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Sermon 2019-10-20 Ross Woodhouse
Grow fruit to glorify God
We’re currently engaged in a series on Knowing Christ. Knowing Christ, as in knowing the person Christ. Who is he, this person Jesus, what is required of me in following this person Jesus, what did he do for me and what do I need to do in serving him. Our base text is what Paul the apostle said – “I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection, and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10), a summary of precisely what knowing Christ entails. To date we’ve discussed being born again, last week Geoff spoke on repentance, this week another aspect of Knowing Christ is, remaining in Christ, abiding in him, fully connected to him.
Hudson Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission, responsible in the mid-1800s for leading hundreds of missionaries into China’s interior for the first time. In 1869, when 37 years old, he entered a new phase of life, a deeper, and more constant, more satisfying experience of abiding in Christ.
Here’s how his son Fredrick Howard Taylor reflected on this: Here was a man almost sixty years of age, bearing tremendous burdens, yet absolutely calm and untroubled. Oh, the pile of letters! anyone of which might contain news of death, of lack of funds, of riots or serious trouble. Yet all were opened, read and answered with the same tranquillity — Christ his reason for peace, his power for calm. Dwelling in Christ, he drew upon His very being and resources…and this he did by an attitude of faith as simple as it was continuous. Yet he was delightfully free and natural. I can find no words to describe it save the Scriptural expression “in God.” He was in God all the time and God in him[1]
It is precisely this sort of character and depth and love for Jesus that comes from the remaining Jesus speaks of in John 15. I worry…sometimes, that for many Christians, Christian life is nothing more than spiritually scraping by, connection to Christ – as Lord of all life – is frayed at best, there is little of the impact of his grace toward us, a consciousness of God, and there is an absence of manifest joy…
Where today do we find such spiritual depth, people with roots planted in and connected to Christ, the living Vine, that evidences itself in such fruit-bearing that says, that person loves Jesus, they’re in Jesus…
I AM THE TRUE vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will 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. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Let’s take a look at our Connection to Jesus, and Continuity (perseverance) in Jesus…
1. Connection to Jesus
In the Bible, the “vine” is frequently used as a symbol of Israel and Israel’s relationship to God. Key examples are Psalm 80:8–16; Isaiah 5:1–7 & Jeremiah 2:21 (e.g. I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?). A symbol often used particularly when Israel was lacking in some way. Jesus also utilised the imagery of the vine in his teaching throughout the gospels, in parables, again symbolic of Israel’s relationship, or lack of, with God (ref. online…Matthew 20:1–7; 21:28; Mark 12:1–11; Luke 13:6–7).
But here in John 15, Jesus makes a departure from that, declaring of himself, that he is the true vine. The key points of Jesus’ teaching in John 15: God is the Gardener; as the Gardener, he cuts off non-fruit bearing branches – branches that were in the vine (Jesus) but are not bearing fruit. But then for the branches that are fruit-bearing he prunes (he shapes, disciplines, causes circumstances to be such) to make them even more fruitful…[2]
You know when we look at the work of an arborist, or more specifically an experienced viticulturist (an expert in Vines) they are able to read the health of the Vines. Once vines are planted, apart from watering, fertilising and pest control, the main work in a vineyard – aside from harvest – is pruning. Why do they spend so much time pruning/tending the vines? To get the very best fruit they can get; quality fruit.
Jesus is the true vine and wants his followers to remain in him, connected to him, grafted into and only him, bearing fruit by doing so. Connected into Jesus, of course, means that no-one or anything else is our primary source. He alone is IT! Conversely, there is no fruit-bearing when there is disconnection to the vine, and one might say no ‘life’. We are called to remain[3] in Jesus. So what does this remaining look like and why is it so important today?
Remaining in Jesus means living by his teaching (1 John 2:24-25; 2 John 9)
John 8:31. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. But not just in his teaching as important as that is, the product of that teaching is that we remain in HIM, the person Jesus: following him, imitating him, pursuing relationship with him every day. Further to that, even the imagery of the vine shows us that relationship with Jesus is actually about total reliance and dependence on him, it’s ‘knowing’ him. Knowing him means that prayer, reading the Word, fellowship, serving and worship are not activities and disciplines that are pushed to the margins of our week, remaining in Jesus and living by his teaching means those things are the totality of our lives.
