The True Vine
John 15:1-11
The discourse in our text this morning is recorded only by John and takes place directly after Judas leaves the room on that evening of Christ's betrayal.
It is part of a larger discourse of encouragement and instruction that Jesus leaves with His disciples before they join Him for prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.
As John, the "Beloved Disciple" is known to do, he record's one of Jesus' special "I AM" statements, in which Jesus identifies Himself in a metaphor that tells us something of His character and His qualities.
In this instance the Chapter begins with the "I AM" statement, and we will read this as we look at our text:
READ TEXT
PRAY
It is a beautiful picture that Christ has painted for us here in John 15.
We are given the distinct image of God the Father as a Husbandman.
Now a husbandman is one whose responsibility it is to care for and nurture the growth of the vine.
We see this great, infinite Husbandman, looking down over His vineyard with much concern for its well-being.
The whole picture then opens up to us as we see that the particular interest of the Husbandman is the continuation of the fruit-bearing that characterized His Son's ministry.
This brings us to the second person in the analogy - Jesus Himself.
The Husbandman is not interested in wild vines from different vineyards.
He has no responsibility to them.
He is concerned only with those branches who stem from the vine.
God's perspective then becomes very clear:
There are those who are in the vine and those who are not in the vine.
The only claim that we have to the care of the Husbandman is that we are a part of the vine.
This is not flattering to us but is glorifying to the One by Whose great virtue we find favor with the Husbandman.
However, this passage is not one primarily about Salvation - but is about the believer who must abide in the vine or become useless to its greater purpose.
The taking away of the fruitless vines is no indication that the believer can lose his salvation - this analogy is about growing and pleasing God not keeping or losing salvation.
The imperative of the passage is very clear:
EVERY BELIEVER MUST ABIDE IN THE VINE
1.) Because of the Possibilities of much fruit-bearing (Verse 5)
2.) Because of the Provision of answered prayers (Verse 7)
3.) Because of the Purpose of a fulfilled joy (Verse 11)
1.) By Abiding in His Work (Verse 2, 4, 5, 6)
The emphasis is on production.
2.) By Abiding in His Word (Verse 3, 7, 10)
The Word cleanses - Verse 3
The Word teaches - Verse 7
The Word instructs - Verse 10
3.) By Abiding in His Ways (Verse 8, 9, 10)
His Way is disciplined - Verse 8
His Way is loving - Verse 9
His Way is obedient - Verse 10
We cannot abide in the Vine until we have been grafted into Him.
This means you must surrender your old root system and take on His root system.
We must leave our old life and partake of the life He gives.
It is only by being grafted into the True vine we will ever please God.
John 15:1-11
The discourse in our text this morning is recorded only by John and takes place directly after Judas leaves the room on that evening of Christ's betrayal.
It is part of a larger discourse of encouragement and instruction that Jesus leaves with His disciples before they join Him for prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.
As John, the "Beloved Disciple" is known to do, he record's one of Jesus' special "I AM" statements, in which Jesus identifies Himself in a metaphor that tells us something of His character and His qualities.
In this instance the Chapter begins with the "I AM" statement, and we will read this as we look at our text:
READ TEXT
PRAY
It is a beautiful picture that Christ has painted for us here in John 15.
We are given the distinct image of God the Father as a Husbandman.
Now a husbandman is one whose responsibility it is to care for and nurture the growth of the vine.
We see this great, infinite Husbandman, looking down over His vineyard with much concern for its well-being.
The whole picture then opens up to us as we see that the particular interest of the Husbandman is the continuation of the fruit-bearing that characterized His Son's ministry.
This brings us to the second person in the analogy - Jesus Himself.
The Husbandman is not interested in wild vines from different vineyards.
He has no responsibility to them.
He is concerned only with those branches who stem from the vine.
God's perspective then becomes very clear:
There are those who are in the vine and those who are not in the vine.
The only claim that we have to the care of the Husbandman is that we are a part of the vine.
This is not flattering to us but is glorifying to the One by Whose great virtue we find favor with the Husbandman.
However, this passage is not one primarily about Salvation - but is about the believer who must abide in the vine or become useless to its greater purpose.
The taking away of the fruitless vines is no indication that the believer can lose his salvation - this analogy is about growing and pleasing God not keeping or losing salvation.
The imperative of the passage is very clear:
EVERY BELIEVER MUST ABIDE IN THE VINE
1.) Because of the Possibilities of much fruit-bearing (Verse 5)
2.) Because of the Provision of answered prayers (Verse 7)
3.) Because of the Purpose of a fulfilled joy (Verse 11)
1.) By Abiding in His Work (Verse 2, 4, 5, 6)
The emphasis is on production.
2.) By Abiding in His Word (Verse 3, 7, 10)
The Word cleanses - Verse 3
The Word teaches - Verse 7
The Word instructs - Verse 10
3.) By Abiding in His Ways (Verse 8, 9, 10)
His Way is disciplined - Verse 8
His Way is loving - Verse 9
His Way is obedient - Verse 10
We cannot abide in the Vine until we have been grafted into Him.
This means you must surrender your old root system and take on His root system.
We must leave our old life and partake of the life He gives.
It is only by being grafted into the True vine we will ever please God.
No comments:
Post a Comment