KASUMIGAOKA
2017/12/31
SERMON: “Bearing Fruit in Christ” 「キリストにあって実を結ぶこと」
TEXT: John 15:1-8
I. INTRODUCTION
Jesus said that He came into this world so that those who follow Him “may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10). What is this “abundant life” that Jesus promises to those who follow Him? In the passage we looked at last week, Jesus emphasized the benefits enjoyed by people whom He compares to “sheep” that belong to His “flock.” Today, most people probably would not like to be compared to sheep. Sheep seem foolish, easily-deceived, and vulnerable. This is one of the obstacles that prevent some people from thinking seriously about the teaching of Jesus. No one likes to think that they can be easily misled. Most people want to be independent in their thinking and in their way of living. But Jesus explains that this desire for human autonomy is no more than human pride–one of the results of man’s fallen condition. Isaiah said that “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isa. 53:6). It is not “some” people, but all who have gone astray, and all who need the help of a shepherd. Without His help, no one can experience the abundant life that God offers us in Christ.
As the “good Shepherd” Jesus gathers His sheep together into a flock and protects them from dangers and enemies. He provides what they need to be satisfied and happy in life. Psalm 23 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Jesus promises to take good care of His “sheep”—that is, the people who put their trust in Him and listen to His voice. This picture of a flock of sheep following their shepherd is Christ’s metaphor for His church. Those who follow the Shepherd Jesus are gathered together, protected, nurtured, and guided by Jesus Christ. And they enjoy an abundant life in His presence. But there is more to the abundant life than enjoying the material, emotional, and spiritual benefits Christ can provide to us. The promise of an abundant life also includes “bearing fruit” that others can enjoy. A Christian who enjoys an abundant life in Christ will become a source of life and blessing to others, too.
Have you ever seen the old Hollywood movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life!”? [In Japanese the title is 「素晴らしき哉、人生」.] It was produced in 1946 and seems old-fashioned today. It shows some silly, unbiblical ideas about angels. But this movie has one true message. It is this: a “wonderful life” does not depend on becoming wealthy and prosperous, or on fulfilling the dreams of your youth. A wonderful life is a life that bears fruit that benefits other people. The main character in the movie, George Bailey, was a good man who put the interests of other people ahead of his own dreams. Through no fault of his own, he fell into serious financial trouble and considered suicide. But at the end of the movie, George is surrounded by his family and all of his friends who came to help him. George realized that his life was not a failure, because he was “rich” in friends whom he had helped over the years. Because he had helped so many others, he really had a “wonderful life.” As I watched this movie on Wednesday night, I thought of all the people who had come to the funeral of Seigo Kitani the previous day. I remembered the unfulfilled “show business” dream of Kitani-san’s youth, and some of the hardships that he had faced in life. But I thought, surely Seigo Kitani—like George Bailey–had experienced a “wonderful life.” Many people had been blessed by his life. But unlike George Bailey’s friends in the movie, all these friends could not help Mr. Kitani now. Only Christ could lead him through “the valley of the shadow of death” into eternal life. And He did. Because Seigo Kitani had placed his life in the care of his Shepherd Jesus, he could live abundantly, both in this life and forever! His life was really a “wonderful life.” Now let’s look at what the Bible tells us about this “abundant life” that bears fruit for others.
II. LIFE IN CHRIST “THE TRUE VINE”
In John 15 Jesus uses a new metaphor to describe the life of Christians who are united and fruitful because of their relationship to Jesus Christ. Instead of a shepherd and sheep, Jesus pictures a grape vine with many fruitful branches. “I am the true vine,” Jesus says in v. 1, “and My Father is the gardener.” The gardener is the one who planted the vine and who cares for the vine. The vine produces fruit for the gardener, and not merely for itself. The purpose of this parable is to show how it is possible for the branches of a vine to produce fruit. There are three different roles shown by Jesus’ parable. First, there is Jesus, who describes Himself as “the true vine.” He is the true vine because He Himself is the central stalk (or “trunk”) of the grapevine. He is the support from which each of the branches grows and spreads outward. Jesus Himself also supplies the nutrients on which each of the branches must depend. And Jesus as the “true vine” has a root, which draws water from deep underground. By that root, the branches, with their leaves and fruit, are refreshed and sustained.
The second role is the gardener. “My Father is the gardener,” Jesus says. The gardener’s role causes the vine to produce a rich harvest of grapes. So, as Jesus says in v. 2, “He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.” The gardener chooses carefully which branches to keep, and which branches to remove, based upon the fruit that they bear. Those branches that bear no fruit He simply cuts off and discards. Those that do bear fruit, the gardener will “prune” in such a way that it will bear more fruit. The purpose of the gardener is, of course, to produce as much fruit as possible.
