Fruit Bearers

John 15:9–17 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Intro: Marks of Belief

Imagine for a moment, that a person claimed to be a football fan but never watched football.

They never went to games.

They were never around football fans.

When invited to watch the game with friends they were dismissive and stated that they don’t need all that to be a football fan.

We would rightly note that there are certain marks of a person who truly loves football.

They are in some way engaged in the sport.

Whether it be watching on tv, going to games, or coming together with like minded football fans.

The idea, is that being a football fan has a certain way, or flavor.

In today’s lesson, we see that there are certain marks that a follower of Jesus bears.

We tend to look a certain way, and do certain things.

There is a culture built around following Jesus.

Today, as we dive into the text, we see there are three primary traits of a person who follows Jesus.

They are joyfully obedient

They love sacrificially

They bear lasting Fruit

Let’s dive in, starting at verse 9, and look at the first of these qualities.

1: Followers Obey Joyfully

John 15:9–11 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Let's begin by understanding what it truly means to abide in Christ.

To abide, as Jesus teaches in John 15:4-5, is to remain connected to Him as branches to the vine.

This connection is not passive; it's active and life-sustaining.

Just as branches draw their nutrients from the vine, so we draw our spiritual vitality from Christ.

Similarly, Psalm 91:1 reads:

Psalm 91:1 ESV

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

In other words, as we abide, we live under His shelter and His guidance.

Question: If you were offered a mansion for free in the location of your choice, but you were told only that you had to do the dishes every day, how many of you would do it?

That’s kind of like abiding in Jesus! We are given every gift imaginable because God loves us.

He also knows what’s good for us, so He has some things that He expects us to obey.

Foundation of Love

Abiding in Christ is fundamentally rooted in His love for us—a love that is profound and transformative.

In 1 John 4:16, we learn that whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

This divine residence within us changes how we view obedience; it's no longer a duty but a response to love.

Ephesians 3:17-19 also prays that we may be rooted and established in love, grasping the vast dimensions of Christ’s love, thereby being filled with the fullness of God.

Joy in Obedience

As a result of God’s love for us, we respond in joyful obedience.

Obedience to God is meant to be a joy, not a burden.

Psalm 100:2 gives us a picture of what this obedience looks like:

Psalm 100:2 ESV

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Serving the Lord, obeying the Lord, is meant to be joyful because in that obedience, we are being protected from sin.

How many of us would grumble if people were attacking our homes and a king allowed us to stay within his castle walls until the threat is gone?

Well, sin is the threat, the castle walls are God’s law and Gospel, and the King is God Himself.

Practical Steps to Abide in Jesus' Love

How can we practice this abiding daily?

Engaging deeply with the Word is foundational, as Joshua 1:8 instructs us to meditate on it day and night.

Additionally, constant communication with God through prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:17, reminds us to pray without ceasing.

2: Followers Love Sacrificially

John 15:12–13 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

I do not believe a person can truly say they love unless they have sacrificed for the person they claim to love.

Too often we see in my generation that love is defined almost exclusively through love defined asa personal fulfillment.

If Gen X is not the most selfish, narcissistic generation on Earth, it is only because the proceeding two Generations have us beaten.

The Nature of Jesus’ Sacrificial Love

Friends, such love is not the love of God.

Jesus’ love was not merely a feeling or an abstract idea; it was active and transformative.

He didn’t love us for self fulfillment, though he certainly experienced that as he was pouring himself out for us.

It often came with no benefit toward him.

His entire life was a demonstration of love in action, culminating in His willing sacrifice on the cross.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Catch that? While we were yet sinners...

Not deserving. Not properly repentant.

While we were yet sinners.

Jesus’ sacrifice was not conditional on our worthiness but was a pure act of grace.

Should that not also be the way his followers live?

I don’t love you because you deserve it.

I love you because Christ first loved me, and if he can love a sinner as great as me, I cannot help but love the people around me.

If Jesus can forgive the world as it’s killing him, I imagine I can forgive others when they speak falsely about me.

If Jesus can forgive me, I imagine I can forgive Jerianne, even though I never have to because she is, of course, perfect in every way.

If Jesus can forgive me, I imagine I can forgive my kids wqhen they miss the mark in school.

Jesus’ forgiveness should drive all of us to be the most sacrificial and forgiving people in the world.

Emulating Jesus' Example

How, then, can we emulate this sacrificial love in our own lives?

It begins by seeing others through the lens of Jesus' love.

Philippians 2:4–5 ESV

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Adopting this mindset requires a radical shift in our priorities — from self-centeredness to other-centeredness.

Practically, sacrificial love can manifest in numerous ways within our communities.

It might look like giving up time to support a friend in need, sharing resources with those who lack, or forgiving someone who has wronged us.

Impact of Living Out Sacrificial Love

Living out this kind of love has a profound impact not only on our lives but also on our communities.

It is not often the huge things, but the consistent sacrifices of time and resources that mean the most to people.

Consistency builds a culture of generosity and grace, reflecting the kingdom of God here on earth.

Consistency builds a pattern of love that invites others to experience His transformative grace.

3: Chosen to Bearing Lasting Fruit

John 15:16–17 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Introduction to Being Chosen

Here, Jesus speaks to the purpose of our being chosen: to bear lasting fruit in our lives, a direct outcome of our abiding in Him.

The Nature of Lasting Fruit

The fruit we are called to bear is primarily characterized by love—love that is active, enduring, and reflective of Christ's love for us.

This is not transient or superficial; it's meant to endure, influencing lives and transforming communities.\

Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—qualities that truly last.

Empowerment to Bear Fruit

We are not left to accomplish this on our own.

Our abiding relationship with Christ provides the nourishment and strength needed to bear this fruit.

Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.

Full Circle of Love

Bearing fruit in love completes the circle that begins with abiding in Jesus’ love, being transformed by it, and then extending that love outward.

This cycle of love is the essence of the Christian witness—it draws others to Christ and fosters a vibrant, loving community.

Conclusion: Living Our Identity in Christ

Today’s we’ve looked at three traits of a person who follows Jesus.

We started by understanding what it means to truly abide in Christ’s love, seeing that joyful obedience is not a burden but a heartfelt response to His deep, unwavering love for us.

This is the foundational relationship that sustains and nourishes our spiritual lives.

From there, we explored the sacrificial nature of love as modeled by Jesus.

He did not merely instruct us to love; He showed us how, through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

This sacrificial love is the benchmark against which all our actions should be measured, challenging us to love not just in words, but in actions and truth.

Finally, we discussed our calling to bear lasting fruit—a natural and necessary outcome of our abiding in Christ and His love.

This fruit is characterized by a love that reaches out, touches lives, and transforms communities.

It’s a visible manifestation of the invisible work of the Spirit in our lives, a testament to the power of God’s love flowing through us.

Friends, may all of us strive to abide more deeply in Christ’s love, to love sacrificially as He did, to cherish our role as His friends, and to live out our calling to bear lasting fruit.

Let these truths not just be parts of a sermon but become the very fabric of our daily lives.

May our lives be a continuous expression of Christ’s love, drawing others to Him and building up the body of Christ.

May we daily pray for the strength and grace to live out these truths, for we know that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

But in Him and through Him, we can do all things—including transforming our lives and the lives of those around us.

Amen.

Prayer of reflection: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the depth of Your love and the gift of abiding in Christ. As we seek to live out the truths we've learned today—joyful obedience, sacrificial love, and bearing lasting fruit—strengthen us by Your Spirit. May our lives reflect the love of Jesus, touching those around us and drawing them closer to You. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.

Hymn of Reflection: I Am Thine, O Lord (591)