WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.320 Me to John chapter 15, the gospel. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:13.599 And really, right here where we are, Jesus has now turned his attention to his disciples to prepare them for his departure. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:21.280 Now, like I said, we've already had a lot going on this morning in our service, the youth testimonies and our missionary spotlight, and so we want to dive right into this. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:24.800 So John chapter 15 comes in the shadow of the cross. 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.120 It comes, Jesus is speaking to his disciples on the night of his betrayal. 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:37.359 He's preparing them for his departure and teaching them how to live when they can no longer see him, when he's no longer tangible to them. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:38.640 He's about to leave. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:40.479 And so what does Jesus do? 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:44.320 He strategizes about programs to grow the church, right? 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:48.560 No, no, this is not what he does. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:50.640 He does something far better. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:52.079 Far better. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:54.640 He offers himself. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:57.759 He offers himself to the church, right? 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:05.120 It's not not that there's anything wrong with programs, but it's not the starting point of the people of God. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:06.879 It's the church. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:08.319 And what does he say to him right here? 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:11.760 He says, I am the true vine. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:13.680 I am the true vine. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:18.560 This is why context matters when we read the scripture, when we study the scripture. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:33.359 This is the reason, week after week after week, my goal is to open the text to you and to reveal, reveal clearly to you and communicate to you through the power of the Spirit God's revealed intentions in the Scripture, not my own. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.159 It's not about me, it's not what I have to say, but it's about what God has to say. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:43.120 And so what I want to remind you of this morning is where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.079 Real quickly, chapter one, we see the incarnation. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:47.920 We see God Himself come. 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:54.159 Then we see John the Baptist proclaiming to prepare the way for the Messiah. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:55.760 He says, Behold the Lamb of God. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:02:05.120 And then in chapter two, we see him reveal, Jesus reveal himself to a small group at the first miracle we see in the wedding, where he changes the water into wine. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:08.000 And then Jesus goes to the temple and he cleanses the temple. 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:17.039 He awakens the people of this of their greed and their misrepresentation of this place of worship. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:22.479 And then we see in chapter three, he reveals to Nicodemus that he came to save. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:44.400 And then from chapter four all the way to chapter 11, we see six more signs. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:47.680 Six more signs that Jesus is trying to say, I am the Son of God. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:53.439 He's trying to reveal to the Jewish people who he is, so that they may believe, which is his purpose. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:03:02.879 We see in John chapter 20, verse 31, where he says, I have come to reveal myself through these signs, that you may see that I am the Son of God, and that you will believe and have eternal life. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:09.360 And so this is the idea of what John is trying to pin to the people in the life of Jesus as he moves through these signs. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:14.960 And then we come to chapter 6, and really chapter 6 through chapter 15, we get seven I am statements. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.000 And he says this, I am the bread of life in chapter six. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:20.879 And then he says in chapter eight, I am the light of the world. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:23.120 In chapter 10, I am the gate of the sheep. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:24.159 I am the good shepherd. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:27.280 And then in chapter 11, he says, I am the resurrection, the life. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.000 Chapter 14, he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:36.719 And then we see today in our passage in John chapter 15 that I am the true vine. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:37.840 I am the true vine. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:43.439 Jesus is the source of spiritual nourishment for those who remain connected to him. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:51.199 And those who remain connected, they will produce spiritual fruit because they have a genuine faith. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:54.080 And so this doesn't mean that one can lose their salvation. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:55.039 Don't hear this. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:56.560 This is not what he's trying to say. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.400 It means that they never had it. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:00.319 It means they never had it. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:05.280 And so let me give you a little more context as we move into our passage this morning. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:14.479 In the Old Testament, Israel was often described as God's vine or his vineyard, yet Israel failed to bear the fruit God required. 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:25.439 And so Jesus now declares that he is the true vine, the faithful Israel, the covenant head, the only source of life for his people. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:29.839 And the Christian life is not a self-improvement with religious language. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:32.160 It's not the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:41.279 It's not the name it or claim it gospel that turns Jesus into our personal genie, but it is a life in union with Christ. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.560 That's what it is. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:44.399 And so what is our union with Christ? 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:45.519 What does this look like? 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:54.720 It's a deep-seated joy that's rooted in the finished work of Christ for the glory of God and for the good of those who believe. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:56.560 This is the crucified life. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:58.160 This is our union with life. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:04.879 And that joy of knowing God will produce in us fruits for the kingdom of God. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:07.600 Spiritual fruits for the kingdom of God. