Northside Church
Jesus describes Himself as the ONLY true vine, the only source for Christians who live efficacious and fruitful lives. Today we are going to dissect this passage and learn what that means.
John 15:1-17 ESV
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
a. If there is a “true vine”, that implies there are counterfeits
b. Jesus states that His Father is responsible for the caretaking of Him as the True Vine
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.
a. As spoken about before, bearing fruit for the believer SHOULD come naturally and from a state of maturity. This verse also seems to indicate that the Fruit of the Spirit is not optional.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
a. This fruit bearing takes place AFTER salvation, so it is truly in the life of an actual believer. This verse states that you are clean in the eyes of God because you are sanctified with His Word.
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.
a. One of the most important things in this entire passage is the word “abide” - 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),
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.
a. Our nourishment and our resource literally come directly from Christ as the true source
b. Here we also read that those who remain in Christ will bear “much 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.
a. Not abiding in Christ will cause you to waver in your fruit production and will eventually cause you to be “pruned”
b. This pruning is done by God. This is not done by the pastor, the Sunday School teacher, or anyone else. This is done my God as He wills.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
a. Here, Christ states the importance “my words abide in you”
b. He goes on to explain that if you are “in Him” then you should feel free to ask “whatever you wish”.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
a. As branches of Christ, our fruit glorifies God, and proves to the world we are disciples of Jesus
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
a. Here Jesus is expressing the undying, unadulterated love that proceeds from the Father to the believer, through Christ, again reenforcing the idea that our substance and source comes from Christ as the True Vine.
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.
a. What commandments? Love God, Love your neighbor as yourself!
Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
a. Joy coming from your connection to Christ! Again, the resource is flowing through the True Vine and Christ as the ONLY true resource for real joy.
b. As talked about previously, joy is a fruit that comes from the nurturing and maturity in Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
a. This is one of the toughest things as a Christian. Loving others the way Christ has loved us first! Love is a decision. A decision that elicits the emotion.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
a. Jesus states this in reference to His supreme sacrifice that was to come. Laying His life down and the shedding of His blood for the substitutionary payment for our sins.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
a. One of my most favorite comments where Jesus calls us His friend
b. All the implications and benefits of friendship and relationship
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
a. Christ has changed our relationship status from “servants” to “friends”.
b. Then explains that this comes with a great intimacy and greater source of information coming from the Father
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
a. Christ speaks here of CHOOSING those that would remain in Him.
b. Those that are chosen are also appointed, for the purpose of producing Godly fruit.
c. This maturing and fruit bearing allows you to ask for things in the name of Jesus for the purposing of ministering to the rest of the body.
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
a. Here Christ is setting the stage to give you the ability to “love one another”
Closing
a. Christ is the purest source and resource for the Christian
b. Christ making us pure through the Word of Christ
c. There is a command to abide in Him, indicating a conscience effort on our part
d. He reenforces the idea that a child of God MUST produce Godly fruit
e. Those that do not produce this fruit are pruned and eventually judged.
f. This pruning is done by God and is not the responsibility of the church or pastor
g. This fruit can ONLY come through an abiding in Christ and gives God glory
h. Producing this fruit changes our relationship with Christ, moving us from servanthood to friendship
i. Know that God has chosen and appointed those to produce fruit and given them the ability to make requests from God through the name of Christ
j. All this is done so that we will love ONE ANOTHER more!