Obedience is…

Last week, we looked at prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting go hand in hand. Jesus said after he left this earth, his disciples would fast. Prayer and fasting should be a routine part of the life of a believer.

Today, we are going to look at one of the “I AM” sayings of Jesus. The passage we are going to look contains a word that needs to be properly understood before the passage can be properly interpreted. The word is “remain” or “abide”. The word is used eleven times in and forty times through the gospel of John. When you think of “remaining” or “abiding”, you might think of “staying put”. You might think of the idea like “I had to remain at work today.” In other words, I had to stay in the place I was occupying. However, when John used the word “remain” or “abide” it carried a different concept. The word means to “keep on, to continue in an activity or state of being.”

Remain (abide) - μενω - “keep on, to continue in an activity or state of being”

This is important to understand because bad theology leads to bad practice. Some people have used this passage of Scripture to advocate the position that a true believer can lose their salvation; however, such a teaching would be completely inconsistent with Jesus’ other words and John’s other writings. John doesn’t teach the possibility of losing your salvation. Jesus doesn’t teach that you can lose your salvation. Jesus is saying his true followers keep on. They stay with him. They continue on faithfully obeying his teachings.

In order to understand what Jesus is teaching you have to look at the larger context. Jesus is talking to Jewish people. Many Jews thought, and some still think, just because they are Abraham’s descendants, just because they are of the right family, they are going to be saved. Salvation is not about being of the right family line. Salvation is having faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is saying,

“I know many people think they have a real relationship with me. I suppose because they come to worship, they think they are in a relationship with God and are eternally secure. In truth, anyone who trusts in anything or anyone but me is not in me at all and has no relationship with me. Those who truly are in me bear fruit. Those who do not bear fruit are not in me and will be severed from any relation to me and will ultimately face God’s wrath.”

With that background, let’s look at the Scriptures together.

John 15:1–10 CSB

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 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. 6 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. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 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.

The first thing I want you to notice is:

Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the gardener. ()

To our ears, this statement doesn’t sound too shocking, but to the first century Jew, this statement would have been scandalous. First, Jesus is claiming equality with Yahweh. He said, “I AM”. This linked him to the Great I AM of the Exodus. When Moses asked God to reveal his name, God said, “I AM”. To further the scandalous claim, Jesus claimed to be the true vine. The symbol of Israel was the vine. They put this image on their walls and coins. The idea was that the people of Israel are God’s people and they were entrusted with the ways of life. In the Old Testament, Israel is often pictured as a vine. Now, Jesus reveals himself as the true vine, not Israel. What this means is that Jesus is starting a new people of God, a new Israel. Jesus is the source of life and outside of Jesus there is no life.

Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the gardener.

Second, God loving prunes to make Jesus’ disciples more productive.

God lovingly prunes to make Jesus’ disciples more productive. (, )

John 15:2 CSB

2 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.

Now, look at verse ten.

John 15:10 CSB

10 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.

Remaining in Jesus is not a passive thing. It involves obedience to Jesus’ commands. The love of God is not in a person who refuses to obey the word of God. Obedience isn’t about “rule-keeping”. Obedience is a way of life. It is discipleship. It is having Jesus as your King and Lord. The love of God is not in a person who refuses to obey the word of God. To quote the children’s song I learned so many years ago, “Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands and doing it happily. Action is the key, Do it immediately. Joy you will receive.” How can we say “joy you will receive?”

John 15:11 CSB

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

The fruit that God wanted from Adam and Eve was their loving obedience. They only had one thing and they couldn’t do that. The fruit that God wanted from the nation of Israel was their loving obedience, but they wouldn’t obey. As matter of fact, at one point in their history, the record states that they did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. The fruit that God wants from us today is our loving obedience. When we obey him and follow his ways, he gives us joy!

Do you know what I am seeing today? Many people would are claiming the name of Christ and are publically living in complete disobedience to the Word of God. I am not talking about issues that godly people can disagree about; I am talking about living openly sinful lifestyle. They are liars, addicts, sexually immoral, homosexual, advocating for abortion, and idolators. You aren’t a true disciple of Jesus Christ if you are living a lifestyle of disobedience to his clear revealed Word.

(Time, Resources, Relationships, Behaviors)

John 15:2 CSB

2 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.

There are two types of branches: fruit producing branches and branches that produce no fruit. The branches may look similar, but the lack of fruit on some of them denotes them as not part of the true vine, Jesus. It is the fruit production that reveals who is really connected to Jesus and who is not. We will look at the non-fruit being branches in just a little bit. Right now, let’s talk about the ones that are producing fruit. The ones connected to the true vine are pruned for the purpose of increasing the fruit production.

