Sunday Evening, April 2, 2023
Gospel Light Baptist Church
Marion, Iowa
John 15:1-12I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 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. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. The purpose of this parable is to show the reliance the Christian has on Christ and the desire the Father has for them.
Without Christ, we can do nothing. Therefore, as Christians, we need to have a relationship with God. This involves reading, studying, meditating, memorizing, and applying the Word of God, obeying the commandments of Jesus, and loving and serving our church and brethren.
Additionally, every Christian is being purged to bear much fruit. This may not feel good, but God knows what we can handle and what is best for us. Christians produce fruit and Christians that produce fruit get purged so that the quality of the fruit increases, not just the quantity.
Finally, every Christian should bear every kind of spiritual fruit, including the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of new believers. We should be making disciples and helping others to grow in their faith. If you feel like you lack purpose as a Christian or in your church, it’s probably because you’re not bearing fruit. So, let's strive to bear much fruit for the glory of God.