The Fruit of Truth

Scripture:  John 15:1-8

 1.  There is one true vine planted by the Husbandman. Isaiah 5:1-7

• Jesus is the vine
• God is the Gardner
• Christians are living branches

2.  There are only two types of branches:

• Dead branches = bear no fruit = takes away = no fruit
• Living branches = bear fruit = cleanse/purges/prunes = brings forth more fruit
• God has arranged for the conditions of fruitfulness to be possible, to progress over time, and to be permanent. Verse 2, 5, 8, 16
• God expects fruitfulness from Israel and from the disciple of Jesus. 

3.  The fruitfulness of the branch is entirely determined by what it is abiding in.

• A fruitful branch must abide in Jesus.
• A fruitful branch must accept the corrective, purifying pruning of the Word of Jesus. Verses 3-4, 2 Tim 3:16-17, 1 Thess 2:13, Heb 4:12 
• A fruitful branch must allow the Word of Jesus to dwell in him and abide in those words and pray. Verse 7, Col 3:16 
• A fruitful branch must obey the Word of God. Phil 4:9, 2 Tim 4:2

4.  The fruitful branch gives evidence of its fruitfulness through its fruit! Gal 5:22-23, Eph 4:1-3, Mic 6:8  

• Clean life: verse 3
• Humble life: verse 5
• Life of answered prayer: verse 7
• Obedient life: verse 7
• Consistent life:  verse 9
• Loving life: verse 9-13
• Joyful life: verse 11
• Friend of God life: verse 14
• Chosen and ordained life: verse 16

SO WHAT?

• Is there obvious evidence of fruit in your life?
• Are you absolutely confident that you are clinging to Jesus and His Word for fruitful living?
• Are you willing to let God prune away the dead things in your life to make you more fruitful?
• Do you need to seek fruitfulness in God’s one true vine?