George Mueller read the Bible through over 100 times. He also wrote over 30,000 letters per year for 40 years. He had nine assistants working in a dozen languages. He pastored 1200 believers, had the oversight of five large orphanages and a huge publishing house, printed and distributed millions of books, tracts, and Bibles. He said, “I never think of going to my work without first having a good season of time with God and my Bible.”[4]
Remaining in Jesus is having that commitment to a growing spiritual connection that produces fruit. “Apart from him we can do nothing” Jesus said. His teaching, in us, grows that connection with Jesus, the source.
Five Benefits of remaining in Jesus
- He remains in us – 15:4. Remain in me, and I will remain in you.
- We are fruitful – 15:4-5 No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
- Our prayers are heard – 15:7, 16. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you…I have appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. These are not ‘get-what-we-want’ prayers, these are kingdom focused, his-will-be-done prayers. Prayers that are in step with his heart and purposes. These are fruit-bearing, committed to growing in God, prayers.
- Positively affects our sense of community – there is fruit-bearing in the church, and according to the scripture God is glorified when there is fruit-bearing (15:8); there is complete joy, full joy that comes from an awareness of God’s grace[5] (15:11)…I’ll come back to this at the end. There is sacrificial love (15:12,13 &17), the same love Jesus shows us we’re to pass onto others…that’s some church isn’t it, but this is what remaining in Jesus 101 looks like.
- Preparation for his coming – 1 John 2:28. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming… “continue in him” John says…same Greek word as “remain” in John 15…this gives good reason and motivation to keep connected to Jesus
Jesus’ warning for not remaining
15:2,6. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…if anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
To fail to “remain” in Christ is to fail to find life in the vine (i.e., Jesus), and risks separation from the vineyard and consequent destruction”. (Refer 15:2a,6) God, the gardener cuts off every branch in Jesus that bears no fruit…if anyone does not remain in Jesus, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers and those branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. As a branch disconnected, I no longer am or can be fruitful, or of use to Jesus, we’re cut off: the metaphor implies a destruction a finality[6].
Remember we’re dealing with a metaphor here, which like parables, usually have one central meaning…
If we are asking questions around this passage like: does this mean Christians can lose their salvation, is Jesus talking about Judgment, is he talking about discipline? Scholars are wide and varied on this matter, the advice is we’re at risk of asking questions Jesus’ teaching here was never intended to answer, therefore missing the one important principle he was teaching…Remain in me. The emphasis is, that those who are genuinely born again, are those connected to the Vine, and those Christians will bear fruit.
Throughout John’s gospel, you’ll find references to people who have shown superficial interest in Jesus but never fully believed. In that setting Jesus was preparing his disciples for what lay ahead, the pressures they would face, and that those hard times (pruning!) would draw them into a more robust union with Jesus (more fruitful!). Hebrews 12:10-11. They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 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.
Healthy, fruit-bearing branches aren’t going to get cut-off, when we bear fruit we’re pruned by God the gardener (15:2b) to be better fruit, so that’s where our focus needs to be. Therefore, how we are connected to the Vine is not what Jesus is teaching here, that we must be attached, is.
Why is remaining important?
I think the keywords are: “apart from me you can do nothing” (v.5c). Life finds its dependence in Christ alone, he is our all. Remaining is important (stronger = eternally vital!) because it has to do with our union with the person of Christ.[7]
Karyn told me of a teaching video she viewed recently by Dr Grant Mullen who had said that it is possible for Christian leaders to serve for 40 years or more, doing everything they need to do, and never, experience the presence of God. I was astounded! We human beings are that good at “appearance and verbal management”. Look right, say the right things but can be completely detached from God. The Christian fully connected to the Vine – Jesus – has as his/her spiritual lifeblood and everything about Jesus flowing through his/her veins. Just like floodwaters will flow to every room, nook and cranny in a house, leaving no part unflooded, deep and profound love for Jesus, when fully connected to him, will prove (fruit) itself in any and every part.
In the melee of the busyness and circumstances of life, many of us struggle to nurture a connection to the most important life source of all, Jesus. We blame so many things don’t we, tiredness, work, family, illness, all mitigating and real factors. I have sat with so many well-intended Christians for whom the person of Jesus is more at the margins of life than at the very centre.
