5/20/2007 #717
THE GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE
LIFE FROM THE TRUE VINE
John 15:1-11
Part Ten
INTRODUCTION: In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Spiritual life comes from Jesus just as the branch must receive its life from the vine. Jesus, the True Vine, describes two kinds of branches: those who bear fruit and those who do not. We must be in Christ to have life and must abide in Christ to bear fruit. The Holy Spirit is to us as the sap is to the branches on a vine. Spiritual fruit is the result.
I. VAIN LIFE v. 6
A. FAITHLESS. Romans 1:17; Hebrews 11:6
B. FRUITLESS. Matthew 7:17-19
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:17-20
C. FLESHY.
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.” (Romans 8:5-8, 13)
Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. (v. 5) We cannot live the Christian life and neither can we produce spiritual fruit unless we are attached and abiding in Christ. Branches that are unproductive are useless and will be destroyed. (v. 6)
II. VINE LIFE
A. CHRIST LIFE. v. 1 “I am the true vine”
B. CULTIVATED LIFE. v. 2
1. Pruning. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away”
2. Purging. “every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it” Purged means to cleanse. The Word of God cleanses the believer.
3. Purpose. “that it may bring forth more fruit”
C. CLEANSED LIFE. v. 3; Eph. 5:26
“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” Ps. 119:67, 71, 75
D. CHASTENED LIFE.
“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:5-11
III. VICTORIOUS LIFE
A. ABIDING IN THE VINE. v. 7
1. Abide in His Word. v. 7
2. Abide in prayer. v. 7
3. Abide in love. v. 9-10
“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
Charles Stanley: “The vine is Christ, I am the branch. The Holy Spirit is the sap that runs from the vine into the branch. The branch lives, grows, and bears fruit not by struggles and effort but simply by abiding.”
B. ABOUNDING IN THE VINE.
1. Abounding in answered prayer. v. 7
2. Abounding in fruitfulness. v. 8, 16 “bear much fruit”
3. Abounding in joy. v. 11 “my joy might be full:
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. Are you trusting in and dependent on Jesus alone?
2. Is the Holy Spirit producing spiritual fruit in your life? Galatians 5:22
3. Are you struggling to live the Christian life? Are you trying to live the Christian life the in power of the flesh?
4. Salvation is to have the life of Christ. If you are willing to turn from your sins in repentance and trust Him as you Savior and Lord, you can be saved today.