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Chapter 15. Please pick up a handout from the table in the back of the auditorium for class this morning. Vital Concepts & Truths to Know in John 15. Without Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5)! Apostasy is possible!
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Chapter 15 Please pick up a handout from the table in the back of the auditorium for class this morning.
Vital Concepts & Truths to Know in John 15 • Without Jesus, we can do nothing (John 15:5)! • Apostasy is possible! • Every branch that is “IN” Jesus but does not bear fruit is taken away (John 15:2). • Those in Christ who become unfruitful are severed, gathered, cast into fire (15:6). • Jesus left us a perfect example to follow! • “As” Jesus kept His Father’s commandments, He calls on us to keep His (John 15:10). • “As” Jesus loved others and loved us, He calls on us to love one another (15:12).
Vital Concepts & Truths to Know in John 15 • Jesus substituted His precious life, willingly receiving the punishment due us (15:13)! • He not only did this for His friends (15:13), He did it for His enemies (Rom. 5:6-10).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • Allegorically, the vineyard represents the church. • Jesus is the true vine (John 15:1). Bears fruit Himself & is our only source of life. • The Father is the owner vinedresser/husbandman/owner (John 15:1). • Individual disciples are the individual branches on the vine (John 15:2, 5). • The branch on the vine cannot bear fruit of itself, apart from the vine (John 15:4).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • Disciples of Christ are commanded to “abide in Christ”! • The Greek word for “abide” (meno) is found 12 times in 8 verses in John 15. • The word means “to remain, abide, continue, be present, dwell, not depart.” • Abiding in Christ is not a “take it or leave it” proposition in order to please Him. • 2 times “abide” is used as an imperative—command to be followed (15:4a, 9). • Abiding in Christ is not something that automatically continues once a Christian. • 6 times “abide” is used in the present tense—continuous activity (15:4b,5,6,10,16).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • Disciples of Christ are commanded to “abide in Christ”! • Abiding in Christ is not designed as a “one time” event in someone’s life. • 2 times “abide” is used in the aorist tense—an overall summary of life (15:7). • Abiding in Christ is conditional (cf. word “if” used frequently—John 15:6, 7, 10, 14). • 1 time “abide” is used in the future tense, following the conditional “if” (15:10).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • Jesus explains the only way to abide in Him! • To “abide” in Him one must first be “in Him” (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). • Jesus gives two vital keys in order to abide in Him: • Abide in His words & let His words abide in you! • “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you…” (John 15:7). • See “word(s),” “commandments” & “command” in 15:3,10,14,17,20. • To abide in Christ, we must keep His commandments/words. • Abide in His love & let His love abide in you! • “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (15:9). • “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…” (15:10). • To abide in His love, we must keep commandments & “love one another” (15:12,17).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • Abiding in Christ comes with personal responsibilities! • We must faithfully maintain a continuous connection with the life-giving vine (15:4). • Each & every branch is individually responsible for bearing fruit. • “Every branch that bears fruit…” (John 15:2). • “I chose you… [for the purpose that] you should go and bear fruit” (16). • “…And that your fruit should remain” (15:16, present tense means continuous). • Faithful disciples of the Lord are to be workers, fruit-bearers, in every part of life. • Winning souls to Christ, serving those in need, growing in knowledge, praising our God, sacrificing for the cause of Christ, loving one another, etc.
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • Abiding in Christ comes with personal responsibilities! • Christ is not looking for “some” fruit or “a little” fruit. • “He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). “…Bears much fruit” (15:5). • “By this My father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (8). Our aim! • We cannot abide in Christ if we fail to “love one another”! • Loving one another is a commandment of Christ (15:12, 17; 13:34-35). • Model & measure we have for love is the love of Jesus for us (15:12-13). • Loving one another is a badge of discipleship (John 13:34-35). • Loving one another is a condition for gaining His approval of us (15:14). • Loving one another is a requirement in order to abide in His love (15:10).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • There are great blessings that follow those who abide in Christ & bear fruit for Him! • The Father “prunes” them or “cleans” them, so that they can bear more (15:2-3). • His word cleanses, disciplines, teaches, in order to bear as much fruit as possible. • Bearing fruit, working for the Lord, is not a burden (cf. 1 John 5:3)! • The more a Christian can do for the Lord, the more satisfied he will be! • And, God will continue cleansing & forgiving, so that more can be done! • The Lord promises to answer the prayers of those who abide in Him (John 15:7, 16)!
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • There are great blessings that follow those who abide in Christ & bear fruit for Him! • When Christians “bear much fruit,” our “Father is glorified” (8)! No greater motive! • Those who “bear much fruit” are privileged to be called “His disciples” (John 15:8). • Fruit-bearers are the recipients of & dwellers within the love of Christ (John 15:9). • Jesus loves His fruit-bearers as much as His Father loved Him (15:8-9,12).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • There are great blessings that follow those who abide in Christ & bear fruit for Him! • Keeping His commandments, abiding in Christ & bearing fruit brings great joy. • We share in the joy Jesus had when He did His Father’s will (John 15:11). • The Christian life is a life of joy – a life “full” of joy (John 15:11). • Those who abide in Him & obey His commands, Jesus calls “friends” (John 15:13-15). • He died for (in behalf of, in the place of) His friends (John 15:13). • His friends do whatever He commands & serve the Father willingly (15:14, 15).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • There are great blessings that follow those who abide in Christ & bear fruit for Him! • The world hates those who follow Christ (John 15:18-25). • It hated Christ first (John 15:18), therefore it hates those who follow Him. • Being hated by the world is evidence that you are not “of the world” (15:19). • To be hated and persecuted for His name’s sake is to be united with Him (20-21).
An Overview/Theme of John 15: “Abiding in Christ” • There are devastating consequences for those who choose to not abide in Christ! • “Every branch in Me that does bear fruit He takes away” (John 15:2; cf. Gal. 5:4). • “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered…” (15:6). • “…And and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (15:6). • The possibility of apostasy is absolutely possible (cf. Mt. 25:41; Rev. 14:10-11; 21:8).
How Chapter 15 Helps to Fulfill the Overall Purpose of the Gospel of John • “I Am” Statement: “I am the true vine…I am the vine” (John 15:1, 5). • Jesus’ words (John 15:22) and His works (John 15:24) clearly proclaimed His deity. • To accept or reject/hate Jesus is to accept or reject/hate the Father (John 15:23-26). • Jesus fulfilled prophecy: “They hated Me without a cause” (John 15:25; cf. Psa. 35:19). • Jesus was going to send the Holy Spirit, who would testify of Him (John 15:26-27).