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:17.439 And so union with Christ is the center of our salvation, it's the center of our sanctification, and it's central to all of our deepest joys. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:22.319 If you want to live a joyful life, remain in Christ. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.160 Remain in Him. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:27.680 And so we see this throughout the scripture. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:38.079 There's plenty of evidence that it's overwhelming matter of fact when you look at the New Testament about this theme, this deep-rooted joy found only in God. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:40.160 And that includes our text this morning. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:52.160 As we move and we look to Christ as the true vine, the all-saving life, the sanctifying grace, the fruitful obedience, the lasting joy that flows from our union with Him and Him alone. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:58.720 This is what I've already mentioned, the crucified life, a new life, unite it with Christ and not this world. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:05.839 And so John's intention in this passage is to identify the genuine believer from those who are fake. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.439 The genuine believer will abide in him by faith. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.759 The genuine believer will receive the Father's pruning, that we always want that, but we will receive his pruning. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:20.240 Not only that, the genuine believer will bear fruit for the glory of God. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:24.959 And the genuine believer will rest in Christ's joy. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:25.920 Now, what does that mean? 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:26.800 We hear that all the time. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:27.680 Rest in the Lord. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:28.720 This is what it means. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:38.000 It is the peaceful assurance that your salvation, that your worth, that your security is complete in Christ alone. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:39.680 It's not in us. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:41.199 It's not in us. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:43.519 We're not secure in and of ourselves. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.040 You heard it from Abby this morning. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:45.759 We're not perfect. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:50.639 We're not claiming to be perfect, but we're claiming to trust and follow and obey the one who is perfect. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:59.680 And so this is a beautiful picture of what it means to rest in Christ, to let that burden be lifted off you, the anxiety of trying to have it all together. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:02.800 And you say, No, I don't, but I want to trust in Christ. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.120 And so we rest in Christ. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:11.199 Now remember, I told you that context matters, so let me give you a few more a little more context as we read and study this passage this morning. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:22.160 Jesus has just identified Judas as the betrayer, the one who would not remain, the one who would not abide, the branch that would not remain to the vine. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:27.839 And so we see this, and then he looks at uh the eleven and he says to them, little children. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:42.800 So he's identifying to those, those who will remain, the other disciples, the ones who are in the upper room with him, and he says, Little children, for those who remain, the overarching uh character of my people will be love. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.879 It will be their love for one another. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:47.680 And so he's explaining this to them while they're in the upper room. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:48.800 We love the world. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:54.560 Now, we love the world in a salvific way by loving one another the way Jesus loved us. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:55.600 This is the key. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.319 It's the key. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:57.600 It doesn't mean we don't love the world. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:07.439 We're focusing on loving one another, the saints, so that we together, united in Christ, can be a reflection, an influence to the world that doesn't know him. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:09.920 And so our love for them is salvific. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.439 We want them to know Christ. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.560 We want them to experience the love that we've experienced. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:17.759 But we do that by loving one another. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:32.000 Now, Jesus, knowing that they could not come with him in this moment, knowing that they were unable to bear the weight of the cross, he says to them in chapter 14, he says, Let your hearts not be troubled. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:40.879 Believe in God, believe also in me, for I am preparing a place for you in my Father's house, and in my father's house there are many rooms. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:51.440 And so not only am I preparing a place for you, but I'm also going to give you a helper, the Holy Spirit, the one who will lead you and give you peace until I return. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:52.320 And guess what? 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:56.399 By him you will do greater things than I have. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:05.759 So Jesus is saying to him, You're going to do greater things than I have, spiritually speaking, because the presence of God will dwell in the believers who are scattered out through all the ends of the world. 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:12.879 And spiritually speaking, we will be able to do far greater things than Jesus Himself could do, spiritually speaking. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:23.120 And so those who are of the true family of God will abide in me, and the power of my spirit will bear fruit, and everyone else will be cut off. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:24.559 Pray with me this morning. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:27.120 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:29.600 May we see it in a new and a fresh way. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:35.039 God, that it may change us and shape us to be more like you, for it's in your name we pray. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:35.840 Amen. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.200 Would you read with me, starting in verse one, chapter 15? 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:42.879 It says, I am the true vine, and my father is the vine dresser. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:49.679 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:54.639 Already you are clean because of the world, because of the word that I have spoken to you. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:10:02.559 Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:04.559 I am the vine and you are the branches. 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:11.039 Whoever abides in me and I am him, he is he it is that bears much fruit. 