“apart from me you can do nothing”….If he is our way truth and life, we do what we need to do to protect and nurture relationship with him as the source of all life, to be in his presence, to experience his joy as our joy…
Luke 10:38-42. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.
What did Mary choose, that Martha neglected? Was it not simply “abiding” in Christ, sitting at His feet, enjoying Him? Are many of us are more like Martha than Mary? “Mary has chosen what is better”. What is better? Today is a good day to assess the quality of our being in the Vine, in Jesus. Perhaps we need a little or a lot of pruning. We certainly don’t want to be the dead branch that gets cut off. If our remaining is lacking, purpose before God to do something about it.
2. Continuity (perseverance) in Jesus (9-16)
(v.10) If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love… (v.14) You are my friends if you do what I command… (v.16) I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last
Even though fruit-bearing is a product of connection to Jesus, we help this cause by placing ourselves in the best possible place to bear fruit, because we don’t want to hinder but rather promote fruit. Note here that the emphasis is on the individual to remain in him, it doesn’t happen involuntarily; it requires our participation. It requires our obedience, our yes! Because remaining is not a static connection; it’s to be a growing, dynamic connection.
Furthermore, the extent to which we remain in Jesus profoundly affects our sense of unity, community, worship of God…clarity of vision and purpose, our need for each other, and our collective sense of God’s mission for us. Paul understood the need for continuity and perseverance in Christ…he wrote such things as, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, bear with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…” (Ephesians 4:1-3), and, “pressing on toward the goal, straining toward what is ahead…” (Philippians 3:14).
The Christian journey is not a spiritual stroll…it is vital we take seriously Jesus’ teaching and listen and act obediently.
Conclusion
A Biblical Christian is defined as one who is in an abiding relationship with Christ. If you are remaining in Him then you will be producing fruit. You will have allowed Him to prune you so you could grow. Your life will be centered on and around Christ. Anything you do outside of Him will not produce lasting fruit. He wants to change you into the image of God as he spends time with you and you with him.
God sees the work that needs to be done in us, he’s the Gardener.
So I want to encourage you today, don’t be satisfied with the status quo, don’t be satisfied with giving the appearance you’re well connected, let’s do what we need to do, let’s put the necessary steps and measures and disciplines in place, and make a fresh commitment to remain in Jesus.
When fruit is yielded in a vineyard, the Vine, the branches, the soil, even the fruit does not get the credit. The Vine exists for one purpose alone. Jesus, the Vine, singular purpose was and is to bear fruit for the glory of the Father[8]
Earlier I spoke of one of the benefits of remaining in Jesus is joy, His joy. In fact, if we look at verse 1 again – “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” – we notice this is the main purpose for remaining in him. His joy in us, makes our joy complete. The reason our joy is full, is because we are connected to him, committed to him and continuing to grow in him, and we enjoy, what he enjoys[9]. What does this mean for us? Means our serving the father, Loving the father, honouring the father…is all because of our experience of abiding, dwelling and remaining and living in Jesus’ love.
For Hudson Taylor, Christ was his reason for peace, his power for calm. Dwelling in Christ, he drew upon His very being and resources…and this he did by an attitude of faith as simple as it was continuous. He was delightfully free and natural. He was “in God.” He was in God all the time and God in him.[10]
[1] Adapted from: Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, from: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/glorifying-god-by-bearing-fruit-in-union-with-christ#fn2
[2] See Heb. 12:6, 10-11, NB: Cleanse (katharos) from similar GK to prune (kathairó)
[3] Our English word remain, used on 10 occasions (in NIV at least), means to accept, remain faithful, dwell, linger, submit to, reside, live
[4] https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/the-priority-of-devotions
[5] https://biblehub.com/greek/5479.htm
[6] See also Matt. 13:38-40
[7] A lesser equivalent would be when a man and a woman enter into a marriage, it is a union, it is a covenant, two have become one.
[8] http://sermonnotebook.org/new%20testament/John%2015_1-11.htm
[9] https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/glorifying-god-by-bearing-fruit-in-union-with-christ
[10] Adapted from: Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, from: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/glorifying-god-by-bearing-fruit-in-union-with-christ#fn2