United With Christ

But no matter how fresh the water, no matter how carefully you place it in the sunlight, sooner or later the petals droop, the leaves wither, and the stem grows brittle.

Why?

Because the flower has been cut off from its source of life.

That image is a lot closer to the Christian life than we might like to admit.

Many people can look vibrant for a while—active in church, serving, even speaking the right words—

but without a living, ongoing connection to Christ, that life will not last.

Sooner or later, cut off from the true source, it will wither.

Last week, we began with the foundation—to be a Christian is to be made alive in Christ by grace through faith.

Today, we see the next vital truth: that the Christian life is not sustained by our own effort, but by abiding in Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” If we are cut off from Him, we will wither;

but if we remain in Him, we will live, we will grow, and we will bear fruit—not only individually, but together as His church.

This is not just a theological idea; it is the very heartbeat of what it means to belong to Christ.

And it is also at the core of our life as a church family.

Because if we are not abiding in Christ, our love for one another will fade, our care for one another will weaken, and our witness to the world will dim.

But if we are deeply connected to Him, His life will flow into us, and through us into one another.

That is the picture of a healthy, living church.

John 15:1–17 ESV

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, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I 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 be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 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. 16 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. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

1. Christ the True Vine and the Father the Vinedresser (vv. 1–3)

Within the context of the book, Jesus had just promised his followers the Holy Spirits presence would come in the previous chapter, saying the father would give another Helper to be with them forever.

He had encouraged his followers to not be troubled, believe in God, that He is the way, and the truth, and the life.

Here in chapter 15, Jesus begins with a beautiful picture that we don’t often see in our part of the world.

Jesus begins: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (v. 1).

The background of Jesus’ words here is the Old Testament imagery where Israel is called a vine or vineyard.

That imagery is clearly shown in Is. 5.

Isaiah 5:7 ESV

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!

Read verses 1-7 for the full picture.

That vine was one that did not produce the desired fruit. Verse 4 of Is says

English Standard Version Chapter 5

When I looked for it to yield grapes,

why did it yield wild grapes?

In our verses here in John, Jesus replaces Israel with Himself as the “true vine.”

Unlike Israel, Jesus will not fail to produce fruit in all the branches that are connected to Him.

The point of Jesus’ metaphor is that He will succeed where Israel failed.

He is the true and only source of life for God’s people.

The Father is described as the vinedresser (gardener).

His role is active—He cuts off fruitless branches and prunes fruitful ones.

Both actions show His loving involvement in shaping His people.

The disciples simply need to be connected to Jesus.

As we read John 15, it is unthinkable that any branch who is connected to Christ will fail to produce fruit.

Yet, according to the illustration, some branches “in Him” will not produce fruit and be taken away.

In verse 2 Jesus makes a sharp distinction between two kinds of branches:

Fruitless branches — they are “in me” in an external sense, connected outwardly but not vitally.

These branches represent those who profess to be disciples but have no genuine life flowing from Christ.

They are eventually cut away (cf. John 6:66, Judas as the tragic example).

These are people that Jesus was speaking of as well in Mt. 7:21-23.

Matthew 7:21 (ESV) 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:23 (ESV) 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The fruitful branches Jesus describes as truly connected to the life of the vine.

These are pruned—not cast off, but lovingly trimmed so they may bear more fruit.

Pruning can involve painful loss, discipline, or refining trials, but its purpose is greater fruitfulness.

Some fear this verse means genuine believers can lose salvation.

But the context of John’s Gospel and the rest of Scripture speaks differently. J

esus has already promised in John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Genuine believers—true branches—will never be lost.

The fruitless branches are not true believers losing salvation but false disciples being exposed (like Judas).

They had external connection but no inward union with Christ.

On the other hand, true believers may feel the pain of pruning, but that is evidence of the Father’s care, not rejection.

Hebrews 12:6 echoes this: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

In verse 3, Jesus says, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”

The word “clean” comes from the same root as “prune” in verse 2.

