Drawn Into Life

None of us had any choice in when, where, and to whom we would be born. And the physical act of birth is an abrupt change of environment for the infant.

In an instant, though for some mom’s it may have felt like an eternity, the newborn finds himself/herself in a completely foreign and radically different environment. No wonder babies cry at birth! They have been through a traumatic event, often delivered into a room of people whom they have only heard voices, but never seen, into a world of light, sound, and activity that is far different than the place from which they came.

During the next few Sunday’s I invite you to join me as we explore an important yet often neglected biblical idea: REGENERATION or UNION WITH CHRIST

One of the most vivid illustrations of this biblical concept is from Jesus’ Himself:

John 15:1–8 (HCSB)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Let me encourage you to share in memorizing this passage over the next few Sundays as we recognize how Jesus draws us into life.

The account of Jesus’ life shared with us by an early follower named John includes the following:

Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Second Edition 2.1. Metaphorical “I Am” Statements

“I am the bread of life” (Jn 6:35, 48) (cf. Jn 6:41, 51:

“I am the [living] bread who descends from heaven”)

“I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12) (cf. Jn 9:5)

“I am the door (for the sheep)” (Jn 10:7, 9)

“I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11, 14)

“I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25)

“I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6)

“I am the true vine (Jn 15:1, 5)

tThese are all statements focused on Jesus as both the source and sustainer of real life - the life into which He draws us.

Beginning our search for all that it means to experience this new life let’s focus on Jesus’ claim in John 15:1

John 15:1 HCSB

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.

As the Vine He is linked to the Father

Later in John 15 as Jesus develops this image of life, we will hear Him say

John 15:10 HCSB

If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.

It is beyond our comprehension to grasp the union between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, we know that we must be linked to God - in His fullness - in order to have life.

What do we know about this unity between the Father and the Son?

Listen to Jesus:

John 14:10 HCSB

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works.

Father, Son and Spirit: The Trinity and John’s Gospel (Introduction > Chapter Seven: Christology in John’s Trinitarian Perspective: Jesus’ Filial Identity)

John’s Jesus created and now governs the world (1:3; 5:17), raises the dead (5:21), judges the world (5:22) and breathes the Spirit of life (20:22), to cite but a few examples. John also attributes to Jesus the ‘name’ of the one true God … Moreover, John ascribes to Jesus the right to be worshipped, a right enjoyed by Israel’s God alone (see 5:23; 20:28).

Simply put: all that is true of God, all that His Word claims of God is true of Jesus as well.

Though we are connected to God through the vine, our connection is not like the one between the Father and the Son.

That is a unique bond.

As the Vine, we have a life-giving connection with Jesus

He is the vine. His Father is the vinedresser. There is a clear difference.

The Vine-Dresser/Gardener

“My Father is the gardener” is Jesus claim. Drawing on a rich OT image of Israel as God’s unique and chosen people, the vine in the OT often symbolized the barrenness and emptiness of Israel. In other words, the illustration of the vine was often used to justify God’s actions in allowing Israel to be displaced - as one pastor friend acknowledged: Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon was the best thing to ever happen to Israel!

Here in Jesus’ illustration though we - those who are choosing to follow Jesus - are the vine. It is through us God intends to demonstrate His power, His presence, and His purposes.

In this passage, the gardener has two responsibilities:

to prune deadwood

This is not meant to suggest that God judges believers and those who don’t measure up are cast away. If that were the case, none of us could be here today!

Rather, what it visualizes, is that God will eliminate whatever doesn’t belong so that the new life He has given will flourish!

to insure fruitfulness

The new life into which Jesus invites us is not a static, non-growing life. Rather, the life into which Jesus calls us is alive, growing, exhibiting evidence of new life.

God’s role is to nourish and sustain Jesus’ followers so that our lives produce much fruit.

Life as Jesus defines requires an unbroken connection

John 15:4–7 (HCSB)

Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

Don’t miss the section underlined:

Remaining in Him

At first glance this seems beyond possible. In my scattered and distracted life how am I supposed to stay focused on Jesus?

Is that what it means to ‘remain?’

Or am I in danger of not remaining if I disobey?

Remember what Jesus had just promised those early followers of Jesus -

John 14:15–17 HCSB

“If you love Me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.

Because of Jesus unbreakable connection with the Father, together they cooperate in giving us the indwelling Holy Spirit - who is with us forever.

The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

The ‘remaining’ or ‘abiding’ Jesus speaks of is reciprocal. We are His by the every present Holy Spirit and He is ours based on His unbreakable connection with the Father.

RESPOND AND REFLECT

This life into which Jesus draws us illustrated by a visual of a vine and its branches is not all Jesus has to say about this life.

It is one illustration of the nature and character of this life.

Two things to remember as we conclude:

a). John 15:3

John 15:3 HCSB

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Jesus is not speaking to people dead in their sin. He is speaking to us - all who seek to follow Him - as imperfect and flawed as we are.

b). John 15:8

John 15:8 HCSB

My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

The ultimate objective in all this:

THAT GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED

When Adam and Eve were compelled by God to leave the Garden they passed on to all their descendants a nature that is bent towards disobedience, towards lawlessness.

As the sacrifice of an animal ‘covered’ the sin of Adam and Eve - a vivid picture of what Jesus would do thousands of years later - you and I require new birth - a supernatural experience that we cannot replicate.

If you are not born again as Jesus defines it, none of this makes any sense. Jesus’ words about life are nonsense.

When you came into the building you should have received a CONNECT CARD.

Take it out now -

Please share with us your name, and other information.

On one side you see a list of questions:

TODAY I AM…

Far from God and would like to talk with someone about it…

Interested in learning more about Community Baptist Church…

Willing to publicly proclaim my faith in Jesus…

Willing to follow in believers baptism…

willing to receive information on how to join Community Baptist Church…

Place these in the blue boxes at the back of the room as you leave along with tithes and offerings.