John 15
Notes
Transcript
Jesus introduces a new relationship analogy
Jesus introduces a new relationship analogy
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Jesus is a vine
The Father is the vinedresser
We are the branches
The relationship is being constantly monitored and worked
Unfruitful branches are removed
Fruitful branches are pruned
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
The relationship is explained
Key word is abide
abide means remain
We must have a personal relationship with Jesus
Fruit is the evidence of abiding
Those that do not remain are thrown away
The distinction is communion with Jesus
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Abiding is directly related to Jesus’ words
Jesus’ words dictate our prayers
Jesus’ words dictate our actions
The Father is glorified when both are demonstrated to the world
The father is glorified through our fruit
Jesus then explains that abiding is related to love
We show our love when we keep His commands
This leads to Joy!
But what are His commands?
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
The command is to love one another
This love is expressed up to and including giving your life
We have become friends of God and now enjoy a new status
Our new status is one of love and not servitude
Jesus chose and appointed us to abide in Him
If we respond, then we will bear fruit
We will be hated by the world
We will be hated by the world
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
We are not of the world
Therefore the world hates us
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
We cannot expect to be treated better than Jesus
We will find out their hate is without cause
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
The unbeliever is primarily guilty for ignoring Jesus’ invitation
There is no reason for the unbelief
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
We will bear witness about Jesus
The Holy Spirit will also bear witness
This is done through the church
We are the branches out of the vine
We are the branches out of the vine
We are hated because of Jesus
We are hated because of Jesus
But we are Jesus’ testimony to the world
But we are Jesus’ testimony to the world