The third role is shown by the branches on the vine. “I am the vine; you are the branches,” Jesus says in v. 5. “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Jesus tells us that these branches—that is, Jesus’ true disciples—will “remain in Him”; they will be “cleansed”; and they will “bear much fruit.” First, Jesus says in v. 2, the gardener will cut off every branch that does not bear fruit. Fruitless branches will not be permitted to remain attached to the true vine. Branches that bear no fruit will be cut off, wither, and be burned (v. 6). Only those branches—or disciples—that can bear fruit for the gardener will remain in the vine. Then in v. 3 He says concerning His disciples–those “branches” that remain in the vine, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” The word translated “clean” is based on the verb translated “prunes” in v. 2. The word of Christ has shown them their sins and they have repented of them. So, Jesus says that they have been “cleansed” or “pruned” by His word. Finally, Jesus says that only the disciples who remain with Him are branches that can bear fruit. Because they remain in the true vine, those branches will be pruned again, so that they will bear more fruit. So these three aspects of the Christian life are emphasized in Jesus’ vine metaphor: remaining connected firmly to Jesus by faith, being cleansed by Jesus’ words, and bearing abundant “fruit” that God the Father seeks from us.
The main point of this metaphor is that by remaining in Christ, disciples will be enabled to bear more and more fruit. Remaining firmly connected to Christ and bearing fruit will also benefit the branches. Jesus reminds His disciples in v. 7, “If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” God will supply all your needs abundantly through Jesus Christ. Branches that do not bear fruit will be cut off and burned. But the main hope and goal of a true disciple of Jesus Christ is to bear much fruit, to glorify God the Father, and by doing so to prove himself a faithful disciple of the Lord (v. 8). This is what Christ Himself will do in us and for us. He will give us abundant life and cause us to bear much fruit that will glorify Him. God has made us and redeemed us for this purpose. Jesus says in John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.”
We must also notice one more thing that Jesus tells His disciples about the abundant, fruitful life that He will give them. It is that they will want to bear fruit for others—not only to serve themselves and claim benefits for their own ease and salvation. They will want to bear fruit for the benefit of others because of the love of God which fills their hearts. Jesus says in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My love.” Disciples who are firmly connected to Christ by faith will also keep His command to “love each other as I have loved you” (v.12). Jesus showed the power of His love when He laid down His life for the benefit of His followers. That same love will motivate His disciples who abide in Him, and He in them. An abundant life is a life ruled by Christ’s love. The apostle Paul describes this life in his letter to the Philippians, 2:3-5. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” This is the attitude of a true follower of Jesus Christ, one who abides in Christ, like the branch of a living vine. This is the kind of life that will bear much fruit to the glory of God: a really “abundant life.”
III. CONCLUSION
Jesus said that He came so that we who follow Him may have life, and have it abundantly (John 1:10). What do you see in your own life? Have you found the peace, safety, security, and hope for everlasting life that Christ promises to the “sheep of His pasture”? Do you find comfort and encouragement in being a sheep in His flock—a committed member of Christ’s church? Or do you often stray away from His flock because you think you do not need to live within the safe confines of His sheepfold? In spite of all her imperfections, the church is the sheepfold of the good Shepherd. He has established His church to be a place of safety and refuge for His sheep. He has given His word and His laws to the church to protect us from the spiritual dangers and enemies that surround us. The world is a dangerous place for Christians! But in the fold of the Shepherd, His sheep will enjoy a safe and abundant life. In the parable of the vine Jesus teaches a similar lesson. In order to enjoy the abundant life Jesus promises, we must be faithful and fruitful members of His church. We must remain in constant fellowship with Christ by faith. And if we abide in Christ, we will also be connected through Him to all of the other branches in the vine.
Furthermore, the metaphor of the vine teaches us that we must bear fruit. Just as the grapevine does not bear fruit for its own sake, so the Christian will not just serve himself or try to bring forth fruit for his own enjoyment alone. A Christian’s life cannot be self-centered. Or, to put it another way, a self-centered life is not, and cannot be, a Christian life. One who is connected to Christ the true vine by faith will always be seeking ways and opportunities to share their abundance with others. We are motivated by the love of Christ working in us. When we are filled with the love of Christ and want to share the blessings of Christ with others, others will see in us the fruit that Christ is producing. Evangelism becomes a normal part of the Christian’s daily life, because it springs from a desire to share Christ’s abundance with others. Even though Christians sometimes talk of obeying Christ’s great commission, the lesson of the true vine teaches rather that the fruit of the branches is produced by the life of Christ flowing through us. No one can bear fruit apart from Christ! The fruit of evangelism is produced when the life of Christ—that is, the Spirit of life in Christ—is working in us. When we are connected to Christ, He will bring forth much fruit in us. His word will challenge us, show us our sins, and lead us to repentance. That is how the gardener will cleanse us and prune away all that hinders our fruitfulness. Then Christ will bring forth His fruit in us, to the glory of His Father in heaven. Next week, Lord willing, we will look at some of the other kinds of “spiritual fruit” (besides the fruit of evangelism) that Christ will bring forth in us, when we live the abundant life that He has come to give us.