I Am the True Vine
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
God has been in the process of creating a people for Himself since the very beginning. A people who would be used for His glory and would work for the good of His created world.
Adam and Eve were created to live in relationship with God and to exercise dominion over the created world by cultivating the garden He placed them in. They were meant to care for and grow the garden to the ends of the earth.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
However, Adam and Eve were unable to remain faithful in the relationship God created them to be in with Himself. They broke the covenant and instead of exercising the authority He gave to them, they wanted to become their own authority.
So then we see that God begins to create a people for Himself by choosing one family from all the families of the earth. When God told the people to spread throughout the earth, the people rebelled by staying in one place and building a tower and trying to build a name for themselves. God punished the people by dividing them by creating new languages so they couldn’t communicate with each other. By doing so, He effectively forced them to spread throughout the earth like He commanded.
Out of those families, he chose one family through a man name Abraham, through which He would bless all the families of the earth. God’s purpose in this family is not to keep the blessing with one family, but that all the families that have just recently been punished because of their sin should be blessed by a family who would act as intercessors and as a redeemer for all the other families. This family would be a kingdom of priests to God so they could glorify Him and exercise dominion over the earth by furthering God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth.
God would use the imagery of a vine to describe this family, this nation of Israel.
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
Sadly, however, they did not flourish as the vine as God had desired for them to.
Let me sing for my beloved
my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?
And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it.
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry!
God established the kingdom of Israel to be a vineyard in His created world. Notice the imagery of the garden like the one in which He had placed Adam and Eve. This vine is to be the kingdom which is to spread to the ends of the earth. However, as we see in the passage in Isaiah, the nation of Israel did not become the kind of vineyard that was a blessing to the world. He describes them as being a vine that did not produce good grapes, but wild grapes, which are bitter and sour.
Why does one build a vineyard? For the ancient cultures, a vineyard was a sign of life, health, and prosperity. When they spoke of producing wine, it was with the idea of blessing and abundance. This is not to condone drinking as Scripture commands us not to be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Spirit. However, to understand the imagery, we have to understand that the ancient culture would have understood a vineyard to be filled with the potential of glory to the Vinedresser and blessing to those who would receive the fruits of the vine.
God was setting up a nation for the purpose of bringing Him glory as the caretaker and vinedresser of the vineyard and that would be a blessing to the other nations if they produced the kind of fruit that God desired. However, Israel did not produce that kind of fruit, but was more often than not, rebellious and withholding blessing from the other nations. That is until Jesus came to fulfill the promise God had made towards Israel.
“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. 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. 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.
I. Jesus is the True Vine
I. Jesus is the True Vine
Jesus is the true fulfillment of Israel. Yes, God was creating a vine to plant in order to bless the world. And He was using the nation of Israel to do just that. But He knew that Israel would never truly be able to be all that God wanted her to be. Israel was the blessing to the world insofar as Jesus came from Israel and fulfilled the purpose God created for her.
Jesus is the true vine. And as God was creating a people for Himself, first through Adam, and then through Abraham, Jacob, Judah, and David, now God has sent Jesus to fulfill the creation of the people of God that He has been wanting. The people of God that would come from Jesus will be the blessing to the world that God promised to Abraham. This people would be the ones through whom God would receive glory. This people are created by the work Jesus completed by His work on the cross and His resurrection. It is no coincidence I believe that He even used the fruit of the vine to describe the blood of the new covenant. His blood shed for us would be the sap that would flow through the vine that is Jesus to every single person who would be found in Him by faith.
If you and I are in Christ, we are a part of this vine that God is using to bless the world through. Just as God planned to bless the world through humanity in Adam and Eve, then Israel, now God is blessing the world through Christ and the people He created called the church.
II. Looking for Fruit
II. Looking for Fruit
Just as God was looking for fruit in Israel, He is looking for fruit in those who claim to be in Christ.
A. What is this fruit?
A. What is this fruit?
We know that a vine should have good grapes rather than wild grapes. But how do we know what kind of fruit we should have.
Some think that maybe this fruit is the things we do. Now, we do know that Christ is looking for obedience, but this is not the fruit He is immediately talking about. It is possible to have the outward actions of obedience and not have the true fruit of the vine.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
You can have all the right works and still not have any good fruit. In fact, Jesus tells us that we can tell false prophets from true teachers by their fruits.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
So if our outward actions are not the fruit He is looking for, what is it?
It is the fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit as we abide in Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
We are not called to be doers first, but to simply be. God is not looking for people who do things for Him, but for people who will truly Be His people. The fruit of the Spirit fundamentally changes who we are on the inside. And if the inside is being changed, then the outward works will come. But the fruit which God is looking for is the fruit of the Spirit that leads to a changed heart. Once we have become the people of God, the doing the things of God will come.
B. Do We Have This Fruit?
B. Do We Have This Fruit?
This is something we have to ask ourselves and it is vitally important that we examine ourselves in this. Look at what Jesus says about those branches who bear no fruit.
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.
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.
Jesus is not talking about losing our salvation. Scripture makes it clear that if we are His then there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. No one whom the Father gives to Him will ever be lost. But there are those who claim to be a part of God’s people and who look like it on the outside who bear no fruit of the Spirit. Again, it is possible to have all the right outward actions and still bear the fruit of the flesh, the fruit of wild grapes. And note the warning here for those who do not bear fruit. They are dead and they will be removed and thrown into the fire and burned. Once again, we are seeing a direct warning for those who refuse to repent of their sin and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If we do not put our faith and trust in Christ, we will spend all of eternity separated from Him in Hell. And this includes those who simply pretend to be a part of Christ. You can come to church every week, serve on committees, even be a deacon or a pastor, and not be a part of Christ.
