John 15 - CSB Spurgeon Study Bible

15:5 “You can do nothing without me.” We have been saved by the almighty grace of God apart from anything we do, and now that we are saved, we long to do something in return. We feel a strong desire to be of some use and service to our great Lord and Master. The text, even though there is a negative in it, raises in our souls the hope that we may do something for Christ in this life. There is the ambition and hope before us of glorifying God by bringing forth the fruits of holiness, peace, and love. We desire to make beautiful the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. By pureness, by knowledge, by patience, by true love, by every good and holy work, we want to show forth the praises of our God. Apart from the Lord Jesus we know we cannot be holy. But joined to him, we can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. And we walk in garments unspotted by the world. We read that the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gl 5:22-23). We cannot produce this fruit ourselves, and yet by faith we say with Paul, “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me” (Php 4:13).

15:15 “I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.” The heart of Christ is laid bare to his people. “The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he reveals his covenant to them” (Ps 25:14). Happy are his people, glad to be his servants—more glad, still, to be his friends.