The disciples have already been cleansed by Jesus’ word, but the Father continues to prune them to bear more fruit.

When we seek to understand what this passage means for us, we see that union with Christ is the foundation of Christian identity.

We do not produce spiritual life or fruit on our own; everything flows from Christ, the true vine.

To be a Christian is to be vitally joined to Him.

We also see that God the Father actively cares for His people.

His pruning is sometimes painful—it may involve trials, discipline, or loss—but His purpose is always love: to make us more fruitful for His glory.

The Word of Christ cleanses and sustains us.

Disciples are made fruitful by His word dwelling in them (cf. Col. 3:16).

A Christian who neglects the Word is like a branch trying to live apart from the vine.

For us as individuals: we must consider, am I truly connected to the vine, or am I trying to live the Christian life in my own strength?

Outward appearances of activity may last a while, but without union with Christ, it will wither like a cut flower.

For us as a church: If Christ is the true vine, then our community life must be rooted in Him—not in programs, personalities, or traditions.

A healthy church is not busy for its own sake; it is fruitful because it abides in Christ.

The Father’s pruning reminds us that when we see hardships, we should not always assume God has abandoned us.

Often He is doing the opposite—He is tenderly pruning away what hinders so that our lives, and our church, might bear greater fruit.

If we are truly connected to Christ, we will begin to notice His life flowing into us and through us.

A church that abides in Christ is one where members actively care for one another, even when it requires sacrifice, because His life is in them.

Having seen that Jesus Himself is the true vine and that the Father lovingly tends the branches, we now come to the heart of Christ’s command: to abide in Him.

The care of the vinedresser and the life of the vine are not abstract truths—they press upon us a living question:

Will we remain in Christ, or will we try to live apart from Him?

In verses 4 through 8, Jesus makes it clear that all true fruitfulness depends on abiding.”

2. Abiding as the Source of Fruitfulness (vv. 4–8)

Jesus goes on to show that the Christian life is union with Christ lived out in communion with Him.

Abiding is not passive—it requires deliberate dependence, prayer, Word, obedience.

Fruitfulness is not optional.

Jesus presents it as the natural evidence of abiding.

A “fruitless Christian” is a contradiction in terms.

God is glorified not by impressive human effort, but by Christ’s life being manifest in weak, dependent people.

Verses 4 through 8 show some significant contrasts.

1. Abiding vs. Not Abiding (vv. 4, 6)

“Abide in me, and I in you.”

The picture is simple: a branch draws all its life from the vine.

To “abide” is not a one-time decision but a continual dependence.

In verse 6, the contrast is sharp: those who do not abide wither and are cast out.

The outwardly attached but inwardly dead disciple will be exposed.

Union with Christ is permanent; abiding in Christ is the ongoing expression of that union.

False disciples may appear attached but have no true life.

Verse 5 contrasts Dependence vs. Self-Sufficiency (v. 5)

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”

The words are absolute.

A branch cannot will itself to bear fruit—it is powerless without the vine.

Jesus does not say “you can do less,” but nothing.

Fruitfulness is not self-improvement or personal strength but Christ’s life in us.

This verse undercuts all pride.

Fruit-bearing is evidence of grace, not human effort.

For the weary—this is good news.

You do not have to manufacture love, patience, or holiness.

Christ supplies what you cannot.

For the proud—it is a warning.

You cannot live the Christian life in your own strength.

Verse 7 gives us a contrast of Word-Shaped Prayer vs. Self-Shaped Prayer (v. 7)

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

True abiding is Word-saturated.

The Word takes root in the heart, shaping desires and aligning prayers with God’s will.

Abiding prayer is not a blank check for our wishes but communion with God that produces God-shaped requests.

In our Like Jesus study, one of the things we have learned is the necessity of our growing in our dependance upon the Holy Spirit, God’s word, and prayer.

When the Word fills your heart, your prayers begin to echo God’s heart.

A fruitless prayer life often reveals a lack of abiding.

