Bearing Fruit and Abiding in Jesus
by Hugh DeLong
Two things to observe as we read through the opening part of John 15:
- As disciples, we are to bear fruit (much fruit – John 15:5);
- Such fruit-bearing depends on our abiding in Jesus.
To abide in Jesus, we must first be in Jesus (you can’t leave a place you’ve never been!). This obviously is not a physical or material location but a spiritual relationship. Such a relationship is founded on complete trust in Him: who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. He has provided for our past, he is providing for the present, and He will provide for our eternity—if we trust Him and thus abide in Him.
To abide in Him, His word must abide in us. That is one of the main concepts of discipleship – we are learners, followers, or imitators of our teacher. We were brought to faith and then baptized into Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:9-13), and then we were to have been 'taught to obey all things whatsoever He' has taught. This involves first our learning, and then letting such teaching dwell in us richly (cp. Ephesians; Colossians 3:16-17). Thus Jesus emphasizes this here: John 15:7, 10.
Of course, it will then show itself in our daily living as we produce the very fruit of righteousness: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Peter gave us similar instructions: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:5-8).
"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” (John 15:10). What fruit is there in your life?