I don’t know much about pruning. I did plant lime, lemon, and avocado trees last year, so I will probably need to become more familiar with pruning. With my basic understanding, pruning should always be done with a purpose in mind. Some pruning is done to change the way the tree is growing. Some pruning is done to maintain or improve the health of the tree. Some pruning is done to improve the quantity of fruit production. Pruning improves sunlight penetration and increases air movement through the tree so that the tree will be healthy.

I doubt that trees have feeling, but if they did, they would probably ask you to not cut off their parts. They may not understand why it is necessary. They might be a little afraid and might even doubt your intentions. I think we do this with God. We don’t like to be pruned. It is uncomfortable, maybe even unpleasant, but it is necessary. God lovingly prunes us to make us more productive for his kingdom.

Hebrews 12:11 CSB

11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews

Being trained is hard and it should be if it is going to be effective training. Being pruned is uncomfortable and it should be if it is going to be effective. I know that we don’t like this. I would love to think the more chips I eat the skinnier I will become, but it just isn’t true. I have to prune things out of my diet to achieve results. Likewise, there are things that will need to be pruned out of your life as you grow spiritually. There might be things about the way you spend your time that need to be pruned. There might be things about the way you use your resources that will need to be pruned. There might be relationships in your life that need to be pruned. There might be behaviors that need to be be pruned.

Don’t resist the pruning. Welcome the pruning as a loving act of God who desires for your life to be more productive. What does God use to prune us?

God uses his Word as the pruning instrument. ()

John 15:3 CSB

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

God’s word reveals to us what needs to change in our lives. This is why reading and studying God’s Word is so important. It is the instrument by which we are changed. It is the instrument by which we are pruned. We realize that the Scriptures talk about how we spend our time and our resources. We realize that the Bible talks about what kinds of relationships should be in my life and which ones shouldn’t be in my life. The Bible teaches us what we should do and what we should not do. God uses his Word as the instrument to prune us and God is glorified when we produce much fruit.

God is glorified when Jesus’ disciples produce much fruit. ()

John 15:8 CSB

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

Don’t be afraid of the pruning because it is going to make you a more productive disciple. ()

Hebrews 12:10 CSB

10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.

To glorify God is the chief purpose of humanity. We are to bring glory to God and we glorify God by producing fruit. What is the fruit that we are to be producing? Your mind might go to the fruit of the Spirit that we are studying this month; however, the fruit in this passage is a little different.

Look at verse ten.

God is glorified when obedient disciples produce much fruit. ()

John 15:10 CSB

10 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.

Just as prayer and fasting go together, so do love and obedience. Remaining in Jesus is not a passive thing. It involves obedience to Jesus’ commands. The love of God is not in a person who refuses to obey the word of God. Obedience isn’t about “rule-keeping”. Obedience is a way of life. It is discipleship. It is having Jesus as your King and Lord. The love of God is not in a person who refuses to obey the word of God. To quote the children’s song I learned so many years ago, “Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing exactly what the Lord commands and doing it happily. Action is the key, Do it immediately. Joy you will receive.” How can we say “joy you will receive?”

John 15:11 CSB

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

There are no true disciples of Jesus who do not have some measure of the fruit of obedience. Do you know what I am seeing today? Maybe you are seeing this too. Many people would are claiming the name of Christ and are publically living in complete disobedience to the Word of God. I am not talking about issues that godly people can disagree about; I am talking about living openly sinful lifestyle. They are liars, addicts, sexually immoral, homosexual, advocating for abortion, and idolators. You aren’t a true disciple of Jesus Christ if you are living a lifestyle of disobedience to his clear revealed Word. If you don’t obey the Word of God, then you aren’t really a true follower of Jesus no matter what you claim to be.

Again, this is not teaching that a person can lose their salvation. It is that there are professing Christians who are not genuine. They are spiritually dead and their disobedient behavior is evidence of their true state. What does God do with those who are not obedience to his Word?

God removes, judges, and destroys false disciples of Jesus. ()

John 15:6 CSB

6 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.

God removes, judges, and destroys false disciples of Jesus. ()

Remaining in Christ is about obedience. To remain in Christ is an evidence of true salvation. If a person professes to be a follower of Jesus, but does not obey what Jesus says person is not really a follower of Jesus. The Word never took root in their heart. They may have made a profession of faith in Christ, but it was a false profession.

This reality should be cause you to stop and think. How do you know if you are really a child of God? How do you know if your faith is real? How do you know that you really believe in Jesus? Well, really, it is very simple. Are you doing what Jesus says to do? Are you living how Jesus says to live? Are you being obedient to God’s Word? Does God’s word clearly say something and you refuse to do it? I am not talking about failing to live up to the standard. We all sin and fall short. We all have sins to confess. I stumble and fall. You stumble and fall. What I am talking about it is knowing what God says to do and refusing to do it.

