John 15 - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible

15:1–8 See sections 2 and 5 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

15:1–8 The fruit that the heavenly vinedresser looks for in His people is Christlikeness (see Gal. 5:22, 23). In order to be productive, a branch must submit to pruning, that is, to the beneficent discipline of the Father (v. 2; see Heb. 12:10) and must maintain an abiding union with the vine (vv. 4, 5).

15:1 This seventh I am and the last self-designation in this Gospel is repeated in v. 5, describing the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. Its background is Is. 5:1–7, where Israel is compared to a vineyard under God’s loving care. But unlike Israel, Jesus is the true [real or genuine] vine.

15:2 The fruitless branch, which does not abide in the vine (v. 6), is destroyed. The immediate reference was probably to Judas, but the idea applies to all pseudo-believers (see Matt. 15:13).

15:7–11 When we abide in Christ, our prayers are effective (v. 7), we glorify God in our fruitbearing (v. 8), we demonstrate our discipleship (vv. 8–10), and our joy becomes full through experiencing Christ’s own joy within us (v. 11).

15:9–14 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of John.

15:15 The servant-master and son-father terminology describes the believer’s relationship to Christ and to the Father quite vividly. But none is quite as profound as when Jesus called His disciples friends, because it speaks of mutuality and love.

15:18–25 Godless secular society is hostile toward Christ and His followers, simply because Christian standards are in opposition to the world’s system.

15:26 Another of the Christ-oriented functions of the Spirit is to witness about Him. That witness will be authentic because God’s Spirit is the Spirit of truth.

15:27 In response to the antagonism of the world, believers bear witness concerning Christ through the power of the Spirit.