1 I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 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.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
(New Testament | John 15:1 - 8)
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must bear fruit. And to bear fruit we must abide in the true vine. We are not brought into the fold of God as ends in and of ourselves but something needs to come of our discipleship other than only going through the motions or just enjoying our "privileged" status as one who knows. And not only does the Lord expect us to bring forth fruit, he will also purge us in order that we might bear more fruit.
The fruit is the end result of the season's labors and what is it's purpose?. Is it meant to hang there until it drops to the ground to perish back into the soil? The fruit fills the measure of it's creation when it nourishes the life of another and if it does drop back into the ground it contains the seeds to create a greatly multiplied harvest the following season. In the end the fruit is meant to sustain and create as much life as possible. Followers of Christ abiding in him nourish those around them with truth and light and service and strength. We bear fruit as we choose to "act" in the kingdom of God with others in mind. Being a follower of Christ is more than just a profession of belief.
If we truly abide in Christ then we will be known by our fruits and they will be life giving. If we detach ourselves from the vine purposely by choice or inadvertently by inattention or diversion we will have no power to bear the fruit of salvation.
Sometimes I hear or read opinions that being Christian is all about love and acceptance seemingly disconnected from sacrifice, commandments and responsibilities. Obvious Jesus was holding up some significant expectations for his followers in these verses.
