The imagery in John 15 is some of the most helpful for you to understand what it means to have union with Christ – and to remain in Christ. It will help you think about what happens when someone you thought was a Christian walks away from the faith. It will help you think about what happens to someone’s standing before God if they get dementia and become a different person.
But more than that, a good understanding about what it means to remain in Christ will actually help you every day. You’ll pray more effectively, live a more fulfilled Christian life.
And here’s the important thing: This is crucial for every single one of us, whether you’ve been a Christian for 5 minutes or just been appointed an elder of the church.
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube delivered at Bromborough Evangelical Church in May 2026. You can find more in the series in our sermon index.
Jesus is the True Vine (1-3)
Jesus didn’t just pluck the image of a vine out of the air.
It’s an Old Testament image of Israel. You can find Israel described as a vine in Isaiah 5, Jeremiah 2, Ezekiel 15 – in each case the vine is producing bad fruit and is good for nothing. Last Sunday evening we read Psalm 80 where Israel was a vine, also called God’s son, and a son of man (Psalm 80:15-17). Again, in their sin they were rejected by God.
So when Jesus calls himself the ‘true’ vine he’s making the point that God’s people truly belong to him. He fulfils Israel.
It’s a theme that’s been building throughout John’s gospel:
- At the wedding in Cana, there’s a suggestion of water purification rites being superseded by Jesus.
- When he fed the 5,000 he said he was the Bread of Life, better than Moses.
- He said that “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
- If someone tore down the temple he would rebuild it in 3 days, speaking of himself – better than Jerusalem’s temple
- He told the woman of Samaria that it wouldn’t matter where you worshipped God: He supersedes physical locations.
- And here is, in the last of his “I AM” statements, saying that he is the true vine, the living Israel.
- To be a man or woman of God, you must be in him, the true vine.
A living image
Read John 15:1. The vine is a powerful, living image.
It’s not like something made of Lego. Imagine him saying, “I am the Lego base. You are the pieces.” You could add many, many pieces – most of which would have no living connection to the base.
No, he is the true vine. His people are the branches.
The branches derive all their life and energy from the Vine. And the Vine bears its fruit through the branches.
You’re not called to religion. Church growth isn’t about numbers. Being added to the church is about being in a living relationship with God himself, in Christ.
And because that kind of living relationship is so real, you need to take seriously what Christ is like. He is holy; you’re naturally sinful and rebellious. Your sin would repel you from his holiness. But his compassion draws him to you: He sees that you’re dead in your sin and he comes to you with life. Turn from your sin; turn to him for forgiveness and life. You’re not coming to a religion; you’re coming to true life.
Fake or Weak?
So read John 15:2.
A person who calls themselves a Christian that doesn’t produce fruit in keeping with Christ can’t possibly be a real Christian. Otherwise somehow Jesus himself would have failed.
If you’ve ever wondered about terrible things done in Christ’s name, or about terrible people who called themselves Christian, here’s the answer: They weren’t. Whatever they think of themselves, they’re cut off. Dead.
What about if someone feels they’re “a rubbish Christian”? Not as effective as other Christians? We’re all a work in progress. Every one of us. Even fruitful branches will be pruned, shaped, cultivated by God to produce more fruit. No-one is as fruitful as they could be; pruning is inevitable and necessary for us all.
In fact, this is good news for you if you feel weak, or bruised, or grieving. God himself will nurture and cultivate you from the wild thing you are into beautiful Christlikeness.
The Father and the Son will make their home in you, by the Holy Spirit in you.
Be encouraged; he will complete what he’s started in you.
So again: Jesus is the true vine. His people are the branches. The branches derive all their life and energy from the Vine. And the Vine bears its fruit through the branches.
What fruit?
Now by now you might be wondering what kind of fruit we mean:
- If the fruit produced by the branches reflects the vine the branches are in, that’s a clue! Think about Jesus.
- The fruit you can expect is love (even to enemies).
- Or compassion for the broken.
- Also, witness to God and obedience to him. And more.
- Every Christian must inevitably bear some of these fruits, and more and more as that pruning continues.
Remain in him (4-6)
Read John 15:4-5.
Jesus is using a metaphor or a picture for us, but it conveys a spiritual reality. If he is the vine and we’re the branches, then you’re connected to him in a real and spiritual way. His life nourishes you, always. If you’re a Christian, you’re connected to Jesus.
