completely humble.
We see that demonstration of humility in John 13. Remember there at the supper when He took the towel, girded Himself, and He began to wash the feet of the disciples. They did not understand what He was doing. Peter said, “Lord, what are You doing? You cannot do this.” Jesus said, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand later. You call Me Master and Lord and you are right because that is who I am. But if I, your Master and Lord, have done this for you, then you ought to do it for one another” (John 13:6-7; John 13:13-14).
Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:5 about submitting to one another and he said, “And be clothed with humility.” I am certain that as he penned that he had in his mind the night when Jesus took that towel and girded Himself. A literal translation of “be clothed in humility” is “put on the costume of a slave.”
The Fruit of Grace
Fourthly, there is going to be grace. Jesus overflowed with grace. He was gracious. Think of Jesus in contrast to the other leaders of the day. Think of Jesus and that contrast in the eyes of somebody like Matthew, for example. Matthew was a tax collector. He was among the most despised people in all the land. The rabbis actually taught that very few people were beyond redemption; tax collectors, being traitors, were among the few considered beyond redemption. The tax collector had betrayed his people and he was serving the enemy. I can just imagine that as Matthew sat at his tax booth and collected taxes, whenever any of the rabbis passed by, they may have spit his way. They would have uttered or maybe muttered curses under their breath. They would have pointed in his direction with a condemning finger. The last thing Matthew would have ever thought by the impression being given by these guys was that there was any possible redemption for him.
But Jesus was obviously entirely different. He occasionally ministered near to where Matthew was stationed. I would imagine that at times Matthew overheard some of what Jesus was saying, or even maybe observed His interaction with people. Matthew probably began to think: “That rabbi is different. There is something about Him. I feel like I could approach Him. I feel like I could talk to Him. I feel like if I were to come to Him, He probably would not condemn me.” And then suddenly what happens? One day he is sitting there, collecting taxes, and Jesus walks by and says, “Follow Me.” Grace exuded from Christ and drew Matthew to the Lord.
His Servant says
June 7, 2012 at 1:52 pmI was pondering in my heart today what to preach this sunday for service… God was dealing with me about 1 John and abiding in Him…also i had some other scriptures on my heart for a different sermon.. i really couldnt decide. i thought i didnt read blueletter today and when i clicked on it the title “an ABIDING relationship with Christ” it brought a great smile on my face..and i knew then what God wanted me to speak on!! thanks for being obedient and KEEP UP The great work!!!
Cheryl says
June 7, 2012 at 3:37 pmI have lost my job,last year, mother had stroke, from hospitals to rehabs to nursing home, we lost our home, and in Feb this year I lost my mom who went home to Jesus. Needless to say God has been doing a work in me, and over the year I have turned to Him to reconnect the pilot lite. I turned on my computer and am reaching out to others through the internet, (I hope you don’t mind I post a lot from BLB)but I myself continue to ask the Lord, to give my the right balance and to keep me humble and full of Grace. Thank you for the message today it speaks to me personally. Thank You Jesus for the fantastic resources like BLB to help us to be fruitful.
Lover of Jesus says
June 7, 2012 at 7:52 pmGod bless you Cheryl ,
I just wanted to offer some Word of encouragement. Today at church my pastor preached about the ways God works to fulfill His promises upon on our lives. He uses both the good and unfortunate events to mold us, to bring us to His purpose in our lives. At times it may seem hard; things occur we that we may not understand or that are painful but It’s good to know that through all of this God gas a plan and purpose that will shine forth in it’s due time. God us never early or late- He is always on time. Joseph felt the pain of betrayal when he was sold by his brothers, he might of also felt abandonment but at the end He shined with the grace of God and realized it was all necessary so that He could become the instrument God used to help in that time of Famine. God will and purpose for your life will be fulfilled, in the midst of trails and tribulations know that You are NOT alone! Christ is by your side. God bless you!
Cheryl says
June 7, 2012 at 9:48 pmThank You.
Slave says
June 7, 2012 at 8:31 pmJesus was not aloof or detached from people. …if we are really bearing fruit, I think God’s people are going to see that in our lives…
I have noticed that the introverted are usually treated as second-class citizens in churches because they appear to be aloof and detached from people….
