Bearing Fruit

Bearing Fruit (John 15)

Three conditions of the fruitful life: Cleanliness, Abiding and Obedience.

1. 1) Cleanliness (verses 2, 3)
1. a) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (v. 2)
2. b) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (v. 3)
2. 2) Abiding (verse 4)
1. a) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (v. 4)
3. 3) Obedience (verses 10,12)
1. a) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (v. 10)
2. b) This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. (v.12)

Three degrees in fruit bearing: Fruit, More Fruit and Much Fruit.

1. 1) Fruit (v. 2) 
1. a) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (v. 2) 
2. 2) More Fruit (v. 2) 
1. a) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (v. 2) 
3. 3) Much Fruit (v. 5, 8) 
1. a) I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (v. 5) 
1. b) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (v. 8) 

As we bear “much fruit” the Father is glorified in us. The minor moralities and graces of Christianity are often imitated, but never the ninefold “fruit” of Galatians 5:22 & 23. Where such fruit is, the Father is glorified. The Pharisees were moral and intensely “religious”, but not one of them could say with Christ, “I have glorified thee on the earth” (see John 17:4)