Jesus, the True Vine: Abiding in Christ for a Fruitful Life
John 15:1-2, 5
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit...I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Throughout the Old Testament many of the scriptures refer to the nation of Israel as the vine, (e.g., Psalm 80:8-9, Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21). While Israel was called to bear fruit for God, it frequently fell short, leading to judgment. Jesus, in contrast, is the perfect, true vine, fulfilling what Israel could not. His Father, the vinedresser, tends the vine with care, removing unfruitful branches and pruning fruitful ones to produce even more. In the 21st chapter of Matthew Jesus tells a parable that the Pharisees understood was about them. This parable underscores the transition from Israel being the vine to Jesus being the true vine. It portrays Israel’s leaders as unfaithful tenants who reject God’s prophets and, ultimately, His Son. The Pharisees recognized Jesus was speaking about them (v. 45), signaling their failure to bear fruit and the coming judgment.
Unlike Israel, which was unfaithful, Jesus perfectly embodies obedience to God, producing the fruit Israel could not. And now his Father is...
Removing unfruitful branches (those who do not abide in Christ).
And
Pruning fruitful branches (believers who abide in Christ) to enhance their fruitfulness through spiritual growth and discipline.
When Jesus asks the Pharisees what the landowner will do, they unwittingly pronounce their own judgment: the tenants will be destroyed, and the vineyard given to others who will produce fruit (v. 41). Jesus confirms this with a reference to Psalm 118:22-23, declaring Himself the "stone" rejected by the builders but chosen by God (v. 42).
Now there are those who abide in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, forming the church (Romans 11:17-24, where Gentiles are grafted into the vine). And so now we see fruitfulness depends on remaining in Christ through faith, prayer, and obedience. Apart from Him, no spiritual fruit is possible (John 15:5).
Is it possible for a person to not abide in Christ?
The answer is yes, and Jesus tells is that any who do not abide in him are cut off and thrown into the fire.
Think about this:
Ezekiel tells us that a grape branch in and of itself is of no good quality or value.
In Ezekiel 15:1-8, the prophet compares Jerusalem (representing Israel) to a vine branch. He emphasizes that a grape branch is inherently useless apart from bearing fruit. If you try to use it for firewood, it smokes and smolders a punky worthless fire. You can't really make fine furniture from it. Maybe you can fashion a grapevine basket to carry your grapes inside it. But generally, in and of itself it's of no importance. Unlike other trees, whose wood can be used for construction or tools, a vine branch is good for nothing if it doesn’t produce grapes (v. 2-3).
In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:20-22), some receive the gospel with joy but fall away due to trials or worldly distractions, indicating a failure to abide. Branches (Jews or Gentiles) can be broken off from the vine (Christ) due to unbelief, showing that abiding requires ongoing faith (Romans 11:17-22). Those who have tasted God’s gifts but fall away demonstrate that it’s possible to reject Christ after initial engagement (Hebrews 6:4-6).
Matthew 7:21-23 -Jesus makes it clear:
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"
Abiding requires intentional faith, obedience, and reliance on the Holy Spirit (John 15:10; Philippians 2:12-13). A person can choose not to abide by rejecting or neglecting this relationship. And that's the true point of the true vine narrative. Jesus is insisting that his church must abide in Him. This is a clear message that a relationship with a church, temple, idolatry, self determination, is not abiding in Him. Abiding in Christ is not about external affiliations (you must abide in the vine), but an intentional relationship with Him, sustained by faith, prayer, obedience, and the Holy Spirit. All substitutions will be rejected. Affiliation with a church, temple, or religious identity doesn’t equate to abiding. Neither does self-determination or idolatry (trusting in wealth, status, or personal morality). As Ezekiel’s vine is worthless without fruit, so too is any "branch" that relies on anything but Christ.
True abiding produces spiritual fruit; love, joy, peace, and good works (Galatians 5:22-23), demonstrating a transformed life grafted and rooted in Christ. True believers, empowered by God’s grace, will not ultimately stop abiding. If someone does fall away, it's likely they were never truly alive in Christ, or at least their graft was weakened by concerns about the world. New Testament passages like 1 John 2:19 suggest they "were not of us".
Gentiles are grafted into the vine (Christ), but Paul warns they can be broken off if they don’t "continue in His kindness" (v. 22). A "bad graft" could describe those whose connection to Christ is superficial, lacking deep roots of faith.
Do not become arrogant:
Romans 11:20-21
"They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you."
They fell away from their initial enthusiasm for lack of repentance and transformation. They were prioritizing worldly concerns over Christ. Like a graft that never takes hold from the beginning, they are fit only for judgment. That "bad graft" serves as a warning against complacency.
Conclusion:
Bear fruit, for spiritual fruit is our assurance. And always keep in mind the Father, as the vinedresser, grafts believers into Christ and prunes them for greater fruitfulness. It's His work that accomplishes that.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are the vinedresser, and Your Son, Jesus, is the true vine. We thank You for grafting us into Him through faith, that we may abide in His love and bear fruit that glorifies You. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to remain steadfast, rooted in prayer, obedience, and Your Word, producing love, joy, peace, and good works. Prune us, Lord, even when it’s hard, to make us more fruitful. Guard us from worldly distractions and superficial faith, that our graft may be strong and true. For those who struggle to abide, draw them back to You with Your grace. May we live transformed lives, reflecting Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.