Lesson #73. Abiding in the Vine. John 15:4-5 Presented Live on June 10, 2018

Transcription

1 Lesson #73 Abiding in the Vine John 15:4-5 Presented Live on June 10, 2018 I. Introduction and review A. The last time we were together we learned that: 1. The coming church shall be the outgrowth of the true Vine 2. And that Israel is now relegated to being the failed vine [15:1-3] 3. Will that vine ever be revived and restored to its prior place in God s plan to evangelize the world? B. We also learned that the Vinedresser will now tend the Vine by lifting up the branches/tendrils 1. That Vinedresser will affix them to the trellis He has set up 2. They will be cleaned and made productive C. Does this passage speak of unbelievers and believers? 1. The branches are attached to the Vine Page 1 of 9

2 2. They are in Me you can t be in Me and not be a believer 3. They are already clean a. Positionally clean b. As opposed to being experientially clean D. Does this passage speak of believers who lose their salvation? That is a question we will answer definitively next week II. Abiding in the Vine [15:4-5] A. The key to understanding this concept is simple, 1. First the idea of abiding is summed up in one word: remain or continue, pick whichever one you want 2. The question that then arises is: remain or continue where, which question is answered in that little prepositional phrase: in me 3. We are to remain or continue in our Lord, that is this concept of experiential abiding B. Does the concept of abiding [me,nw meno {men'-o}] refer to justification or sanctification, for it appears 11 times in this chapter; 40 times in John s Gospel; and 27 times in his epistles 1. But let s consider first the concept of faith a. Is faith necessary for justification? b. Is faith necessary for sanctification? c. Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 2. The word [me,nw meno {men'-o}] can be used in Page 2 of 9

3 reference to both 3. Consider a. John 6:54, 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. b. John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; c. Context is the key to proper translation, especially if the word can have more then one meaning (e.g. the English word good has 59 different definitions) 4. But in this passage the context dictates that: a. It is not a question of position b. But instead a question of production C. Let s consider the concept of fruit production first what should we consider as fruit 1. What it is not is positional gifts that come with justification 2. For example: a. Having the Holy Spirit come and indwell our spirit is not a fruit b. Being given one or more spiritual gifts is not a fruit c. But utilizing those spiritual gift would be considered fruit 3. Examples of fruit produced by the indwelling of Page 3 of 9

4 the Holy Spirit would be: a. Personal evangelism b. Acts of Christian service c. Actions which demonstrate the presence of the fruit of the Spirit d. Teaching the Word of God e. Answered prayer f. Calling out sin, and standing up for truth in a godly fashion g. Caring for the sick, poor and downtrodden h. And other similar actions and pursuits D. But we are not instructed to produce fruit in our lives 1. Those who believe that we are to labor for the Lord do not understand their calling 2. We do not produce fruit but bear it a. fe,rw phero {fer'-o} Meaning: 1) to carry 1a) to carry some burden 1a1) to bear with one's self 1b) to move by bearing; move or, to be conveyed or borne, with the suggestion of force or speed 1b1) of persons borne in a ship over the sea 1b2) of a gust of wind, to rush 1b3) of the mind, to be moved inwardly, prompted 1c) to bear up i.e. uphold (keep from falling) 1c1) of Christ, the preserver of the universe 2) to bear, i.e. endure, to endure the rigor of a thing, to bear patiently one's conduct, or spare one (abstain from punishing or destroying) 3) to bring, bring to, bring forward 3a) to move to, apply 3b) to bring in Page 4 of 9

5 III. by announcing, to announce 3c) to bear i.e. bring forth, produce; to bring forward in a speech 3d) to lead, conduct b. The vine produces the fruit, the branch merely carries it 3. Why is it that our Lord commands us to abide instead of produce? 4. He knows that if we abide in Him, we will bear fruit as a natural consequence 5. Our focus must be on abiding in Him` 6. So let s thoroughly consider the concept of abiding Abiding in Christ A. There is a foundational level of abiding, which involve certain basic activities 1. Following the Lord in baptism 2. Participating in a weekly worship service 3. Committing to a daily quiet time 4. Establishing a continuing prayer list 5. Becoming a part of a weekly, small group Bible Study 6. And memorizing a verse each week from the Scripture B. At an intermediate level we focus on three aspects of abiding 1. Spending time with the Lord, 2. Communicating with our Savior, and 3. Restoring our relationship when we sin C. How do we spend time with the Lord? D. How do we communicate with the Lord? Page 5 of 9

6 1. Prayer is the main means we employ to communicate with our God 2. But also our actions provide a communication with the Savior 3. Consider John 14:21 E. How does He communicate with us 1. The Word of God a. Reading b. Study c. Memorization d. Meditation 2. He at times speaks to our hearts F. How do we restore our relationship? 1. Confession of sin 2. See: 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. G. Are there additional levels Yes, but they require a deeper abiding H. Consider for a moment those who believe that they must constantly labor for the Lord in order to achieve what He wants for them 1. If Jesus is the vine, He is our source of life 2. It is not our activity that produces fruit but our relationship with Him 3. Moreover, the deeper the relationship, the more fruit is produced and the quality of the fruit is much higher 4. Consider how this passage lays that progression Page 6 of 9

7 IV. out a. There is the branch found by the Vinedresser (1) and it is bearing no fruit [15:2] b. Then the Vinedresser lifts it up and affixes it to the trellis (1) and it begins to bear fruit [15:2] c. Then it is pruned (1) and it bears more fruit [15:2] d. Then it is exhorted to abide in the vine (1) and it bears much fruit [15:5] I. Do you require activity or are you comfortable in abiding and growing, and allowing Him to produce the fruit J. If you are will to just abide in Him, you will see certain desires arising in your life 1. The desire to worship Him, 2. The desire to meditate on God s word, 3. The desire to sacrifice, and 4. The desire to serve 5. And after doing so, you have no desire to return to the shallow life of the unabiding believer Now consider once again the word we elected to translate in verse two as lift up instead of takes away A. What happen if that tendril or branch is allowed to remain of the ground B. The branch will put forth a secondary root system C. Then where will that branch draw its sustenance? 1. From the vine, or 2. From its own roots Page 7 of 9

8 3. What about the branches around it 4. And the roots become more important then the fruit V. We are to live to produce fruit A. The metaphor of fruit is often used in the Scripture to convey the concept of evidence 1. Consider John 15:8 2. Fruit the proves the identity of the plant 3. And the quality of the fruit reveals the spiritual health of the plant & Another great lesson from the Gospel of John., Thank You, Doug. Page 8 of 9

9 2018 Believer s Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady Page 9 of 9