The message often heard in church is, “Where is your fruit? You need to be producing fruit! Why aren’t you producing fruit?”
The branches reply, “I’m sorry. I’ll try harder this week.”
Next week, the question is asked again: “Did you bear fruit?”
And again, the response from the branches: “I tried, but failed.”
At that point, condemnation rains down. “You wicked, wicked branch!”
The inevitable result? Shame darkens the hearts of the branches, and disillusionment sets in.
How can this be the good news that Jesus proclaimed? It’s not. The teacher is putting the listener under the bondage to perform, and the listener is allowing them to do it. This is a huge misunderstanding. The responsibility of a branch is not to produce fruit, but to abide in Jesus. There is often confusion here: what does it mean to abide?
Abide as it is translated in the Bible means “to live or to dwell”. It is used as both a noun and a verb in the New Testament. How are we to understand the difference? Well, as a noun, abide communicates a stated reality of our life in Jesus. We dwell in Him. We live in Him. We always will, and nothing can ever change that.
However, when abide is used in verb form, we’re being commanded to abide. We’re being commanded to dwell in Him, to live in Him. What does that mean? How can we be commanded to do what we already are?
First, we need to understand that once we have come to faith in Jesus, we abide in Him and always will. Abiding is our default mode. It is just like breathing, it’s what we do naturally in Christ. Do you walk around focusing on your breathing all day? Hopefully not, that sounds tiring. In the same way, we do not have to go around every minute of the day questioning ourselves, “Am I abiding? Am I abiding?” If you are in Christ, you are abiding. It’s as simple as that. What glory this is!
If that is true, and it is, why did Jesus command us to abide? In my years of teaching, I’ve observed that most people struggle with the word ‘command’ here. Let’s try substituting command with ‘imperative invitation’. Jesus is calling us to make the choice to experience what we already have.
As a result of our choice to receive Christ, we possess the only true life source that can be found in the universe. However, it is clear from multiple passages in the New Testament that we can be tempted and enticed to seek life in other sources (James 1:13-15, Galatians 1:6). We can choose to override our default mode, and live in another program for seeking out life. Choosing to do so is like choosing to stop breathing. It is unnatural, and never turns out well. That’s what sin is.
The Prodigal Son is a powerful example of this. He was a son, and he had a wonderful father. All his needs were met in the relationship he shared with his dad. However, the son chose to “change programs.” He didn’t want to abide in his Father’s abode, and instead left for the far country. Bad idea.
Despite his poor choice, he never ceased to be a son - he just didn’t live or look like one. Life became very hard - and remained that way until he made the choice to go home. He returned to his Father, where he was meant to live and enjoy life. In doing so, he discovered life with his Father was far beyond what he had ever known or imagined before.
So, when Jesus gives us this “imperative invitation” to abide, He is telling us to “stay put”. He is telling us to reject the enticement of the far country and embrace deeper relationship with Him. We are to live where life is found, in Jesus.
Jesus is our Source. That’s what John 15 is all about. As the Vine, Jesus is the only one that can produce fruit, and He will produce fruit in our lives as we stay put (as we abide) in Him.
Let’s go back to our earlier scenario. The teacher in church asks, “Hey branches, are you seeing fruit in your life?”
The branches reply, “We’re trying to, but it’s not working!”
A true grace teacher will respond, “Branches, stay put in Jesus. Don’t even attempt to produce fruit. That’s His job, not yours. Dwell in the Vine, and watch as the fruit comes naturally.”
We have one simple command to follow, and it is a charge all of us MUST receive. We have an imperative invitation to live in a relationship of trust. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “Faithful is He Who called you, and He will do it!”
Sounds familiar Sister?
...When were the believer sealed?
