SEPARATED TO CHRIST
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so that you will be My disciples" (John 15:8).
One of the greatest supporters of separation is the devil himself. He has developed the technique of separation to a fine art. Wherever he comes across a group of Christians who are keen, alert and getting on with the job, the most effective way he has of making them non-productive is to get them all tied up with separation.
The more he can get them "separating from," the more successful is his plan. It can sound so good, so "Christian" and so "holy" when really it is so completely negative.
Jesus said: "And I, if I am lifted up . . . will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32). His approach was entirely positive.
Many people think in terms of "we don't do this, we don't go there, we can't wear that." This is the way the world judges, but it is utterly fruitless. The Lord said: "...by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20).
It is interesting to discover what the various nations and denominations think of "separation."
In America, smoking and drinking are not generally practiced by convinced Christians, but cosmetics can be freely used. In Britain, smoking and drinking are generally "out," and cosmetics are only just coming "in." In Germany smoking and drinking can still be used, but cosmetics are definitely "out." Other diverse views are taken regarding movies, the wearing of hats by ladies, the wearing of shorts or slacks by ladies, the non-wearing of stockings by ladies, and the color of men's Sunday clothes and shoes.
In each case the emphasis is deflected from positive growth; instead, it is separation from this, and this, and this. The process is entirely negative and to practice it effectively, we must keep checking and looking at the things from which we are separated.
But being "separated to" is the positive position, where a Christian looks to the object of his separation. In John 8:12 Christ said: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness. . . ." If we imagine the physical act of following a light we can easily see that our pathway is illuminated as we go. If we turn aside or turn our backs on the light, the very act of putting ourselves between the light and our pathway causes us to walk in a darkness — our own shadow!
In John 15:1-11 our Lord is teaching the secret of positive separation. He calls it "abiding." His perfect illustration is the branch abiding in the vine. The branch belongs to the vine, the vine belongs to the branch — they are "separated" to each other. Abiding is separation, and separation is abiding. Notice that abiding is not "doing nothing"; it is a positive act whereby the branch becomes a channel through which can flow the life of the vine. Abiding is inevitably bound up with fruitfulness. Where there is not abiding, there is no fruit. This, as our Lord taught in John 15:5, is the relationship between the believer and the Lord.
As one views the lives of many Christians, it is obvious that with many of them there is a real desire to be fruitful. Many are ready and willing to give of their time, labor and money to help in the cause of fruitbearing — whether it be personal fruitbearing or the fruitbearing of a church or Sunday school.
In nearly every case, the believer is earnestly trying to produce fruit to the glory of God. Many churches are united in their one desire to produce more fruit than last year.
How much heartache would be spared if we realized that our Lord taught that the branch did not produce the fruit — it bore the fruit. The fact that we are called not to produce fruit but to bear fruit is the great secret of abiding.
The branches do not have to turn and twist, to struggle and strive, in order to squeeze out the grapes. Instead the branch abides, and the life of the vine flows into and through the withered looking vine branch, and in God's good time, in cooperation with all other aspects of God's creation, the fruit is borne.
Jesus taught that there were three degrees of fruitfulness — fruit, more fruit (verse 2), much fruit (verses 5, 8). The basis of all is abiding, but the degree differs as our relationship deepens.
Verse 2 teaches us that "bearing fruit" is the natural result of abiding "in Him." Obviously the branch must be in the vine before the sap can flow. But the first verse teaches that the Father is the husbandman, the gardener, who seeks to bring his vines to peak production and then to keep them in that state.
At the same time, Christ says that any branch that is bearing no fruit at all is taken away. If there is not one single grape then the branch is removed — but this would be a rare event. Most branches can and do bear, at least, a few grapes. There can hardly be a single true Christian who is utterly fruitless. The grapes may be few and small, but there is fruit.
Notice now what the Father does to a branch bearing only "fruit" — He prunes it. Just as the gardener will cut back here and cut off there, so God operates in our lives. The result of the gardener's work is to "limit" the branch, to make it smaller, to remove the long showy growths. When he has finished, the branch will be a sorry sight — clipped, sawn and cut — but by his skillful hands the branch is prepared for more fruit next season.
So God often operates in our lives. If we abide we may be pruned. We may feel that our lives are being cramped, we may be losing connections here, or our efforts in one direction may suddenly come to a stop. Suffering may enter our lives, sorrow and loss may come. God is not being cruel or spiteful or vicious — He is preparing for "more fruit." Remember that the One who prunes the tree holds the shears and the knife. Hebrews 12:6: "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
While "more fruit" is certainly an improvement over "fruit," the target is "much fruit." Many of us learned in our catechism that "Man's chief aim is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever." That is very true. Every Christian's chief aim should be "to glorify God." See how this links up with verse 8 in our passage: "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit." God is only glorified in our lives when we bear much fruit. It is interesting to remember that in Luke 2:8, the shepherds were abiding. In verse 14 the angels announced glory to God in the highest. In the manger was the divine "much fruit."
If pruning brings "more fruit," what then is the secret of "much fruit"? The secret is detailed for us in verse 5 of our passage: "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit." When we compare this verse with verse 2, we see that in verse 2 there is fruit when "the branch is in me." But verse 5 has an addition to verse 2; not only is there "He who abides in Me," but there is "and I in him." This is the key. The Lord says when "I am in Him," as well as "he in me," then there is the "much fruit."
This, first of all, is a deepening of relationship. When I am "in Christ," I am safe. I have been born again and have come into a new relationship.
In one sense, it is a one-way traffic, for all the blessings are mine. But when we recognize that not only am "I in Him" but in a more wonderful way "He is in me", then my relationship is deepened. My abiding is more complete and peaceful.
This world, then, takes its proper place in my sense of values and in my order of priorities. I cease to plan to produce fruit and can now afford to abide to bear fruit, then "more fruit," and then "much fruit." The Lord adds these words on the end of verse 5, "for without Me you can do nothing" — not even one thing.
This spotlights the real heavenly value of much of our "fruit production." It may seem in our eyes that our plans, our programs, our personalities have made a great hit. Numbers were enlarged, offerings were increased, our goals were passed. But this is not "fruit" — let alone "more fruit" or "much fruit."
Fruit is not produced by the branch, it is borne on the branch by the life of the vine working in and through the branch. So then, "much fruit" is not produced by my efforts, but I become the channel through whom flows the life of Christ. Fruit-bearing ceases then to be my responsibility. I simply become the channel, the vehicle, through whom Christ can operate in His Risen Life.
Remember, true separation is not negative, but very positive. True separation is "abiding," the only source of fruitfulness.
This stand on separation will solve and answer many of the questions that are perplexing young Christians. If I am truly and sincerely separated unto Christ, wanting Him first in all things, for His pleasure and glory always — then many of the problems would never arise.
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
The fullness of joy comes with the "much fruit" which in turn can be our experience as we realize the Person of the indwelling Christ. Not that I am indwelt by some kind of Holy Spirit of which I know nothing — but that Christ my blessed Saviour lives in me, so that all that He is can be expressed through my life in terms of my yielded humanity.