Teresa says
June 8, 2012 at 9:41 amSlave,
The Church fails in so many ways to be Christ-like; hopefully we’re growing to be more like Him, but we have so much to learn! That’s where grace comes in – it goes both ways. It can be the greatest test of our humility to respond with grace to those who mistreat us or pass us by. We mustn’t let Satan get us off-track by distracting us from our true focus: to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
Walter says
June 8, 2012 at 9:10 amThis hit the nail on the head. The fruit of holiness in relation to compromise is so true. The Word of God is already relevant. The call of the gospel is for the world to conform to the truth found in Jesus through His Word, not the other way around. The requirement for humility is in service. How will we be of service to anyone if we lie about the truth with compromise, or ‘beat around the bush’ by conforming to the world?
Callie says
June 11, 2012 at 3:23 amI agree. There is too much tolerance and conforming to the world going on today. People need the truth. When you sugar coat the truth and tolerate sin it only hurts the sinner and confuses everyone. Everyone needs to go back to the basics…the whole truth of God’s Word.
Slave says
June 8, 2012 at 1:17 pmWe are all being “perfected” as we grow in grace one day at a time. It is so encouraging that the heart is tested as it is is being transformed and not the other way around! Holiness, separation, and fruit bearing are the signs of growth. How we need to treat all with the humility of Christ.
Marian says
June 9, 2012 at 12:12 amThank you for this lesson on personal godliness. It spoke to my heart today. Also blessed by the comments. God bless you all today as you minister the grace of our Lord to others. Thank you
ben says
June 9, 2012 at 6:59 amThe main points stressed by Jesus in this passage are of vital importance in how we understand our relationship with God, yet they are overlooked by the majority of Christians today.
In the context Jesus is speaking to His disciples so we need to understand the passage in that context. He tells His disciples in verse 1 that He is the true vine and His father is the vinedresser. Then a very important statement is made in understanding the whole passage. He says
“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.” Notice that Jesus says every branch “IN ME” that does not bear fruit, The Father takes away. It is clear that the braches Jesus is referring to are Christians who are “in” Him and it says that bearing fruit is a necessity for the Christian (branches) if they are going to remain attached to the Vine or there is a danger of being removed from the vine (Christ) by the Father. Then Jesus goes on giving His disciples a series of commands about abiding in Him. The Greek word translated “abide” means to continue. Jesus is stressing the absolute necessity of His followers to continue in their faith. When you translate the aspect of the participles and verbs in verse 5 more literally you can see the stress Jesus is putting on the continuing nature of one’s faith. Here is verse 5 with the Greek aspects translated literally – “I am the Vine, you the branches. The one remaining in me and I in him, this one is bringing forth much fruit, because apart from Me you are not able to be doing anything”
The reason Jesus stresses this “remaining” aspect so often in this passage is because He does not desire that any of the branches (Christians) which are attached to Him (The vine) become severed and then cast in to the fire to be burned as He states in V 6. This whole concept that Jesus speaks of concerning “remaining IN Him” is also important to understand when we approach the Pauline epistles because Paul’s teachings about being “In Christ” are directly taken from Jesus’ words in John 15. Jesus’ teachings about a continuing nature in regards to our relationship with Him is also used by Paul (who learned it from Jesus) when he warns Christians throughout His epistles.
Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, IF you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Col 1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 IF indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
1 Cor 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, IF you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape IF we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Barbara LeFevre says
June 9, 2012 at 5:15 pmBen~
Amen! Thank you for rightly dividing the Word as we are commanded in order to put forth the truth. You are right when you say that these points have been “overlooked by the majority of Christians today.” There are many other examples, too, and hopefully believers will study and reconcile all Scripture to find God’s truth.
In Christ~
Barbara
Greg Gordon says
June 9, 2012 at 10:33 amAmen a blessing to read. We must be abiding with the Lord in a relationship. Not just obeying his commands as a duty.
steve morrow says
June 9, 2012 at 3:23 pmMatthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth
BUT IF the salt have lost its savor where with all shall it be salted—-IT IS THENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING—-BUT TO BE—-
CAST OUT—-and trodden under foot of man
(14) you are the —LIGHT— of the world
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid
(15)Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a bushel but on a candlestick
—AND IT GIVETH LIGHT UNTO ALL THAT ARE IN THE HOUSE—
(16)Let your—LIGHT— so shine before men
—THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS—AND GLORIFY—
YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN
Psalm 119:130
The entrance of —THY WORDS GIVETH LIGHT—
It giveth understanding unto the simple
2 Timothy 1:10
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our savior
JESUS CHRIST who hath abolished death and hath brought
—LIFE AND IMMORTALITY—TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL—
1 Thessalonians 2:4
But as we were allowed of GOD to be put in —TRUST WITH THE GOSPEL EVEN SO WE SPEAK—NOT AS PLEASING MEN BUT GOD WHICH TRIETH OUR HEARTS—
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of
them which believe not lest the—LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL
OF CHRIST—who is the image of GOD should shine unto them
(5) For we preach not ourselves but CHRIST JESUS THE LORD
and ourselves your servants for JESUS sake
(6)For GOD who COMMANDED the light to shine out of the darkness
hath shined in our HEARTS to give the —LIGHT OF THE
KNOWLEDGE—of the—GLORY OF GOD—in the face of JESUS CHRIST
Matthew 11:29
Take my YOKE upon you and—LEARN OF ME— for I am meek and
lowly in heart and you shall find rest in your souls
Matthew 11:30
—FOR MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT—
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what
—FELLOWSHIP HATH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH UNRIGHTEOUSNESS—
and what communion hath—LIGHT WITH DARKNESS—
1 John 1:5-6
This then is—THE MESSAGE—which we have heard of HIM
and declare to unto you
—THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL—
(6)—IF— we say that we have —FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM—
and walk in darkness we lie—AND DO NOT THE TRUTH—
John 3:20-21
For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved
(21)But —HE THAT DOETH TRUTH COMETH TO THE LIGHT—
that his DEEDS may be made manifest that they are wrought in GOD
Isaiah 8:20
To the law and the testimony if they speak not according to this word
—IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM—
Deuteronomy 6:24
And the LORD COMMANDED us to do all these statutes
to fear the the LORD our GOD for our good ALWAYS
that—HE MIGHT PRESERVE—us alive as it is to this day
Psalm 16:1
Preserve me O LORD for in thee do I put my trust
Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness —PRESERVE—me
—FOR I WAIT ON THEE—
Proverbs 14:3
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride
But the lips of the wise shall—PRESERVE— them
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace —-SEASONED WITH SALT—
that you may know how you ought to answer every man
Psalm 119:155
—SALVATION IS FAR FROM THE WICKED—
—-FOR THEY SEEK NOT THY STATUTES—-
Luke 6:46
AND WHY CALL YOU ME LORD LORD
AND DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue
—AND THEY THAT LOVE IT SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF—
Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his—HEART BRINGETH FORTH THAT WHICH IS GOOD—and the evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil
—FOR OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKETH—
Luke 18:19
And JESUS said unto him
Why callest thou ME good none is good save one—THAT IS GOD—
Matthew 12:36-37
But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement
(37)—FOR BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE JUSTIFIED—
—AND BY THY WORDS THOU SHALT BE CONDEMNED—
Psalm 61:7&8
He shall—ABIDE— before GOD for ever
—O PREPARE MERCY AND TRUTH WHICH MAY PRESERVE HIM—
(8)so will I sing praise unto thy name forever
—THAT I MAY DAILY PERFORM MY VOWS—
Proverbs 14:3
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride
But the lips of the wise shall PRESERVE them
Help us O LORD that we would be the salt of the earth
and please LORD continually build us up with your righteousness
that we would not be cut off from the people
HELP US O LORD WE PRAY IN YOUR NAME
LOVING THE LORD
Goh K Y says
June 9, 2012 at 3:41 pmThank you for your sharing. Yes, there must be an outflow of His life when we abide in Him.
This abiding relationship must also result in unity and the world being reached(Jn 17:21-23). The church today has lost its testimony because it abides in many other things but not Christ Himself.
