Scripture: John 15:1-8

C.I.: Abiding in Jesus

Today we are going to begin a new series by studying John 15. - Jesus is in the upper room with His apostles. – In a few hours He will be betrayed, arrested, killed. - So what He has to tell them is vitally important!
The key term in this section of John 15 = Abide! - This word means; to stay, remain, linger, live!!!

I. The Purpose for Our Life with Jesus (Verses 1-8)

A. Jesus and the Unfruitful Branches (vs. 1-2a)

1. (v. 1), “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
a. “True/Truth” are key terms in John’s gospel: - answering Pilate’s question (18:38).
1) Jesus’ glory is grace & truth (1:14) – Since everything from Jesus is truth – we are to know truth (8:32) – and we are to do truth (3:21), “He who does the truth comes to the light”
b. The Father’s responsibility – is make sure the branches are as productive as possible.

2. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.”
a. Notice, these branches are “in Me” – i.e., they are attached to the vine (these are believers!).
1) A plant bears fruit – for the purpose of reproducing itself – (same for us = evangelism!)
2) But these are taking their nourishment from the vine – yet are not productive.
3) Reasons for fruitlessness: (Mk. 3:19), “…the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things enter in and choke the word, it becomes unfruitful!”
b. “Takes away” = They are removed from Christ:
1) God can remove His approval – (Acts 19:10; I Cor. 1:17; Mk. 16:15-16; Rev. 2:4-5).
2) We can be removed from heaven – (Rev. 3:2, 4-5), “You have a name that you are alive… -
But you have a few in Sardis who are worthy. - … I will not erase his name from the book.”
c. Jesus wants His death - in just a few hours to have meaning – so that many can be saved!
1) Thus, God takes very seriously our responsibility to be bearing fruit for Jesus!!!

B. Jesus and the Fruitful Branches (vs. 2b-5a)

1. “…and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”
a. Pruning removes bad spots, useless buds, dying leaves & flowers. – Purpose: bear more fruit!
1) How God prunes - (Jms. 1:2-4), “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter….”
2) Areas pruned: thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, relationships, passions, motives, etc.
3) God does not prune us to punish, hurt or damage us – but to make us more effective.

2. “Abide in Me, and I in you. – As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so
neither can you unless you abide in Me. – I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me
and I in him, he bears much fruit.”
a. The power to bear fruit comes from God – (II Cor. 4:7; Rom. 1:16).
b. How to abide = Get into His word & let it get into you; Bible classes, LIFE Groups & prayer!

C. Jesus and the Unattached Branches (vs. 5b-6)

1. “…for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
a. These branches are not joined to the vine. – Jesus is here talking about non-Christians!
1) They can wealthy & build great hospitals, schools & universities – but God would ask them - (Mk. 8:36), “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world – and lost his soul?”

2. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them,
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned,” (v. 6).
a. The person who is not attached to Jesus – will ultimately be destroyed!
1) (Matt. 13:49-50), “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping an gnashing of teeth.”
2) This is not what God wants - (II Pt. 3:9), “God does not desire for any to perish…!”
3) It is because of a person’s attachment to Jesus – that what we do/who we are has value.

D. Two Promises Jesus Makes to the Fruitful Branches, (vs. 7-8)

1. First: Those who abide in Christ have their prayers answered, (v. 7).
a. “If you abide in Me and I in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”
b. There are two reasons why their prayers are answered:
1) These branches please God by their actions – (I Jn. 3:22), “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”
2) These branches only ask for what is according to His will – (I Jn. 5:14), “And this is the confidence we have before Him, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
c. Since we know it is God’s will for us to bear fruit – we will ask for those things that will help us
be the most fruitful – (Acts 4:29), “Grant Your servants may speak Your word w/all boldness.”

2. Second: Those who abide in Christ glorify God by bearing much fruit, (v. 8).
a. “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
b. The purpose of the branch is to bear fruit – the purpose of a Christian is exactly the same.
1) Matthew 28:19-20;Mark 16:15-16; Luke 19:10; John 15:8
2) What is our life “proving”? – Are we showing ourselves to be disciples of Jesus?!
3) Ask yourself (even as you have been throughout this lesson) – Do I truly abide in Jesus?!?!

CONCLUSIONS:

1. So today Jesus has described each of us today – (in the different types of branches).

2. Are you attached to Jesus – but have some areas you need for God to “prune” – to become fruitful?

3. Do you today want to become attached to Jesus? – Gal. 3:27.