And because he lives, he will bear fruit through you.
He says you’ll bear ‘much fruit’. Don’t think about numbers; visualise a grapevine, or an apple tree. It’s normal for a healthy, mature branch to bear much fruit. You’re not being set a target here other than spiritual health: A life lived in conscious dependence on Jesus will be spiritually healthy, even if your body is falling apart.
And whether you’re a church elder or a brand new Christian, you’re connected to the same Jesus in the same way.
But think about cut flowers from a florist. They’re beautiful, and they look to be thriving at first. But because they’re cut off from their root, they’re doomed.
Nothing!
So Jesus says that apart from him you can do nothing! Not, “You can hardly do anything without me.” Or, “You’ll only get so far without me.” But, “You can do nothing without me.”
And that’s as true for you individually as it is for the church. A church can look ok, but actually be disconnected from Jesus. Then it’s a Lego church, a Lego tree. Impressive, but dead.
And if you’re a Christian connected to Jesus, the true Vine, then you will only flourish in deliberate connection to the rest of the branch, this church here. You’re not just making up the numbers. You’re not a spare part, or a removable Lego branch. Engage. Get stuck into a Life Group. Encourage others. Don’t wait for them to encourage you: Let Christ bear the fruit of love and compassion through you first!
Perseverance of the Saints?
But someone might be worried about the next bit: Read John 15:6.
If you have never prayed to God for forgiveness of your sin, then you are as dead in those sins as a dried-up, cut off branch. You should be deeply concerned about your eternal soul. Let me tell you that there are Christians who are already concerned and praying that you will come to God for forgiveness of your sin.
But maybe you have been forgiven by God, with Jesus counted as punished in your place. And what if you’ve sinned again, maybe in a big way? Or what if you’re worried about dementia, that maybe you’ll forget you ever even were a Christian? Does your ongoing salvation depend on your efforts at remaining in Christ? No, it does not.
If you’re a Christian, it’s because God the Father chose you in love, and then entrusted you to the Son of God. When someone comes to faith, the Son won’t turn them away! Nor will he lose any who have come – he will return them to the Father in love and obedience.
- Read John 6:37 – he will never turn anyone away.
- Read John 6:39 – he will never lose anyone either.
What can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus? Height or depth, principalities or powers, cancer or dementia?
Nothing can. He will keep you to the end, whatever comes.
But Jesus then says something surprising:
Ask whatever you want (7-8)
Read John 15:7-8.
Imagine walking a child into a sweet shop and saying, “ask whatever you want and it will be done for you”! Or any of us, really. It’s the kind of thing that gets our material senses tingling! The ultimate trolley dash!
But we need to see the whole idea:
- “If you remain in me and my words remain in you”. That is, your life, actions – even your very desires – are fuelled by your union with Jesus. You have stepped into the fast-flowing, powerful river of his will – not yours. All your life and energy comes from from Jesus, the true Vine. And the Vine bears its fruit through the branches. In other words, you want what he wants.
- When you want what he wants, because you’re so fully rooted and connected to him, living in his will, then you can “ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.”
Someone might say that sounds like a catch! A swizz! But that’s to forget that what Jesus wants for you is the very best thing for you.
Pray for fruit
So pray for the very fruit you know he wants and intends to bear through you and this church!
- Pray for your own ability to forgive, to love, to have compassion.
- Pray for those who hurt you or offend you.
- Always pray for growth in the church so that lost people will come to faith.
- Never stop praying for unbelieving people to come to faith.
- Pray for me and these new elders that we would proclaim Christ, refute error, defend the faith.
In doing this, and as Jesus answers and bears fruit through you and among us, you bring glory to the Father.
If you don’t pray, or if you’re satisfied with little fruit, you choose to limit the work of Christ in you. That glorifies no-one, and satisfies only the devil.
But as you grow in Christ and he bears fruit through you, it demonstrates the simple but profound fact that he lives! As he bears fruit through you, his kingdom extends. His honour is upheld and he is glorified.
The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective simply because they’re so in tune with the will of God. Make that your plan, your desire.
Summary
Jesus is the true vine.
Cultivate a living, nourishing relationship with him in everything.
He is your life; he will bear his fruit in the world through you.
Know his will and pray it, so that he will bear much fruit.
There are no passengers; we’re all branches, joined together.
Remain in Christ every day, to the Father’s glory.