Lesson 7: I Am The Vine

“I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides

in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me

you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

A. THE VINE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Israel was God’s vineyard. “The vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel” (Isa. 5:7).

2. God did everything for fruit. “He fenced it, and gathered out the stones . . . planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower . . . and made a winepress” (Isa. 5:2).

3. The vineyard did not produce fruit. “It brought forth wild grapes” (Isa. 5:2).

4. God punished it by removing His hedge. “I will take away the hedge . . . break down the wall . . . it shall be trodden down . . . it shall not be pruned, nor digged” (Isa. 5:5-6).

B. THE VINE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Jesus is the whole vine.

a. No two entities, i.e., a trunk and limbs.

b. Jesus indwells us – our power.

c. We are in Jesus – our position.

d. Life-giving sap flows to tip of live branches.

2. Believers are the branches.

a. Non-fruitful. “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away” (v. 2). Airo doesn’t mean to “cut off” but means “to lift up,” i.e., encouragement.

b. Fruitful. “Every branch that beareth fruit, He prunes” (v. 2) by the spoken word, “you are clean through the word” (v. 3) Rhema, spoken word.

3. What does the word abide mean?

a. Remain.

b. “To wait.” Webster (Archaic)

c. To dwell or to continue.” Oxford

d. “Accept without objection.”

e. Attached branches or Christians.

4. Double identification. “Ye in Me, and I in you” (14:20).

a. You must remain attached for fruit bearing.

b. Growth is a continual process.

c. You do nothing to grow but remain attached.

5. Progressive fruit bearing.

a. “Fruit” comes from remaining attached (v.2).

b. “More fruit” (v.2) comes with cleansing by the word (v. 2-3).

c. “Much fruit” (v. 5) double exchange.

6. Unattached branches.

a. You decide if you will remain attached. “If a man abides not in Me” (v. 6).

b. What is withered”? No life and no fruit.

7. Three views of verse 6:

a. Lose salvation.

(1) Withered is no eternal life.

(2) Men (angels) gather them in death.

(3) The fire is Hell.

b. Professing Christians.

(1) Withered because never had spiritual life.

(2) Fire is Hell.

c. Unfruitful Christians.

(1) The person is not the branch, but it is their dead works.

(2) Withered is dried up spiritually.

(3) Men (angels) gather them in premature death.

(4) Cast into fire, i.e., dead works are burned up at Judgment Seat

of Christ (I Cor. 3:12-15).

8. What is the interpretation of fruit?

a. Stands for soul winning, i.e., the fruits of a Christian are new

believers.

b. Stands for character, i.e., “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,

peace, long suffering (patience) gentleness, goodness, faith,

meekness, temperance (self-control)” (Gal. 5:22-23).

c. The word fruit is singular, i.e., your maturity in Christ.

9. What does the fruitful Christian possess?

a. Scriptural living. “The Word of God abideth in you” (I John 2:14).

b. Answers to prayer. “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it will be done” (John 15:7).

c. Fruit in service. “I have chosen you . . . that ye should go and bring forth fruit” (John 15:16).

d. Live pure lives. “Those who abideth in Him, sinneth not continually” (I John 5:6, ELT).

e. Confidence. “Abide in Him, that when He shall appear, we may have confidence” (I John 2:28).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.

To receive this lesson, log on to www.elmertowns.com. You will find it under Sunday School lessons. To email Dr. Towns, eltowns@liberty.edu. For more information on the class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.