Ep 904 – Sanctification - John 15:1-11

When it comes to the topic of sanctification, most of us know that it has to do with what we call Christlikeness or being transformed into the image of Christ. Or to put it in simpler, easy to understand terms, to grow in spiritual maturity. But no matter how you describe sanctification, one of the things that should accompany your definition is the need for fruitfulness. Someone who is being sanctified should also be producing fruit – the fruit of the Spirit. And in John 15, we have recorded the words of Jesus as He ties fruitfulness to abiding. And it is important that we keep those two things permanently linked. Abiding is required for fruitfulness to take place. In other words, you don't produce fruit on your own. Just as a branch can't produce grapes unless it abides in the grapevine. Fruitfulness is not the byproduct of human effort. It is the result of dependence upon God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.