“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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” (John 15:1-4).

First, let’s identify the branches. The branches are Jesus’ disciples, individual disciples (John 15:5-8).

Second, God wants these branches to bear fruit. Paul prayed that brethren, “Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). Fruitful living incudes such things as: Spirit led living (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9), winning souls for Christ (Romans 1:13; cf., 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15), and praising God (Hebrews 13:15). Let us be “fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10). Let us not be barren or unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5-10).

Third, the kind of fruit which God wants us to produce is possible only through our being connected to the true vine, that is: Christ. Consider these comments: (1) “What kind of ‘fruit’ is it that a person cannot bear when separated from Christ? Jump ahead to verse eight and notice an identifying mark of the fruit under consideration. It is fruit that will ‘glorify God.’ The only way to bear fruit that will glorify God is to remain attached to the vine” (Tom Wacaster, The Magnificence of Jesus, Vol. II, p. 198). (2) “We are not to understand the phrase. ‘Apart from Me you can do nothing,’ as unqualified or absolute… sinners can read the ‘golden rule’ (Matthew 7:12) and practice it just as Christians can… However, sinners, not being in Christ, will never be able to acceptably glorify God by their good behavior… We must thus understand the Lord’s statement to be elliptical: “Apart from me ye can do nothing [that will glorify My Father…]” (Dub McClish, Studies in John, p. 392). I believe this is correct. An atheist or non-Christian may do some or even many good deeds. However, these deeds do not produce fruit which glorifies God. It ought to humble us to know that apart from Christ, we cannot bear fruit which glorifies God.

Fourth, God so wants the branches to be fruitful that he prunes them. [Proper pruning of grape vines and fruit trees has a number of benefits. It helps prevent disease, makes the plants more productive in bearing fruit, increases the size of the fruit, increases the balance of roots to top, decreasing the number of growth points on top, increases air circulation and light for branches, and makes harvesting fruit easier.] How does God prune the branches? The words “prunes” (John 15:2) and “clean” (John 15:3) are different forms of the same original word. The pruning or cleansing is accomplished, in context, through God’s word. Let’s spend time with God’s word and let him prune us (cf. Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-6). [Are there other ways that he prunes us? He may providentially prune us through circumstances in life (Psalm 119:67, 71-72; 2 Chronicles 33:10-13).] The branches are to bear fruit. The vine does not bear it alone. If we do not bear fruit to God’s glory, who will?

Fifth, those branches which do not bear fruit will be, eventually, “taken away” (John 15:2), “cast out… and thrown into the fire” (John 15:6). Therefore, let us bear fruit which glorifies God. We have purpose in life. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20).