Cause & Effect
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We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Thes
Intro:
Intro:
The world's biggest vine is reputed to be found in Scotland—a country with a cold, uninviting climate. Known as the Kippen vine, it was planted 65 years ago, covers 8 acres, and 8 men and women work on it all the year round. It produces an average annual crop of 2,000 bunches of grapes. Cuttings from this vine have been sold to growers in Commonwealth countries, to Switzerland, and even to sunny Spain. Every year thousands of people from all over the world come to see it. Despite adverse climatic conditions this vine grows on.
Message
Message
In this Johannine passage of 15:1-11, Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to illustrate the nature of our relationship to and w/ Him.
Growth in the kingdom is not a wishful chance; it is an expectation.
Nobody plants anything w/out an expectation of growth, and God has planted us in Christ expecting growth (more on growth in a minute).
God says of Himself to Moses at the burning bush, “I AM.”
7 times in the book of John, Jesus said “I AM.”
7 other times He said “I AM” coupled w/ an apposition stating something about Him in regards to the nature of His redemptive work.
> ( 3x) - I am the bread of life.
> () - I am the light of the world.
> ( 2x) - I am the the door of the sheep.
> ( 2x) - I am the the good shepherd.
> () - I am the the resurrection and the life.
> () - I am the way, the truth, and the life.
> () - I am the true vine.
These seven I AM statements amplify Jesus’ words in v. 5, “apart from me you can do nothing.”
The sole purpose of the vine is not for the vine’s sake, but for the branches. The vine only provides nourishment for the branches so that they can produce fruit. The vine produces no fruit.
Our growth in measured by the fruit we produce, and the fruit we produce brings glory to the Father (v. 8).
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
Growth is from God but this does not infer that we are free of responsibility.
Jesus said we are to “abide in Him.”
The verb abide is imperative, meaning it is not suggestive.
Show preposition chart?
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Seven times in these 11 verses Jesus uses the words “in Me.”
The significance of this is in v.5b; Jesus said “for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jesus also said in the first part of v. 5 that those who abide in Him produce much fruit. Fruit is a sign of growth.
Discipleship is predicated on the production of fruit. “Prove” in v. 8 (γινομαι) and means to be or to become.
When we produce fruit, that fruit testifies to our discipleship.
Discipleship is a practice, not an accomplishment.
3 Effects of Abiding In Him
3 Effects of Abiding In Him
I. He Purges, in order to Restore
Webster’s – to make somebody or something pure and free from guilt, sin, or defilement.
i. I know there are super-saints out there who never sin, but for the rest of us…
We haven’t reached perfection yet.
ii. “Takes away” does not mean destroy, explain.
“Takes away” does not mean destroy, explain.
Greek αιρω and most of the time is translated as to lift up.
i. We are far too precious and costly to God; He is not just looking for a way and reason to destroy us.
We are far too precious and costly to God; He is not just looking for a way and reason to destroy us.
To understand Jesus, we need to understand vine growth and care in His time.
Constant care was necessary to ensure a fruitful vine. After the rains any damage to the terraces was repaired, and the ground was dug and cleared of weeds. Because of the delicate structure of the vine, damage was easily sustained by the plant, whether from storms, animal depredations, or the destruction caused by trespassers or pillagers. Fallen vines were lifted (Jn. 15:2, aírei, from aírō, “to lift,” not from airéō, “to catch, take away,” as in all Eng. versions) into position with meticulous care and allowed to heal.
ii. Most people cringe at the thought of purging. The word tends to conjure up many undesirable images.
Most people cringe at the thought of purging. The word tends to conjure up many undesirable images.
iii. Purging is not bad, although sometimes it is uncomfortable.
Purging is not bad, although sometimes it is uncomfortable.
iv. Nutritionists tell us frequently that we should periodically purge our bodies.
Nutritionists tell us frequently that we should periodically purge our bodies.
v. Purging is always for the purpose of restoration to the former state.
Purging is always for the purpose of restoration to the former state.
II. He Prunes, in order for Reproduction
It’s the dead areas of our lives that rob us from producing more fruit.
i. Kaqairw meaning to cut off.
καθαιρω meaning to cut off.
ii. Yet, this does not mean that He cuts the vine down! It simply means that He cuts off the dead places of our lives that have become unproductive.
Yet, this does not mean that He cuts the vine down! It simply means that He cuts off the dead places of our lives that have become unproductive.
iii. Jesus said it was so we could produce more fruit.
Jesus said it was so we could produce more fruit.
Fruit here is not winning souls; it is the fruit of the Spirit.
i.
Ensnare has two main usages and meanings:
1. To distract
2. To control
ii. Ensnare (euperastatoV) has two main usages and meanings:
1. To distract
2. To control
The point is we cannot produce good fruit if we are distracted or restricted.
iii. The point is we cannot produce good fruit if we are distracted or restricted.
III. He Protects, in order to provide Rest.
A true farmer protects his crop at any and all cost.
i. Like the corn at Stratford.
Like the corn at Stratford.
ii. If we are truly connected to the vine, God will protect us at any and all cost from blight, mildew, and other potentially harmful and fatal enemies.
If we are truly connected to the vine, God will protect us at any and all cost from blight, mildew, and other potentially harmful and fatal enemies.
iii. We get into trouble when we fail to abide or remain in the vine.
We get into trouble when we fail to abide or remain in the vine.
iv. We only have rest from worry and strife when we are actively abiding in the vine.
We only have rest from worry and strife when we are actively abiding in the vine.
Finally, the greatest effect is that Jesus’ joy will be in us, and we will be full of that joy!
What is Jesus’ joy? Why does He have it? How can He give it to us? Come back next week.