My Dear Friend,

In John 15:2, Jesus frankly described the true nature of the spiritually fruitful life: "Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Let's zoom in on this text.

"Every" fruitful branch in the Vine of Christ represents every spiritually fruitful Christian, with no exceptions. So, Jesus' saying is sweeping and universal, not limited to any generation or culture.

Bearing "fruit" refers to two things:

1. The fruit of the Spirit – or character traits of Christlikeness manifesting in our lives: "love, joy, peace, long-suffering [patient endurance], gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

2. The fruit of our works - kingdom works and ministries initiated and led by the Holy Spirit. Or, "good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

What Jesus describes next, then, will, it must, occur in every fruitful Christian's life.

"He purges it." This purging is the precise cutting back of a branch calculated to increase its output. Spiritually, it represents the purging, or purifying, that occurs in believers after we are born-again. Our spiritual purging occurs in divinely arranged tests, especially intense or long ones. These situations try our faith, patience, loyalty, or endurance. As these divinely planned crises heat up, our latent sins show up - previously hidden wrong thoughts, motives, attitudes, words, actions, and reactions brought to the surface of our conscious lives by the pressures of testing. The Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, then convicts us of this sinful spiritual dead wood. But it doesn't end there. Our reaction is crucial.

If through pride we deny the Spirit's inner witness, we lie to ourselves, the Spirit, and the Vine, and the orchard Owner, our heavenly Father (see 1 John 1:8, 10). And we remain unpurified, unchanged, and unfit for further fruitfulness. No small thing, this means we are letting our stubborn pride shut down all our future fruitfulness. And there's more.

By choosing darkness over light, we open ourselves up to spiritual deception. We tell ourselves all is well when we know internally it is not. If not corrected, we will become like the Laodiceans, whose assessment of themselves was the opposite of Christ's assessment of them (Revelation 3:17). With this deception comes desolation. Why? Christ must withdraw the sense of His presence - and we sense this! Then discouragement envelops us, and grows, because we can never be satisfied without bearing fruit. Fruitfulness is our destiny in Christ. If we refuse to abide in truth, we walk in darkness and, like the ancient Israelites, banish ourselves to wander in the wilderness of spiritual failure, barrenness, sorrow, and grief.

If when under conviction, however, we humbly and honestly confess our sins, repent, and turn to Christ and what His Word instructs us to do about our spiritual dead wood, the Holy Spirit supernaturally purifies us. Sin's and self's oppressive power is broken by the Spirit's fire, Christ's blood, and the washing of obedience to His Word, and we are free to resume our walk in the light as Christ, our Vine, is in the light (1 John 1:7).

Now hear this: there is no other way to be purified! Or, technically speaking, wholly sanctified (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Shall I lie to you and say spiritual purging comes another way? Make you feel right without being right? Give you half the counsel of God and withhold the rest? Claim Jesus spoke John 15 to His original disciples only?

Shall I promise, "A mature Christian can lay hands on you and instantly purify you with their anointing"? Or, "We are purged by our blessings"? Or, "We are cleansed by a holy angel touching us"? Or, "Get this book, read this article, listen to this Internet video, and it will deep-clean you"? No, I don't think you want lies. So, let's tell the truth, what Jesus said, which, by the way, includes plenty of good news. His message?

Our pain creates gain! As pruned branches are productive branches, purged Christians are productive Christians. They always bear "more fruit" (John 15:2). This sweet news enables us to bear even the toughest trials with a triumphant heart, a lift in our step, thanksgiving on our lips, and songs of praise and worship in our mouths. This, my friend, is the true nature of the spiritually fruitful life. It's biblical, because it's straight from Jesus' lips. It's sure, because it's unchanging. It's in operation in your life and mine right now, and will remain so as long as we "abide," or remain, in vital touch with the Vine. And the more purging we endure, the more production we yield.

This becomes our new norm: we abide, bear fruit, experience testing, receive purging and, as we remain close to Jesus, bear more fruit. Then we're tested again, purged again and, as we remain close to the Vine, we bear Him even more fruit. And on and on . . . until He appears to receive unto Himself all His fruitful branches!

This is why fruitful trees often look short, stubby, and unattractive in our eyes - yet super-pleasing and beautiful to their owners. They want fruitful orchards, not untroubled trees! Are we as discerning, intentional, and wise? Would we rather be untouched, beautifully rounded trees of righteousness, pleasing to human eyes but barren in Christ's eyes? Or divinely purged trees that, despite many wounds, are highly productive, valued by our Owner, and vital to His kingdom's growth?

If the latter, here is a word of guidance: let's embrace for more grace. Let's fully receive all the parts of the spiritually fruitful life - abiding, fruitfulness, and purging - so Christ may fill us with more fruit-bearing grace.

The next time you experience painful purging, stop and realize what's happening, and why. Then thank the orchard Owner for whatever "knife" He is using, knowing your purging will pass, but your fruitfulness will endure . . . forever: "He that reapeth ... gathereth fruit unto life eternal" (John 4:36). This insight heals and protects.

It disinfects our soul-wounds so offense, unbelief, and rebellion cannot infect us. It softens our life-incisions, keeping our hearts open, responsive to God, and free of deadly hardness of heart. Thus, bandaged God's way, we experience the healing of every incision and amputation our Owner has permitted for His higher purposes.

And once healed, we find to our amazement we're not bitter but better. We feel great - strong, stable, steadily moving forward, closer than ever to Jesus, experiencing more of His Spirit, enjoying greater insight into His Word, finding deeper peace in His presence, and discerning His hand working in our lives and others' more than ever. The fruit of the Spirit is flowing and increasing effortlessly. And we are increasing in Spirit-led kingdom works. Wondrously, the Vine has made all our bitterness blessedness.

And when additional tests come to purge us, we find them much easier to endure in calm faith and sweet fellowship with Him. Why? We're persevering through the pain expecting more gain!

Persevering, expecting,

Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES