ABIDING IN CHRIST
John 15:1-8
Jesus uses
this example to show us the working relationship between
Him, His Father,
and us (the church). This example shows the purpose of
Mankind.
There are
three workers in this example. First, you have the owner of the
Vineyard,
the Father. 2nd you have the
true vine, Jesus. 3rd you have the
Branches of
the vine, the church.
The purpose
of the Church is to produce fruit. There are levels of fruit.
There is no
fruit. There is fruit. And there is much fruit. The objective is
To produce
much fruit. The work of the church is to produce much fruit.
Next, there
is the concept of abiding. The relationship between Jesus and the
The church
is cemented in abiding. The Greek word for abide is meno which
Means to
continue or dwell, or be present. The word meno is intransitive
And
imperfect. Which means to continue to remain faithful.
JESUS IS
THE TRUE VINE
V:1. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the
gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch
that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are
already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I
will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the
vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
A. Jesus defines Himself as the one who
gives life.
1. He defines Himself as the only one
who gives life.
2. Jesus defines Himself as unique.
3. A vine is rooted in the ground and
spreads upward.
4. It is the ground that provides the nutrients
for the
Vine growth.
5. Jesus is the creator and owner of all
the ground.
6. Jesus is the one who provides the
nutrients for the
Ground.
7. Jesus is the author of the process of
growth.
a. The root grows down in the ground
suck up
The nutrients for growth.
b. The vine grows upward above the
ground and
Processes the sunlight
for the growth of the vine and it’s
Fruit.
8. Others may claim temporary ownership,
but Jesus is
The true owner.
B. The question becomes, what fruit is
Jesus referring to?
1. Galatians 5 describes the fruit of
the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-24
But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.
2. Philippians 1 states;
Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer:
that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10
so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless
until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes
through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.
3. Matthew 3:8 states;
Produce fruit in keeping
with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham
as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children
for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that
does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
4. Proverbs 11:30 states;
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and
he who wins souls is wise.
5. While Jesus does not tell us what
fruit He is referring to, we could
Conclude that the fruit
is an attitude of obedience to His commands.
Since we are a new
creation in Christ, the evidence of fruit is discipleship
And winning souls to Him.
The
Father is the Gardner working in unity with the Son.
V:2. He cuts
off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear
fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
A. There are two types of church
members.
1. There are those who bear no fruit.
a. There are many church member who bears
no fruit.
b. They do not live up to their
potential and are removed
By the Father from
service.
c. They are in Jesus, taking up space
and hindering the growth
Of those who serve.
d. The question becomes, since the none fruit-bearing
branches
Are in Jesus, is this a
judgment statement?
Could this be a statement of the chastisement
of a carnal Christian?
The Greek word for “in”
is “en” which means a relationship of rest.
Once in Christ, we are
sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of
Redemption. If it was
not so, then it would be work salvation.
B. The branches that bear fruit he
purges of cleans.
1, Non of us is without sin. The best of us are growing in Christ.
2. All of us have areas we need to
improve so we bear more fruit.
3. Envy, jealously, and hatred are knocking
at the door that we must
Fight so we are more
loving and Christ-like.
4. Some bear fruit.
a. They are pruned at the right time in
the right way
To be more fruitful
CLEANED
BY THE WORD OF GOD
V:3. You are
already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I
will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the
vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
A. The Word has the power to convict.
1. The conviction leads to cleaning.
2. Abiding is a two-way street.
3. You abide in Christ and Christ will
abide in you.
4. When you are in Christ you have an
open door to all the true
Successes in life.
5. When you are obedient to Christ, there
is nothing you cannot
Accomplish.
B. We have to resist the temptation of
thinking we can accomplish anything
On our own.
1. We can make plans, but God gives the
increase.
2. The fruit of the spirit and the fruit
of righteousness is God
Derived.
3. Without the power of the Holy Spirit,
we are not capable of
Producing fruit.
4. Without obedience to Jesus, we cannot
realize the grace of God.
5. It is only by abiding in Jesus that
we can glorify the Father.
THE
POTENTIAL TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT
V:5. I am
the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will
bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain
in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are
picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
A. We are defined as branches of the
true vine.
1. By His grace, we have been placed in
Christ.
2. We are in Christ not on our desire
but by His love.
B. We have a choice, to remain in Christ
or separate ourselves
And be all about self.
1. Actually, a believer cannot separate himself
from Christ but can
Chose not to be obedient
to Christ.
2. We were chosen before the foundation
of the earth to be in Christ.
3. However, we can choose not to live up
to the election.
4. In so doing, we choose not to abide
in Christ.
C. The consequence of not abiding in
Christ is to be separated from
His grace.
1. We cannot produce fruit, and therefore are like a dried-up branch.
2. Salt without it seasoning is useless.
3. The state of uselessness is a state-controlled by Satan.
4. To abide not in Christ is to abide in the devices of Satan.
5. To abide not in Christ is to choose a carnal life not growing
In Him.
A
SUCCESSFUL PRAYER LIFE
V:7. If you remain in me and my words remain in
you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. 8 This is to my
Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my
disciples.
A. The Blessing of abiding in Christ is
a successful prayer life.
1. A successful prayer life operates on the
Word of God.
2. Our prayers are the prayers that are
pleasing to Jesus.
3. Our wishes become the wishes of Jesus.
4. We are absolutely dependent on Christ
to produce fruit.
B. The desire of those who abide in
Jesus is to give God the glory.
1. The graces of God are immeasurable because we
bear much
Fruit.
2. On the other hand without Christ, we
are void of spiritual power
Necessary to produce
fruit.
3. The glory of God is exhibited in our
obedience to the commands
Of Christ.
4. It is Christ desire that we be His disciples
glowing in His light
Drawing others to Him.
5. God gives us a choice to abide in
Him.
6. What will you choose?
THANK GOD
FOR CHOOSING US TO ABIDE IN HIM
Rev. M.
Mitchell
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