Verse 8 shows a contrast between God-Glorifying Fruit vs. Fruitlessness (v. 8)

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Fruit-bearing is the evidence of discipleship, not its cause.

True disciples will bear fruit, and the ultimate goal is not self-satisfaction but the glory of the Father.

Fruit is not optional. It is the outward demonstration of real, saving union with Christ.

A church full of abiding believers becomes a display of God’s glory.

Where there is no fruit, there is reason for sober reflection.

For the individual believer:

Ask:

Am I trying to live the Christian life in my own strength, or am I daily abiding in Christ?

Busyness, pride, or neglect of prayer and Word can lead us to wither.

Abiding looks like a steady rhythm of dependence—clinging to Christ in the morning, throughout the day, and into the evening.

It is not a one-time event but a way of life.

A fruit-bearing church is not measured by numbers or programs but by the evidence of Christ’s life in its members—love, holiness, generosity, faithfulness.

When we drift from abiding in Christ together—when Word and prayer are neglected—our fellowship withers, and members can begin to slip away unnoticed.

Abiding is the lifeline for a healthy, caring community.

Jesus has shown us that abiding in Him is the only way to bear fruit that glorifies the Father.

But He does not leave us guessing what this abiding looks like in daily life.

In the next verses, He makes it personal: abiding is not just connection, it is remaining in His love.

And the way we remain in His love is through obedience—not a grim duty, but the pathway into real joy.

3. Abiding Expressed in Joyful Obedience (vv. 9–11)

Verse 9: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

How much does Jesus love his disciples?

How do we measure love?

We often measure it by acts that we see.

The truth is though that the measure of Christ’s love for His disciples is the eternal,

Jesus equates the love that he has for His disciples to the unbreakable love between the Father and Son.

How much does God the Father love Jesus the Son?

It is immeasurable!

To “abide in His love” means to remain in the security of His affection, not drifting into doubt or indifference.

This love causes action.

Verse 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.”

To abide Christ is much more than resting in Jesus or meditating on him.

It is active and must always be reflected in obedience to his commands (15:10).

It is obedience that enables us to actually experience that love.

Obedience is not the way we earn Christ’s love but the way we continue to live in the sphere of His love.

Jesus models this: His obedience to the Father is the pattern of our obedience to Him.

Love leads to obedience; obedience keeps us in the experience of love.

The purpose of all of this is joy.

Verse 11: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

The goal of Christ’s call to obedience is joy.

His commands are not chains but channels of joy.

His own joy—rooted in loving fellowship with the Father—is given to His people.

Ask yourself, does my life feel dry and heavy?

If yes then you need to ask another question.

Am I abiding in Christ’s love, or am I obeying out of fear or duty?

Real joy flows only from love-rooted obedience.

As a church - a joyless church often reflects a church that has disconnected obedience from love.

A community that abides in Christ’s love should radiate joy even in hardship.

For those struggling: Remember, Christ does not command us to kill our joy but to find it in Him.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light because it is borne in love.

Obedience to Christ, then, is not about losing joy but about entering into it—it is the way we remain in His love.

Yet Christ’s love is never meant to end with us alone.

The very joy and love we receive from Him must flow outward.

That is why, in verses 12 through 17, Jesus turns from our abiding in His love to the visible expression of that abiding: sacrificial love for one another.

4. Abiding Expressed in Love for One Another (vv. 12–17)

Abiding isn’t a self centered goal.

Abiding in Christ, while essential for our own health and well being, also has a communal focus.

Verse 12: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Jesus boils His teaching down to one command: love one another.

The standard is staggering: “as I have loved you.” His love is patient, forgiving, pursuing, sacrificial.

Love for one another is not optional; it is the defining mark of abiding in Christ.

Verse 13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

The measure of true love is sacrifice. Jesus points ahead to the cross, where He will lay down His life for His disciples.

This is not just an inspiring metaphor; it is the very heart of the gospel.

Our love for one another must be cross-shaped—costly, self-giving, willing to put others ahead of ourselves.

