I Am the True Vine

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I Am the True Vine
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Introduction

• John 151
• Context
• Nearing the crucifixion of Jesus
• Preparing the Apostles for their work
• Just after Jesus last Passover meal
• Broad context of John 13-17 limited to the
  Apostles

Matthew 2619-2019 So the disciples did as
Jesus had directed them and they prepared the
Passover. 20 When evening had come, He sat down
with the twelve.
John 151616 You did not choose Me, but I chose
you and appointed you that you should go and bear
fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name He may
give you.
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Introduction

• Some things only applied to the Apostles
• Much of value for us as well
• Chapter 17 Jesus prayed for the Apostles, and
  for all believers
• John 1712-23
• John 15 is spoken to the Apostles, and applies to
  them
• However, there are lessons for us as well

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Examining the Text

• John 151-8
• Jesus uses a horticultural example
• One of Jesus typical teaching methods
• Jesus describes the caring of a grape vine
• Jesus identifies the component parts
• He is the vine
• His Father is the vinedresser
• The Apostles were the branches

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Examining the Text

• He describes what will happen to the branches
• The main vine never changes
• The branches must be fruitful
• Unfruitful branches would be cut off
• Fruitful branches would be pruned
• The Apostles were to abide in Him
• Can branches survive if cut off from the plant?
• By abiding in Christ, the Father would be
  glorified

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Lessons of the Vine

• Jesus is the vine
• Jesus is the giver of life
• The Apostles relied on Jesus for their
  nourishment
• Much like the image in chapter 6

John 65151 I am the living bread which came
down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread,
he will live forever and the bread that I shall
give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life
of the world.
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Lessons of the Vine

• Jehovah is the vinedresser
• Judge over the vine
• He decides which branches are pruned, and which
  branches are cut off
• Responsibilities of the vinedresser
• He disciplines
• He does the cutting off
• We learn of Gods justice in this illustration
• He is willing to judge, and willing to cut off

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Lessons of the Vine

• The Apostles were the branches
• Instructed to bear fruit
• Productivity in their endeavors
• Spreading the gospel
• Converting men and women to Christ
• Fruitful branches are to be pruned to bear even
  more fruit

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Lessons of the Vine

• John 153
• 3 You are already clean because of the word which
  I have spoken to you.

in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning
and so fitted to bear fruit. Strong, J. (1996).
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Lessons of the Vine

• The Apostles were the branches
• Instructed to bear fruit
• Productivity in their endeavors
• Spreading the gospel
• Converting men and women to Christ
• Fruitful branches are to be pruned to bear even
  more fruit
• They had already been pruned
• Judas had already left
• Perhaps he was in Jesus mind when speaking of
  some being cut off

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Lessons of the Vine

• The Apostles would have a great benefit Verse 7
• They would be able to work miracles
• The miracles would prove the message that they
  were delivering

John 1412-1312 Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who believes in Me, the works that I do he
will do also and greater works than these he
will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And
whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son.
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Lessons For Us

• We must look to Christ as our vine
• He is the source of life
• The phrase in Christ is used often

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Ephesians 11

• 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of
  God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and
  faithful in Christ Jesus

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Philippians 11

• 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,
  To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in
  Philippi, with the bishops and deacons

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Romans 63

• 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were
  baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His
  death?

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Galatians 327

• 27 For as many of you as were baptized into
  Christ have put on Christ.

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Lessons For Us

• We need Christ in us
• If I live faithfully, I can say I have Christ
  living in me

Galatians 219-2019 For I through the law died
to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have
been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me and the life which
I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
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Lessons For Us
Ephesians 11313 In Him you also trusted, after
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation in whom also, having believed, you
were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
Ephesians 43030 And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption.
Romans 899 But you are not in the flesh but in
the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in
you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he is not His.
1 Corinthians 61919 Or do you not know that
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
in you, whom you have from God, and you are not
your own?
Acts 23838 Then Peter said to them, Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 53232 And we are His witnesses to these
things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God
has given to those who obey Him.
John 1423-2423 Jesus answered and said to him,
If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and
make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love
Me does not keep My words and the word which you
hear is not Mine but the Fathers who sent Me.

• We can understand how Christ lives in us

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Lessons For Us
2 Corinthians 129-109 And He said to me, My
grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is
made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly
I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for
Christs sake. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.
James 519-2019 Brethren, if anyone among you
wanders from the truth, and someone turns him
back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner
from the error of his way will save a soul from
death and cover a multitude of sins.
2 Corinthians 127-8 7 And lest I should be
exalted above measure by the abundance of the
revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to
me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be
exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I
pleaded with the Lord three times that it might
depart from me.

• We will be pruned by the Father
• Hebrews 125-11
• God chastens us as children
• Many ways that God can prune us
• Through His word
• Through our brethren
• Through our circumstances
• We must be willing to heed the chastening of the
  Father

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Lessons For Us

• We will be cut off if we do not abide in Christ
• Contradicts once saved, always saved
• New Testament supports the idea that we can be
  separated from God
• Galatians 51-6
• They had become estranged from Christ
• Hebrews 312-41
• The Israelites fell short of the Promised Land
• We can fall short of our rewardEternal Life

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3 Doctrines Not Supported

• Denominationalism
• Jesus is the vine and the denominations are the
  branches?
• One church is as good as another
• Jesus is addressing individuals
• Note particularly verse 5

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3 Doctrines Not Supported

• Modern Day Miracles
• Many think this is a general passage, and
  therefore verses 7-8 apply today
• But, this passage is limited to the Apostles
• Jesus was making no promise of miraculous gifts
  to Christians of all time

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3 Doctrines Not Supported
John 1577 If you abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and
it shall be done for you.

• Predestination
• Verse 16 tells us that Jesus chose His disciples
• Does He choose all disciples in some miraculous
  way?
• We are not chosen by God to be saved without some
  response from us
• We must hear, believe and obey the words of Jesus
  
• They had to be obedient, and so must we!

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Conclusion

• Jesus is the True Vine
• We will be pruned by the Father
• We must grow and bear fruit