I AM THE TRUE VINE 2
JOHN 15:1-10; GALATIANS 5:22-23
Introduction:
This is the second message on the True Vine. In the first message we learned that Israel was God’s choice vine and that He looked for fruit from her. See notes.
In this message we will see what happens as God prunes his branches and when that fruit is not found.
I. THE PRUNING PROCESS
A. Any good tree needs pruning in order to produce more fruit, v. 2, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
1. The pruning make us stronger, Job 17:9, “The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.”
2. It refines the believer, 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
B. Every branch that does not bear fruit is cut off, v. 6, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” Matthew 3:10, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
1. These are those who profess to know Christ, but their fruits deny it, Matthew 7:20-21, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
2. These are false professors of Christ, Jude 12, “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”
3. These will be turned into Hell, Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
II. THE DISCIPLE IS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL
A. First he receives Jesus Christ as his Savior, John 6:54, 56, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”
B. Then he is to continue or persevere in believing, John 8:31, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”
1. Some paid attention to Jesus’ words without necessarily committing themselves to Him personally, John 6:53, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”
2. These did not continue, 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
3. Those that remain are true disciples, John 3:33, ”He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.”
4. The true disciple is to let what we have heard from the beginning live in us, 1 John 2:24, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”
C. It means that the believer is to have a believing, loving obedience, John 15:9-10, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
1. To continue in His love, 1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
2. Keep His commandments, John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
3. In keeping His commandments we will abide in His love, John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
a. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words,” John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” [to attend to carefully]
b. He that doesn’t keep His commandments doesn’t love Him, John 14:24, “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
CONCLUSION:
The Word of God is emphatic here. Those that love God will keep His commandments and those who do not love God will not keep His Word.
When the believer lives a righteous obedient life for the Lord then others will see Jesus in our lives. That will cause folks to see the need for Christ in their life.