Q. I’m an avid reader of your website and a firm believer in the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. However, I’m confused on John chapter 15, where in verse 2 Jesus says, ” He (The Father) cuts off every branch in me (Jesus) that bears no fruit…” Then in verse 6, Jesus goes on to say, “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” This verse does not sound like a “fellowship” verse to me.
On the surface John 15:2 appears as a strong encouragement to the disciples to remain in fellowship with, or rather remain in Christ’s love.
But what are the consequences of not remaining in His love? Do we lose our salvation?
A. The Lord is speaking to believers here, and since He’s already promised that He will never lose or drive away any of those who come to Him (John 6:37-40) He can’t be talking about our salvation. The context is bearing fruit and how remaining in Him is necessary to bear fruit. Being saved is not the same as bearing fruit.
He’s saying that only those things we do in His strength will be considered valuable. Things we do in our own strength are not worth anything to Him, and those who insist on working in their own strength are like unproductive branches on a vine.
The word “like” is meant to show a comparison in value. Any branch of a vine that that doesn’t bear fruit is of no value to the gardener, so it’s cut off from its fruit producing source. So it is with us. Working in our own strength is of no value to Him. It makes us vulnerable to being cut off from His power, and apart from Him we can do nothing. But when we remain in Him, our lives can be filled with His power and we can accomplish anything we ask.
Think of the countless numbers of believers who go through life without giving anyone the slightest indication that they’re Christians either by word or deed. They never give the Lord a thought between Sundays and by the way they live and work it’s impossible to tell them from their pagan neighbors. Then they go to church and make loud and impassioned prayers for deliverance or healing or relief from their afflictions and blame God when nothing happens. The sad truth is that they haven’t remained in Him and are cut off from His power. They’re still saved, but they can bear no fruit, either in their own lives or the lives of others.
Paul described this same situation in 1 Cor. 3:10-15 where he said that while much of our work might be burned up in the judgment fire, we will still be saved. He was talking about things we do in our own strength or for our own glory. They don’t endanger our salvation but neither do they qualify us for any reward. They’re of no value.
Bearing Fruit
Q. I have a question for you regarding ‘the fruit of the Spirit’. Jesus said we would recognize Christians in the same way as we would recognize a good tree – because it bears good fruit. As Christians though, we continue to sin and constantly bear ‘bad fruit’ – easily recognizable by our un-Christlike behavior. Does this mean that we are not truly saved or born of the Spirit?
A. In John 15:5-6 Jesus said that if we remain in Him we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. Remember, being saved and bearing fruit are not the same. Salvation requires only belief. Bearing fruit doesn’t happen until after we’re saved. So the fruit in our life is not evidence of salvation, but of the power of God working through us.
Many Christians live spiritually meaningless lives because haven’t “remained in Him”. They fail to confess the sins they commit and they go off on their own without seeking His guidance. They appear to be doing OK by secular standards but they don’t realize their life is of no value to the Kingdom. They’re apart from Him and can do nothing. They’re still on the right side of pardon but they’re on the wrong side of power. Their lives bear no testimony to the incredible blessing that the Lord provided for them.
The cure for this is to apply Romans 12:1-2, to stop conforming to the patterns of this world and become transformed by the renewal of their minds, making their whole life a living sacrifice to God. Then they’ll discover His will for them and will receive the power to perform it. In the process they’ll become immeasurably happier and the world will begin to see the good fruit they bear.
Living In God’s Strength
Q. Would you please explain exactly what it means to live our lives in God’s strength? If everything at the Bema Seat Judgment is burned up as if it never existed if it was done in human strength, and only actions done in His strength are recognized, how far do you take this? After all, we awake every morning and arise in His strength. If it wasn’t for God, we would stop breathing! What exactly does in His strength mean on a practical level?
A. Jesus said if we remain in Him we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). He didn’t mean that we literally can’t do anything, He meant we can do nothing of value to the Kingdom. In other words, we can’t produce any fruit.
When we’re living in God’s will we’re automatically recipients of His strength to accomplish His will and will bear much fruit. As a practical matter, we live in His will by applying Romans 12:1-2 in our lives. We put aside all our plans and dreams and yield our life to Him to do with as He pleases. But don’t get the idea that this means living a life of deprivation and hardship. John 10:10 says He came so we can have life and have it abundantly. Other promises confirm this.
Most believers don’t live their lives in His will, but many of them appear to be successful at what they do. Jesus said the things they accomplish are like unfruitful branches that are cut off and burned in the fire. They have no value to the Kingdom, no matter how impressive what they appear to be on Earth.