All of this is based out of our relationship - specifically friendship with Christ.

You are my friends if you do what I command.”

This is not a wage but a recognition: obedience is evidence of friendship (cf. John 14:15).

Jesus elevates His disciples’ relationship: not merely servants, but friends.

Servants obey without knowing the master’s heart; friends obey because they share in the each others life and purposes.

By calling them friends, Jesus reveals the intimacy and openness of His relationship with them—He shares His Father’s will and mission with them.

The same is true for each of us that have trusted in Jesus as our savior.

He brings us into the circle of divine purpose.

Jesus gains friends, reveals the Father, and forms a community shaped by His Word.

Which therefore creates a new kind of friendship among believers:

Christian love is not based on convenience—who is easiest to be around—

or on affinity—who shares my interests.

It is more like the loyalty of a good neighbor who shows up no matter what.

We love the people Jesus has placed in our lives because they belong to Him.

If they are His, then they are ours too.

Jesus reminds them: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

That is election in plain clothes—Christ picked us out and set us apart for His work.

The purpose is fruit that lasts—not quick growth that withers, but a harvest that endures.

True fruit in the Christian life endures.

And this fruit is both personal character (love, joy, peace) and communal mission—lives changed through our witness.

In verse 17 Jesus circles back: “These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

That is the test.

If we say we are abiding in Christ, but we have no time, no patience, no care for the brothers and sisters around us, then something is off.

A healthy vineyard shows its health by the fruit that hangs heavy on the vine.

A healthy church shows its health by love that runs deep and steady.

Ask yourself, “Who is the one person I could show up for this week?”

Maybe it is bringing a meal, checking in on someone who has missed church, or offering help during a busy season.

Small, steady acts show Christ’s love.

We live in a small community where we have the opportunity to care for our neighbors.

Notice when someone’s dog is out, a gate left open, a vehicle not moved for days.

In the church, it should be the same.

If someone is absent, drifting, or hurting, love means we notice, we ask, and we show up.

Sometimes helping means setting aside our own plans, it costs time, effort, even comfort, but it is worth it.

In a small community, people already know each other’s lives, but that does not guarantee love.

Christ calls His church to go deeper—past polite greetings into genuine care, past convenience into sacrifice, past simply knowing one another into true friendship.

When we abide in Him, the life of Christ flows through us, and the community sees something that cannot be explained apart from Him.

If we claim to be branches in the vine, then our community must look like a vineyard heavy with fruit—joy, obedience, prayer, and above all, love.

And that brings us back to the burden of this whole series: what it really means to be a Christian.

It means abiding in Christ, and abiding in Christ means we cannot walk alone.

As we step back and look at the whole passage, John 15:1–17, we see a simple but profound truth: to be a Christian is to abide in Christ, the true vine, and let His life flow through us.

The call is clear: a Christian cannot walk alone.

Abiding in Christ is personal, but it is never private.

Our faith is lived out in community—our joy, obedience, and love are meant to be seen in how we treat the brothers and sisters around us.

In a small community like ours, no one should drift unnoticed.

If we claim to be connected to the Vine, we will notice, we will care, and we will act.

When you do notice and reach out: Pay attention to those who have been absent or struggling.

Ask how they are doing and listen.

Offer tangible help: Love takes action.

Help in ways that are meaningful—practical, relational, or spiritual.

We have a good network already of people that pray for one another and that is wonderful.

I know our ladies pray through the families of the church, myself and others I know as well pray for each person in the church as well.

Perhaps this is an area you need to grow in though as well.

Ask God to grow His love in you so you can love others as He commands.

Each of us ought to examine our own life’s— am I abiding in Christ daily?

Is His joy and love visible in your relationships?

The Christian life is not about going it alone.

It is about being rooted in Christ, growing under the care of the Father, walking in joyful obedience, and letting that love spill over into the lives of others.

This is what it means to be a Christian, and this is the kind of church we are called to be:

a community where no one walks alone, where Christ’s love is visible, and where His life flows freely through each of us.

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