John 15:1-8: Jesus said, "I AM the true vine."

I AM the True Vine, John 15:1-8

The True, Vine, The Husbandman, and the Branches

1. Jesus uses the grapevine as an illustration.

a. Himself as the vine.

b. The Husbandman is God the Father.

c. The branches as the redeemed His followers.

A. The True Vine (v. 1), “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

1. “I am the true vine.” Jesus is the true vine.

a. “TRUE” Gr. alethinos, that which has not only the name and resemblance but the real nature corresponding to the name in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine.

2. Other uses of “true” in the Bible.

a. The true light (John 1:9).

b. The true bread (John 6:32).

3. The vine provides life to the branches.

4. Christ is our source of life (John 14:6).

5. Christ gives abundant life (John 10:10).

B. The True Vine in Relation to the Father (vv. 1-3).

1. “My father is the husbandman.”

2. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

a. Inward: love, joy, peace.

b. Outward: longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

3. Fruit produced by soul winning (Proverbs 11:30).

4. The Father prunes His vineyard.

a. Pruning (v. 2).

b. Purgeth (vv. 2-3).

C. The True Vine in Relation to the Branches (vv. 4-8).

1. “Ye are the branches” (v. 5). Abide--ménō, (men'-o); a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for).

2. Branches let the life of the vine flow to the fruit (John 14:23; John 15:10).

3. To bear much fruit we must abide in Christ.

a. To abide in Christ is to communicate with Him.

b. To abide in Christ is to love Him.

c. To abide in Christ is to praise Him.

d. To abide in Him is to be faithful to Him.

4. In bearing fruit, we honor our Lord (v. 8).