Abide in Christ
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduce the Disciples Cross diagram: It comes from the MasterLife Study. It is a Bible study that helps you experience life in Christ through practicing six identified biblical disciplines: spending time with the Master, living in the Word, praying in faith, fellow-shipping with believers, witnessing to the world, and ministering to others.
What we will be focused on this morning is the center of the cross. Abiding in Christ.
Turn to John 15:1–5.
Over the past few weeks we talked about disciples and discipleship.
We began with asking “What is a Christian?”
Someone who hears the gospel …
… believes it …
… turns to Jesus …
… experiences grace …
… is a Disciple.
Then we asked “What is a Disciple?”
Someone who follows Jesus at all costs.
Then last week we talked about the beginnings of becoming a Disciple.
Someone who hears the call …
… puts down the nets …
… gets out of the boat …
… and follows Jesus.
Today, we’re going to start looking at actually moving into being a disciple.
By now, I hope you know where you stand with Jesus.
If you’re a believer, then you’re a follower.
And if you’re a follower, you’re a disciple.
Today we’ll start seeing how to become a complete Disciple.
A Disciple that Jesus wants you to be.
In John 15, there is a Relationship between the vine and the branches.
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Jesus uses the “I AM” statement pointing to Him as being one with the Father.
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
As Disciples we have a relationship with the Father through Jesus who is the Vine we are the branches, with that relationship comes a reliance and a responsibility to remain or “Abide” in Him.
Jesus is the Word of God meaning that He is the TORAH - The Law of God given to the people of Israel. Practicing the law is not what a true disciple is to do, a true disciples simply abides in Him. Listen to how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
An abiding disciple is one that is grafted in by faith in God’s loving grace shown to us through His son.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
What does it mean to “Abide”? Listen to Jesus’ prayer recorded for us in John 17:17-23
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
v. 23 leads us then back to chapter 15:5
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
What kind of fruit is Jesus talking about here that will a true disciple with bear...
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
These fruits are from God and can not be produced in complete holiness without a person Abiding in the Vine.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
What is meant by Jesus’ word about branches being cast out and thrown into the fire. Again not everyone who claims to be a disciple or Christian are Christian. Remember a true Christian and disciple of Christ is...
Someone who hears the gospel …
… believes it …
… turns in repentance toward Jesus …
… experiences grace and mercy …
Listen to how John the baptist addresses this point...
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
The Pharisees and Sadducees were a very religious group of people in fact they had the word of God yet they dead in spirit…why because they placed there faith themselves...
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Desire = Ps. 37:4
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
If you are abiding in Christ your are delighting in Him...
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Abiding in Him = Bearing His Fruit = LOVE