The privilege of fruit bearing is given to the branches. The vine by itself do not bear fruit.
The Lord today wants to work through His people. It is patient and longsuffering waiting on the part of the Lord.
Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
steve morrow says
June 10, 2012 at 9:04 amMatthew 7:15
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS— which come to you in sheeps clothing
but inwardly they are ravening wolves
Matthew 7:16-18
You shall know them by their fruits
Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles
(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit
BUT A —CORRUPT—TREE BRINGETH FORTH EVIL FRUIT
(18)A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit
Matthew 7:19
EVERY TREE THAT BRINGETH NOT FORTH GOOD FRUIT
IS HEWN DOWN —AND CAST INTO THE FIRE—
Proverbs 15:4
A wholesome tongue is a —TREE OF LIFE—
But perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit
1 Timothy 6:3-5
If —ANY MAN— teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words —EVEN THE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST—
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness
(4) HE IS PROUD KNOWING NOTHING but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings
—EVIL SURMISINGS—
(5)PERVERSE DISPUTINGS OF MEN WITH CORRUPT MINDS
and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness
from such withdraw thyself
John 6:63
IT is the spirit that quickeneth —THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING-
the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a —TREE OF LIFE—
and he that winneth souls is wise
Psalm 140:12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted
and the right of the poor
Titus 3:8
This is a —FAITHFUL— saying and these things I will that you affirm —CONSTANTLY—that they which have believed in GOD might be careful to—MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS—these things are good and profitable unto men
Titus 3:14
And let ours also —LEARN TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS—
for necessary uses that they be not —UNFRUITFUL—
Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the —UNFRUITFUL—works of
darkness but RATHER REPROVE THEM
Ephesians 5:8-9
FOR YOU WERE SOMETIMES DARKNESS BUT NOW YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD—-WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT—-
(9)For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Psalm 15:1&2
LORD who shall–ABIDE– in thy holy tabernacle
who shall dwell in thy holy hill
(2)He that walketh uprightly —AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS—
and speaketh the truth in his heart
1 John 2:29
—IF— you know that HE is righteous you know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of HIM
1 John 3:10-12
In this the children of GOD are manifest and the children of the devil whosoever doeth not righteousness—IS NOT OF GOD—
neither he that loveth not his brother
(11)For this is the message that you heard from the beginning
that we should love one another
(12)Not as cain who was of that wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him—BECAUSE HIS OWN WORKS WERE EVIL—
AND HIS BROTHERS RIGHTEOUS
Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate
Yea seven are an abomination unto HIM
(17)A proud look A lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood
(18)An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations feet that be swift in running to mischief
(19)A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKETH LIES AND HE THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN
2 John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth and —ABIDETH—not in the doctrine of CHRIST—HATH NOT GOD—
He that —ABIDETH IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST—he hath both the FATHER AND THE SON
LOVING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
James M. Grunseth says
June 11, 2012 at 8:27 amI am thankful for this fine and incredibly clear teaching. This captures the essense of what it means to belong to and have fellowship with Jesus. His love, godliness, humilty (slave-servant clothing + heart attitude), and grace, over time, will shine through us almost cinematically so that others will observe or even benefit.
Then they might discover that our Jesus is worth investigating. Souls, originally defaulted for the destination of Hell, will, as Joel 2:32 says, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Hell robbed and Heaven filled. That is why we are still on earth. That is why He still gives us air to breath and lungs to receive it. It is for this purpose that we Abiders are still on earth. Thanks for this great and profoundly simple teaching!
Ben says
June 11, 2012 at 9:05 amBarbara,
You are right on when you say that there are many more passages that speak of endurance and continuing in the faith, which often get completely overlooked. Teachers put too much emphasis on the now in regards to salvation and not where the Scriptures place the emphasis which is at the end of ones faith(1 Peter 1:9) and in the ultimate completed sense at the ressurection of the Just. Here is a great article that articulates this concept well.
http://www.pfrs.org/osas/index.html
sermonindex says
May 10, 2015 at 8:47 pmAmen a blessing to read. We must be abiding with the Lord in a relationship.