Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 15:5

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing." — John 15:5 (ASV)

He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:

Oh, what a searching word is this! Are we bringing forth much fruit? I trust, dear brethren, that we are bringing forth some fruit; but, oh! what a test is this, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." Christ expects much from those who have this doubly high privilege of having him in them, and of being themselves in him.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:

This double abiding gives a double harvest. Christ in me, and I in Christ – I must be fruitful. Oh! beloved, pay close attention to this.

I am afraid we drift away from Christ. There is more danger of this in long-time believers than there is in new believers. The new believer is warm of heart. The very novelty of the experience keeps him near his Master, but oh! take care of slackening; you who have been long pilgrims, take care of slackening. It is so easy to grow cold in this cold world, and it is so hard to maintain the holy spiritual fervor, without which there is no spiritual health.

He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Not "you will do less," or "you will do least," but you can do nothing—nothing good, nothing spiritual, nothing acceptable, if severed from Jesus.

I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

"Severed from me, you can bear no fruit whatever. Not only can you not do much, but you can do nothing apart from me."

I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Not merely will you do very little, but you can do nothing at all if you are severed from Christ. You are absolutely and entirely dependent upon Christ both for your life and for your fruit-bearing.

Do we not wish to have it so, beloved? It is the incipient principle of apostasy when a man wishes to be independent of Christ in any degree, when he says, "Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me that I may have something in hand, some spending money of my own." No; you must, from day to day, from hour to hour, and even from moment to moment, derive life, light, love, everything that is good, from Christ. What a blessing that it is so!