“remain” (NIV) = “abide” (KJV) = meno (Greek) means to stay, wait, or remain without leaving. This is like a man who came into town and bought a house. He moved into the house, unpacked his bags, took off his shoes, and plopped down in an easy chair, with no intentions of moving from there.

Notice that there is a mutual abiding here: that of Christ in us and that of us in Christ. They cannot be separated and they are the prerequisite for fruit-bearing.

If you went into a vineyard during pruning time you would be amazed at the amount of destruction. There seems to be way too much cutting for the vines to ever be able to recover, and yet that is exactly what they do. In fact, if there is not a severe cutting back, then there will not be a large harvest and what grapes are produced will be of a lesser quality. Quantity and quality depend upon severe pruning.

Pruning is not a pleasant thing, I am sure, to the branches of the vine. The tool of the vinedresser is a sharp knife and when the branches are cut, the wounds ooze until the healing takes place. Though it is not pleasant, it is necessary and in the long run it is very good for the branches and for the vine.

There are three parts of the grapevine that Jesus uses in His metaphor: the vine, which is Him; the branches that have life in them, which is the true Christian; and the branches that do not have life. These latter are those people who profess to be Christians and yet are as dead as roadkill. Jesus says that the Vinedresser, Father God, will cut them off and throw them into the fire.

Notice that the main goal Jesus is seeking here is not to improve the life in the branches, but to improve the branches which have life in them. In fact, you can’t abide in Christ if you don’t have life in you in the first place. How do you get that life? By recognizing the only true Source of life and giving yourself fully to Him. Jesus wants to improve the life in us so that we will produce fruit. Fruitless beranches have a superficial relationship with the Vine. If there is real union with the Vine, then there will most certainly be fruit.

Even we branches that have life in them also have shoots coming off of us which do not produce life and these, too, will be cut off. What are those shoots without life? They are the works we do out of our own fleshly abilities and decisions. Essentially, fruitless shoots are the product of self. We may do a multitude of works and serve in many capacities in the church; we may help the poor and the needy and serve others, but works are not fruit. That which we do out of our own abilities and our own decisions will amount to nothing. They will accomplish nothing eternal and are wasted time in the eyes of the Lord. (1 Cor 3:11-15) Jesus is the ONLY source of fruit. See (Gal 5:22-23).

1 Corinthians 3:11-15  For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Maclaren notes that other religions and teachers “tell us how we ought to live and give us laws, patterns, and examples, reasons and motives for pure and noble lives” but Jesus gives us life and changes us from the inside out. He observes, “What is the use of giving a man a copy if he cannot copy it?” Jesus doesn’t just tell us what to do; He gives us the ability to do it. He gives us life and fruit. Morality says to the cripple, “This is how you ought to walk” but Christianity says to him what Peter said in (Acts 3:6-9).

Acts 3:6-9  Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

The whole key to a fruitful life is abiding in Christ. What this means is emptying yourself of self and letting His life take over. What it all comes down to is this: the closer we are to Jesus, the more fruit we will see in our lives. Do you want to be holy? Do you want to see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control manifest in you? Then get close to Jesus and stay there. Abide in Him, for He is the only source of life and the only source of real fruit.