You know the Bible says that sexual immorality is wrong, but you don’t care you are going to do it anyway. You are not married and you are sexually active. You are living in a homosexual relationship. You are having an affair and you won’t break it off. The Bible says it is sin, but you don’t care. You dismiss it as some old fashioned way of living that is open to interpretation. You are going to do what you want to do.

You know the Bible says that murder is wrong, but you still think abortion is a decision that should be left to a woman and her doctor. You think it is settled law and we can’t do anything about it anyway. Let me tell you something, slavery was once allowed too, but that got changed. Abortion isn’t a political issue. It is a moral issue and God is on the side of life. Don’t allow your politics to inform the Scriptures. Allow the Bible to inform your politics.

We could go on, but the point is clear. Genuine disciples of Jesus obey what Jesus says to do and their obedience is the evidence that the love of God is in them. We draw close to God as we fast and pray. We draw closer to God as the pruning takes place. We draw closer to God as we obey his Word. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe.

Pray.

Father God, thank you for caring about us enough to remove the things from our lives which are unproductive for your kingdom. Reveal to us through your Word what needs to change in our lives. Move us from where we are to where you want us to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

With your heads bowed and eyes closes in reverence, brothers and sisters, is God pruning something in your life? Are you resisting? As I understand pruning, it is an on-going process. It is never really finished. God’s pruning process will continue in our lives and thank God for his work in our lives. He is the constant gardener. He is constantly at work in our lives. What is he working on in your life? Is it how you are spending your time? Are there things in your life that are taking your time away from God? Is it about how you use your resources? Are there things that are sucking away your resources that should be used for God’s work? Is there a relationship in your life that need to end or change? Is this even something you have thought about? How is God at work in your life right now? What is he pruning away? If you don’t know, ask him, right now. Say, “God, what do you need to prune in my life so that I will produce more fruit for you and before you tell me; the answer is yes. Do what you want in my life?” Right now, talk to God and ask him to show you what about your life need some pruning.

As we continue in an attitude of reverence before God, perhaps you are here this morning and you have never made the decision to follow Jesus. You have never made the decision to give Jesus control of your life and right now, you are just living for whatever makes you happy. You are running from one relationship to the next, one experience to the next, and one empty promise to the next. You can’t find happiness and you can’t find satisfaction because you are trying to find peace and happiness apart from Jesus. Let me tell you. You will never find what you are looking for unless you give your life to Jesus, unless you place your faith in him.

Let me tell you, you can have hope and peace. Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh and came to earth. He lived a sinless life and then Jesus, who was without sin became sin for us. When he did, his Father God look away and He cried out in anguish, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He never walked away while being beaten. He never called on the hosts of heaven while being tortured. He never called off the mission when he was being mocked and crucified. The Scriptures say, he endured all of this because he loved us and for the joy set before him, he endured the pain.

The joy set before him is when you come into a relationship with God. You are Jesus’ joy! Jesus endured all that pain because our sins separated us from him, but in his love and mercy God sent Jesus to endure the pain of the cross for you. When you call on his name, every sin you have ever committed will be forgiven and you will be brand new. If that is you today,

Pray with me, “Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sins, make me new. I ask Jesus to be my Savior and to be the Lord of my life, first in every way. My life is not my own, I give it to you. Thank you for new life. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”

If you prayed that prayer, we are so happy that you have become a part of the family of God. Your life has just been transformed. We would like to ask you to do this one thing for us. We want to walk with you in this new journey. Take out your Connection Card and check the box that says you want more information about becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. One of the leaders here at the church will get in contact with you this week and talk to you more about what it means to follow Jesus. Take that Connection Card and put it in the offering plate when it is passed at the end of worship. We want to celebrate the new life you have in Christ.

Also, in just a moment, we are going to stand to sing. Some of the deacons are going to be in the the back of the worship center. If you prayed to receive Christ and want to talk with someone today about what it means to follow Christ, I want you to slip out of your row and come and go talk to them. We want to meet you and pray for you. Also, we have some information that will help you understand more about your new life in Christ.

Close.

John 15:2 CSB

2 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.

Now, look at verse ten.

John 15:10 CSB

10 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.

John 15:11 CSB

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

There are no true disciples of Jesus who do not have some measure of the fruit of obedience. Do you know what I am seeing today? Many people would are claiming the name of Christ and are publically living in complete disobedience to the Word of God. I am not talking about issues that godly people can disagree about; I am talking about living openly sinful lifestyle. They are liars, addicts, sexually immoral, homosexual, advocating for abortion, and idolators. You aren’t a true disciple of Jesus Christ if you are living a lifestyle of disobedience to his clear revealed Word.

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