What Does Scripture Teach?

The Church, here in the West, has often made a distinction between a “believer” in Jesus Christ and a “disciple” of Jesus Christ. It’s a distinction, however, that Scripture fails to make—that you can be a saved “believer” and live your entire life for yourself. That, if you desire, you can become a “disciple” and live out your days as a “super saint” for Jesus. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say anything even close to that. If you abide in Jesus, you will produce the fruit of a disciple. That’s the outcome of genuine faith.

Grape Vines Produce Grapes

There will always be fruit where there is genuine faith. It’s as natural as a grapevine producing grapes. That’s what grapevines do. And there is fruit that is naturally produced by God’s Spirit in the life of every genuine believer who abides in Jesus. In fact, that’s exactly what Jesus says. Fruitfulness is the proof that you’re a “believer” and a “disciple.” “If anyone does not abide in Me,” Jesus said, “he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:6–8). We bring glory to God when our lives produce fruit because it proves that He’s saved us. The proof is in the fruit.

Love, Joy & Obedience

Then Jesus expands on that in the next several verses (vv. 9–17). Fruitfulness, He says, is measured by our love, our obedience, and our joy. “This is My commandment,” Jesus said, “that you love one another as I have loved you.” Loving others isn’t an option for anyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus. If there’s no love, it’s because there is no spiritual life. Where there’s no love, there’s no “abiding in Jesus.” “You are My friends,” He said, “if you do what I command you.” We cannot pick and choose what we’re going to obey in God’s Word. Disobedience isn’t an option. If we truly abide in Christ, we’ll repent when we disobey and realign our lives accordingly with the Scriptures. And there will be joy in your life—“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Our joy is linked to a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not circumstantial.

Even When Life Is Hard

Abiding in Christ produces joy. Even when the rest of life derails, our joy is centered in Jesus. All those grumpy, mean-spirited haters out there who claim to be followers of Jesus must have missed that Scripture—or they don’t really abide in Christ. This text presents a clear case that God the Father won’t stand idle while His children act up. He will prune: “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” (John 15:2). He will discipline His own. He will spank. But He doesn’t spank the devil’s kids. Our response to His discipline will either confirm or deny that our “faith” is legitimate. We will confess sin and let His Spirit clean house.