How often we tell ourselves and others, “Bear fruit!” But we forget that Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Stay with me … The one who stays with me and I with him — this is the one who bears much fruit. (John 15:4–5)

That’s the hourly focal point: Stay with Jesus and talk to him. Paul will talk about the same idea in terms of walking in/with the Spirit (Galatians 5, et al.). The Gospels portray our Lord walking in step with the Father (John 15:10; Matthew 6–7). In all these instances, the focal point is the same: The power of Christian formation comes entirely from the Triune God. He’s the vine. We’re just branches (John 15:5). The gospel of “God with us” directs our attention towards the Triune God.

If our Christian character formation is going to be more than another self-improvement plan, if it’s going to be rooted in the gospel, it has to focus on the presence and power of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

If someone does not stay with me, he’s cast out like a branch. Withered, they gather them and throw them into the fire and it’s burned. (John 15:6)

There’s no other way. There is no Christian formation apart from the strength that God supplies.

What does that look like? More and more the answer I’m hearing has to do with the word dependence, hourly dependence upon Jesus, taking refuge in the Son (Psalm 2:12), talking to the Father (Matthew 6:9–13), over and over, and expecting the Spirit of the living Christ to respond — to act in your life — in a real way (John 15:16).