We need to ask ourselves the question, do I have the fruit of the Spirit that is bringing glory to God and for the good of those around me. Do I seek to love my neighbor? Do I have joy even in the worst situations? Am I faithful, and kind, and good, and gentle, and self-controlling? Do I have peace and patience? None of us are perfect in these, but are they present? If not, we may need to reevaluate whether we are truly saved. If you do not see any fruit, you need to repent and turn to Christ today for salvation!
c. How Do We Produce this Fruit?
c. How Do We Produce this Fruit?
Finally, how do we produce this fruit? By Abiding in Christ. You and I cannot produce this fruit in and of ourselves any more than a branch can bloom or produce fruit apart from the tree or vine. It must be connected to the source of life for life to come from it.
What does it mean to abide in Christ? It means to rest in Christ’s love for you and to trust that He is enough.
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.
This was what Adam and Eve were not able to do. His love and care for them were not enough. They had to be their own god taking care of themselves.
To abide in Jesus means to do whatever it takes to grow in our love and affection for Jesus as well as continue to learn and rest in the love He has for us. This is why we have to remind ourselves of the gospel every day! The good news of Jesus, of how He came to earth to be our substitute on the cross, to face the wrath of God on our behalf, and to rise from the dead should lead us to rest in His love and grow us in our love for Him! We know Christ loves us because of what He has done for us, He has shown His love for us through His death and resurrection!
What is it that helps you grow in your love for Jesus and helps you remember His love for you? Obviously we must stay connected to Him through the Word and through prayer and even through the gathering together of God’s people. But what time of day is best for you to get into God’s Word? What place allows you to focus on your conversations with Christ? Are there songs, stories, testimonies, books, etc that lead you to remember the love of Christ for you and lead you to a deeper love for Christ? These are what we call Spiritual disciplines! Some people see spiritual disciplines as simply moralistic and legalistic actions and they can become that. But when seen rightly, these disciplines help put us in a place to see and know and rest in the love of Christ for us. Through these disciplines we can learn what it means to truly abide and rest in the love of Christ.
What about things that hinder your love for Christ? Are there things that take your eyes off of Him in any way, particular movies or shows on TV, video games, music, friends, habits, places you frequent?
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.
God will prune us so we can bear more fruit. Pruning can be a painful experience but is for our good. God may be allowing some hardship in your life to drive you to Him in prayer and dependence upon Him. Or He may be forcing you to get out of a certain situation that is taking your eyes off of Him. Do not despise the suffering and hardship in your life as those are the ways that He is caring for us so we can lean more on Christ and grow in our love and affection for Him. Only as we grow in our love for Christ will the fruit of the Spirit be made manifest and the outward actions will begin to naturally take place.
Look at what Paul says in Romans 8:28-29
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
God uses all things for the good of those who love Him! That all things includes bad things, things that lead to suffering. For what purpose? For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son! He has saved us and called us for the purpose of becoming more like Jesus. In other words, so that we can abide in Him and bear the fruit of the Spirit, and He uses all things for the good of us, so He can prune us and shape us and take away those things that are keeping us from being like Him.
III. Abiding in Jesus Leads to God’s Glory and Our Greatest Joy
III. Abiding in Jesus Leads to God’s Glory and Our Greatest Joy
As we abide in Jesus and grow in our love for Him and rest in His love for us will we begin to experience the kind of life God has planned for us. Again, this is not necessarily a pain free life, as we have already looked at that God does prune us. Our suffering or painful situations are not necessarily because we have sinned or rebelled against God, but sometimes come just so we can learn to rely on Him even more. But as we learn to rest in His love, Jesus promises that are blessings that flow from abiding in Him.
As we abide in Christ and rest in His love, we will see that we grow in bearing more fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We grow in our love for God and for others, which leads to more joy and peace and patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. What happens as we bear more fruit?
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
God is glorified. When a vineyard produces the fruit that is hoped for and expected, and that fruit is good and sweet and pleasant, it brings honor and glory to the vinedresser. As the product of the fruit goes out, people will see and know the value of the owner of the vineyard. They will rejoice in the skill and work of the vinedresser. As you and I abide in Christ and have the Spirit produce His fruit in us, people should see that fruit and come to see and know the goodness of God through us!
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
People may not like what they see or agree with what we believe in, but the fruit of the Spirit in us should create in them a desire to have what God has freely given to us in Christ and to ask us why we are filled with such hope and joy! Prayerfully, they should not be saying, “I’m glad I’m not as miserable as that Christian over there.”
But not only is God glorified in us as we produce this fruit, we also receive joy.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
As we have the fruit of the Spirit produced in us, we will receive more joy. Jesus wants His joy produced in us and that joy should be full. When we are living in right relationship with God and living out the purpose He created us for, we cannot help but be filled with the joy and satisfaction that comes from Christ alone. Do you long for joy and fulfillment in your life? You will never find that from your job, your family, your sports team, your political party, your good deeds, your entertainment, your money, your health, and the list goes on. The only way you can find the joy and fulfillment in life you are searching for is by living the life God created you to live and that comes only by abiding in Christ and allowing Him to give you His fruit as you live in a loving relationship with Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