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.720 Apart from me you can do nothing. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:20.720 If any one does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:25.840 If you abide in me and my word abides in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:31.360 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:34.480 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:36.000 Abide in my love. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:42.960 If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's command and abide in his love. 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:50.799 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.600 Amen. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:52.720 What a beautiful passage. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:11:01.360 And so this morning, as we look to our first point, Christ is the true vine, our covenant source of life. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.759 And we see this in verse one, the first part of verse one. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.159 We see it also in the first part of verse five. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:17.759 Now, we're gonna see four characters throughout this passage as Jesus is painting a picture for us of what it looks like to be connected to our life source, to our covenant source of life, Jesus Christ. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:31.600 And so immediately the question that is raised by Jesus' statement is this in this metaphor, this word picture is if Jesus is the true vine, then who is the counterfeit or who is the false vine? 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.759 And so when Jesus says, I am the vine, giving us his his last I am statement. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:45.440 This is the seventh one, this is the last statement that identifies him as God, as deity, uh, he says this to his disciples. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:47.519 He's implying that there is a false vine. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:52.399 And so one appears fruitful but fails to give life to the branches. 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.200 Who is this? 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.240 Well, this is Israel. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:59.200 Israel is the vine that failed to be fruitful to God's will. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:11.440 Israel was meant to be God's instrument to bring his truth to the nations, but instead it became fruitless, it became faithless, it produced corrupt fruit and idolatry and immorality. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:16.879 Hosea 10 1 through 2 says this Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:23.120 The more his fruits increase, the more altars he built, and his country improved, and he improved his pillars. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.879 Their hearts is false. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:31.440 Now they must bear their guilt, and the Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars. 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:34.240 Jeremiah 2 11 says, I have planted you a choice vine. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:36.960 He called them his choice vine, a holy pure seed. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.960 How have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine? 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:51.039 And so Jesus, by Jesus' day, the religious leaders were outwardly, outwardly religious, but they lacked a true relationship with God. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.440 And it could not lead others into a living fellowship with him. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:08.399 And so unfortunately, many people today, we have been deceived to think, like the Jews, that our religious activity and good deeds are enough to satisfy God's wrath. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.679 And it's not. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:21.679 And so in his final I am statement, Jesus calls himself not merely the vine, but he says to them, I am the true vine, the only one through whom sinners can enter into a relationship with the righteous and holy God. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:29.600 And so as the true vine, Jesus feels everything Israel failed to do through their disobedience. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:34.320 He accomplished God's redemptive purpose for sinners. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:42.000 And so the second thing we see is Jesus is the true vine that brings salvation to those who believe. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:47.360 Jesus knew that his disciples would soon be excluded from the temple worship. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.639 He knew that they would be persecuted, they'd be banned from the synagogue. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:55.360 He knew that they'd be cut off from their tradition of Judaism for standing for him, for following him. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:00.960 And so he declares to them in this moment, in the upper room, he says, I am the true vine. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.639 Do not be deceived. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:06.320 It's not Judaism, it's not religion, it's me. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:07.120 It's me. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:10.720 I am the true vine that brings life to all who believe. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:20.559 Isaiah 4, 2 says, In the day and the branches of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:27.279 That there will be a remnant that God will raise up in the midst of Israel that will be beautiful in that day. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:33.840 And so Jesus is the only true vine that offers salvation and redemption to those who will believe. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.559 And John states this at the very beginning of his gospel. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.320 He says this in chapter 1, verse 9. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:43.519 If you want to make a note, he says, the true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:49.679 He was in the world, and the world had made him through, had made through him, yet the world did not know him. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.320 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:56.639 But to all who did receive him, he believed in his name. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:04.879 And he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of the blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:12.159 And later on in verse 17, he says, For the law was given to Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:23.679 Jesus, God in flesh and blood, the incarnate one, came as the perfect reflection of God, that we might glorify the Father. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.840 And those who believe in Christ, those who believe will follow his pattern. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.120 They will follow his pattern. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.720 They will bring glory to God. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:35.039 And this is where they will find their deepest joy. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:35.759 I love it. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.080 Paul says it this way in Colossians 2 9. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:49.120 He says, For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily that have that you have been filled in him who is the head of all rule and all authority. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:16:02.720 The fullness of God and his grace and his life is found in Christ, and we are rooted in him if we are connected to him, if we believe in him, it's not by our human effort or our covenant privilege. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.679 It's only by Christ. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:13.600 And so, do you measure your Christian life first by participation, by emotion, by visible success? 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.039 Is that how you measure it? 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:21.360 Here's the question Am I resting in Christ's finished work on the cross? 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:23.039 Am I resting in that? 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.720 And how do I do this? 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.320 You begin each day. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:31.200 You begin each day by confessing your dependence upon Christ, not yourself. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:34.960 It's easy for us to try to depend and figure things out on our own. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.919 That's what we've been taught. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.759 That's what we've seen in the world. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:43.600 But we need to begin our day and confess, Lord, we want to depend on you more than ourselves. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.960 And how does that happen? 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.240 Prayer in the word. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.440 Prayer in the word. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.039 Communication with God. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.320 How do we communicate with God? 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.759 Through prayer and through his word. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.240 And so we must seek him daily. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:59.039 Our union with Christ is the foundation of every spiritual blessing. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:05.119 We are justified, adopted, sanctified, and preserved because we belong to him. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:10.160 The second thing we see here is this the Father is the vine dresser. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:14.000 His pruning is sovereign and gracious. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.480 His pruning is sovereign and gracious. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:21.119 Now that sounds foreign to us, or we don't like that idea, but it's so true. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:25.440 And so we see here in the second part of verse one, it says the father is the vine dresser. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:29.680 Now we come to the second character in the picture that Jesus is painting for his disciples. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.519 The first was the true vine, Jesus. 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:33.599 The second is the vine dresser who is the father. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:36.559 Now the vine dresser is the chief work, right? 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.200 His chief work is to produce fruit. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.240 That's his job. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.759 To produce the fruit. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:52.160 To do so, he cultivates, he nourishes the soul, he controls the pests, he removes the weeds, he waters the roots, he tends the vines, he cleanses the fruit, he prunes whatever is necessary. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:58.799 A fruitful vine depends on the careful work of the vine dresser. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:04.400 Now let's be clear about this picture that Jesus is painting for his disciples. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:10.960 It's not that one believer loses their salvation, for we know that scripture is clear. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:15.440 We know that scripture is very clear that God keeps those to whom he calls. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:18.960 One's salvation is not earned and therefore it cannot be lost. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:27.839 And so I believe that scripture teaches us that there are four types of people who are personally connected to the vine. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.400 Yes, I said personally connected. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.519 Personally connected. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:37.039 A lot of times we think in our lives, we even share this, and this isn't necessarily a wrong idea, but I know the intentions. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.279 We say, well, I have a personal relationship with Christ. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:46.079 Let me inform you, everyone here, everyone that's ever created has a personal relationship with Christ. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:49.440 Not a saving one, but a personal relationship with Christ. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.640 And so we see four people. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.640 We see four types of relationships here. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:56.799 One in verse 2a, it says that there are there is no fruit, right? 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.880 There are people who are personally connected through God because of his creation. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.559 He created us all in his image. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:12.079 And this is a way that we use in our language to go and be missionaries in this land and across seas to go and say you are created in God's image. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.960 He loves you. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:17.839 He desires for you to come to know him and to trust him and surrender your life to him. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.839 And so we use this in a missionary way to say you're connected to God. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:28.400 But ultimately, if they do not bear fruit, if they do not trust in faith, they will be cut off. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:30.559 The second thing we see is there's minimal fruit, right? 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:32.319 The initial stage of belief. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.400 We believe and we love the Lord, and so we start to grow spiritually. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:39.759 And then in verse 2c, it says we see a growing faith, right? 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.799 There's more faith. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:45.279 And then we get to verse 5 and it says there's much fruit, right? 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.200 It's the discipleship process. 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:50.880 At some point, we become disciples who make disciples. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.119 We're maturing in our faith. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.519 And so these are the four types of people. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:20:05.680 Now the Father owns the vineyard and he tends it with perfect wisdom, and fruitless branches will be exposed and they will be removed. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:11.039 Fruitful branches will be pruned for greater fruitfulness. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.559 And so listen, church, it's crucial that you understand this. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.440 Pruning is not a punishment. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.640 It's not a punishment. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:32.559 It may seem that way, it may seem hard, and you may not understand or comprehend all that's happening in your life, but God is sovereignly working through his providence to shape you into being his representatives in Christ. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:36.319 And so pruning is not a punishment in Christ. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:43.680 It's a fatherly discipline, it's a sanctifying mercy, it's a perfect purposeful refinement. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.799 And this happens in parenting, also, by the way. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.920 Side note, this is how we parent the same way. 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:56.720 And so we see this beautiful picture of the Father who is pruning in his sovereign and gracious love. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:00.000 And so the word of God is what cleanses his people, right? 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:07.440 By cutting off false confidence that in and of ourselves we have the ability to please God, to satisfy God. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:09.200 And so in his word we see this. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.799 They cut off this false confidence. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:14.559 Not only cutting away a false confidence, we cut away the hidden sin. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:17.279 There's sin in our lives, and we think it's hidden, but it's not. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.640 It's not hidden from God. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:24.400 And so we confess sin quickly, and God cuts it off and he removes it, and we begin to mature in Christ. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:29.200 Not only does he, not only false confidence, but hidden sin, but also worldly attachments. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:31.680 There's worldly attachments in our life that need to be proven. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:37.440 Now, that doesn't mean it's a bad thing, but in light of God's kingdom, do they really matter? 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:43.279 This is where conviction comes, is where the Holy Spirit says he looks at your life and he says, What is unnecessary? 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:46.559 What is keeping you from sharing the gospel? 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:50.079 What is burdening you down in this world that you need to get rid of? 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.559 There's a lot if we're going to be honest. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:59.759 And so sanctification is God's gracious work in the believer, whereby he's conforming. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:09.359 Us to be in the image of Christ through his word, through his spirit, through his providence, through his discipline, and through suffering. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.440 And so here's a few texts that support that. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:20.720 Hebrews 12, 5 through 11 teaches us that the Father's discipline, his children for their holiness, producing what it says, a peaceful fruit of righteousness. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:27.359 James 1 and 2, he says this shows us trials as an instrument of steadfast maturity, right? 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.839 We don't often think of that that way, but it does. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:33.440 These trials, the things that come in our life, they're maturing us. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:38.319 They're building in us a maturity, a steadfastness to stay connected. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:47.039 John 17, 17 says this, connects us to the cleansing and sanctifying, uh sanctification of his word, saying, Sanctify them in truth. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.880 Your word is truth. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.799 This is how we become sanctified. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.920 We hold and we cling to God's commands, to his truth. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:23:03.279 And this is what it says in Romans 2.28, which we've already mentioned, anchored our pruning, uh, God's sovereign purpose to conform his people to the image of his son. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:05.279 That's what he's doing. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.279 And so understand this, church. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:11.759 When the Father prunes, faith says he is not destroying me. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:14.720 He's not destroying me, he's making me more fruitful. 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.240 That's what faith says. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:19.759 He's not destroying me, he's making me more fruitful. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:24.640 One author says it this way: the knife in the hand of a loving vine dresser. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:32.160 God loves you, He's pruning, He's shaping, He's molding you to be like His Son. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.960 So, how do we remain steadfast in this life? 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:42.960 In the midst of seasons of loss, in the midst of correction, conviction, and hardship, when trials come before us, how do we remain? 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:46.960 Well, we pray and we ask, Father, what sin are you exposing? 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:51.440 There's things we gotta say, what what sin are you exposing in my life? 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:54.799 Or what grace are you growing in my life? 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:58.640 Or what fruit are you seeking for me? 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:00.559 This is how we grow. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:09.119 We ask those things, Father, when things aren't right, when things aren't, and our spirit is is not comforted anymore, there must be something he's doing. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.880 Is he exposing sin in our life? 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:13.440 Is he uh trying to grow us in a grace? 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.200 Is he trying to produce more fruit in us? 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:23.519 And we must continue to ask those questions and submit to the experience of scripture rather than our own experience. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.480 This is tough. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.359 This is tough to do. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:29.839 A lot of times we say this, well, I think this is what it says, or I know this is what it should be, or I feel this way. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:33.599 It's tough for us to submit to the things of scripture. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:39.440 We must interpret our pain through the lens of God's eyes, which is his scripture, and not our own. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.400 And not our own. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.200 That's difficult. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.480 That's difficult. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:44.160 And so we must trust. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:49.039 We must trust that the Lord is doing a work in us greater than ourselves. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:55.519 And so we respond with repentance where needed and patience, where purpose is not yet clear. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:58.640 Third thing we see is this the people. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:00.559 The people are the branches. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:03.599 They will remain or wither. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.920 They will remain or wither. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:09.680 All branches are connected to the vine, but not all branches will remain. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.960 Let me say it again. 00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.440 Right? 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:15.279 All branches are connected to the vine, but not all will remain. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:17.359 What does that mean, and why is this significant? 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:32.480 Well, it means that all people are created in the image of God, which we've already spoken about, and God knows them very personally in a very intimate way, so much that he is able to know from the foundations of the world who will reject him and who will by faith come and receive him. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:38.559 And so it's significant because our mission is to share the gospel because we don't know. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:40.000 We don't know. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:43.759 We don't know who God will accept him and who not. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.119 And we're not called to know that. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:53.680 God just calls us to go and be a light and be a messenger for the Lord and trust that the Spirit will work in the heart of the people. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.799 That's our job. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.680 It's not our job to know or to transform hearts. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:01.440 It's our God, it's our job to deliver the message. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:05.599 And so we believe this in John 3.16. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.400 We see it, right? 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.440 We see the mission. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.680 Jesus came and he said this in John 3.16. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:14.160 We all know for God so loved the world that he gave his only God's son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, have eternal life. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:20.559 But yet in verse 17, he continues, and this is where we we kind of we bear down or we or we um we focus in on this. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:27.759 It says, For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:38.079 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:41.920 And so our job is to be messengers, that they might be saved. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:52.319 And then John in 640 says, This, for this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:58.079 And so, why or this is our love for the world in a salvific way. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:00.720 We love them because we want them to know God. 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:03.279 We want them to experience Him. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:09.200 We want, we have a desire that they come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:12.319 This is why our love for one another matters. 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.920 It matters. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:25.119 And so John gives us a picture of two branches that stay connected to the vine, or that are connected to the vine, which is Jesus, and the result of that. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:32.400 And so the first one is this abiding in Christ brings life that bears fruit for God's glory. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.559 We see this in verse 4. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.079 Verse 4 through 5. 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:38.160 To abide is to remain, right? 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:43.359 It's to remain in Christ, it's to live by faith, meaning we continue our dependence upon Christ. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:47.119 We commune with Christ, we trust in Christ, we obey Christ. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:50.480 And in verse 4, it says this the branches cannot bear fruit by itself. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:53.440 It cannot produce life in and of itself. 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:56.559 You cannot, you are not the source of life. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.119 Jesus is the source of life. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:01.359 Jesus is the true vine. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:05.759 And so spiritual fruit is not manufactured by human strength, right? 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:11.039 But it's produced by Christ's life and his people, the vine, we get life from the vine. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:15.599 We get nourishment, we get strength, encouragement from the vine, not the branch. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.440 In and of ourselves, we can't do that. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:19.119 We can't nourish ourselves. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:29.920 And so, continuing in verse 4, Jesus says to his disciples, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:36.880 Meaning his truth directs our desires, it directs our prayers, our priorities, our obedience. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:45.359 And when Christ governs these things, we will ask according to his word, according to his will, and for his glory. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:52.720 This is what the verse of the end of verse 5 means when he says, It uh he it is that bears much fruit. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:56.240 When you start bearing much fruit, your prayer life looks a lot different. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:59.920 It doesn't look like just give me, give me, give me, help me, help me, help me. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.759 It looks like, Lord, show me how to be connected to you. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.279 I want your kingdom to come. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:07.279 I want your will to be done. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:12.000 Your prayers are shaped around the vine and not around the branch. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:19.200 The second thing we see is this abiding in self gives a false impression one is alive. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.039 It's a false impression. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:28.960 The world does a great job of fooling us to think that we're alive by certain things that that weigh on our emotions and our feelings, and we feel like, yeah, we got it all together. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.880 We're doing good in this life. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.319 But it's false. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.119 It's false. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:40.160 If we're not, if you're abiding in yourself, in your own confidence, in your own strength, you are not alive. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:49.440 And so anyone that does not abide in me says here in verse 6, if being the third class conditional statement indicating that there's this potential action, right? 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:57.680