“ARE WE CONNECTED OR CUT OFF?”
John 15:1-14
Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ
September 26, 2021
Video Link: https://youtu.be/FN39VUxBCAk
INTRODUCTION:
1) When we look at the Gospels, we find that Jesus was particularly gifted at pointing out aspects of daily life to bring about spiritual truths.
A) He would use images from the water, and from agriculture, people’s lives, and just everyday life.
B) Today we come to John 15 and as Jesus taught his disciples, he presented a simple scene from the agricultural community to present some powerful truths on our walk with Christ.
C) The image was that of a farmer, or the owner of a vineyard as he cared for his crop.
ba.) In the care of the vines sometimes the gardener would have to cut out some of the dead wood and branches that were not producing crops.
bb.) This man would also do some pruning so that the parts of the plant that were producing would produce an even better crop.
2) It was just an everyday scene these men had witnessed more times than they could remember.
A) Yet as simple and common as this was, Jesus used this occasion to reveal the need for his disciples to abide in Christ, and to produce fruit for the kingdom of God.
B) With this, let us get into out text:
I) THE CHRISTIAN MUST BE CONNECTED TO CHRIST TO HAVE LIFE.
1) Jesus is the true vine. (1a.)
A) He is the starting point and for that matter the entirety of our faith.
B) He is the focus of our spiritual walk with Almighty God.
C) For there to be a walk of faith Jesus must be at the centre of our hearts and our lives.
2) God the Father is the vinedresser. (1b.)
A) In many ways, God is being described as the gardener, or the one who oversees those who desire that spiritual walk.
3) We are the branches.
A) In every part of our spiritual walk, we must remember that we are the branches, and are connected to |Jesus Christ who is the vine.
aa.) This passage of Scripture reminds us of two things:
aaa.) The first is that it is not about us.
.01) Sometimes I feel that the modern church has gotten this backwards.
.02) Sometimes, the modern church believes everything of the faith, and our walk with Christ is about us, rather than about Christ.
.03) Much of the music in many churches is emotional excitement and feel-good music and worship.
.031) It is to build us up more than to honour and bring glory to God.
.031) Anything which brings us to contrition, or experiencing guilt, or thinking of the need for a personal and Biblical relationship with Christ disappears because it does not positively hit our emotions.
.032) Even in churches who still use the hymns, the words have changed to give us more of an emotional high.
.033) I think of one old hymn of the faith that used to have the words “for such a worm as I.”
.034) Newer hymnals have changed those words to “for such a sinner as I”, and the newest hymn books have even changed that further to “such a one as I.”
.035) These might seem like innocent and insignificant changes, but they are the kind of changes that happen, and lead to more significant changes that focus on us instead of on Christ.
aab.) Secondly, it is about our connection to Christ.
.01) Because our faith is in Christ, and not ourselves, it will only be of value if we maintain a connection with Christ.
.02) We must abide in Him, and He must abide in us.
.021) It is not enough for us to merely say that we are Christians and belong to Christ.
.022) There are many who claim to belong to Christ, and call themselves Christians, and in reality, their faith means nothing more than the utterance of those words.
.023) The bigger, and more important question is does God abide in you?
.0231) Is God welcomed to abide with you and I by regular meditation and study of His Word.
.0232) In our times of prayer is it merely for us to speak to God, or do we allow God to speak to us?
.0233) Does God abide in us in a manner that meaningfully changes who we are, the values we have, the life we live, the worship we give, and a full surrender to Jesus Christ.
B) It is expected that the branches will bear fruit.
ba.) Jesus was still talking one on one with his apostles at this time.
baa.) It was expected of Jesus that his closest disciples, the apostles would bear fruit for the kingdom of God.
bab.) It is also expected that today’s disciples, the Church of Jesus Christ will also bear fruit for the kingdom of God.
.01) Brothers and Sister, we often look at this as something that is optional to our faith.
.02) We many times see this as something which is not a necessity from our faith in Christ.
.021) The significance of this comes out in verse two.
C) A branch that does not bear fruit will be taken away. (2a.)
ca.) Does this apply to the church?
caa.) I believe Matthew 25 shows that it does.
.01) We are not going to look up the passage, but Matthew 25 tells us the parable of the ten virgins, five who were wise, and five who were foolish.
.02) Throughout both the Old and New Testaments the metaphor of a bride, a virgin, or the pure woman, are terms used to speak of God’s people.
.03) Therefore, if my understanding of that passage is correct Jesus is telling us that even in the church perhaps half are ready to meet the groom, who is Jesus, and the other half are not ready to meet our Saviour.
.031) Brothers and sisters, that is a scary picture.
.032) It is troubling to think that even in the church there are many who are not ready for Jesus, and who may in fact be separated from God.
.033) It is sad that even in the church there are Christians who do not abide in Christ, not allow God to fully dwell in them.
caa.) Certainly, we do not believe in a works-based salvation, but none the less, God expects us to bear fruit as the body of Christ.
cab.) Scripture makes it clear that God will demand an accounting of how faithfully we have used what he has given to us.
D) A branch that is bearing small amounts of fruit will be pruned to produce more fruit. (2b.)
da.) Just as the one who does not live the walk of faith will be cast out there are those who are genuine in their faith, but need to grow in Christ, and bear spiritual fruit for the kingdom of God.
daa.) Just as a gardener may prune his trees or plants to bear more fruit, there are times that God will prune our lives to be more productive in the Kingdom of God.
dab.) There are times that God may inflict pain in our lives by cutting something out of our lives or allowing us to go through something we do not care for, but it is from his love to make us into the People of God we should be.
.01) When those times happen, we need to ask God if He is working to do something in our lives.
.02) We need to say Help me God to be or become who you want me to be.
II) THE CHRISTIAN MUST BE CONNECTED TO CHRIST TO BEAR FRUIT. (John 15:5-8)
1) “I am the vine; you are the branches (5a.)
A) “Whoever abides in me And I in Him” (5b.)
aa.) Our Lord again tells us that being productive in the Christian life and bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God takes a co-operative effort of God and us.
B) “He it is that bears much fruit” (5d.)
ba.) “For apart from me you can do nothing.”
bb.) There are times we accomplish some things through our own efforts alone, but to truly accomplish spiritual pursuits, and to bear spiritual fruit it must be God working through us.
2) Not everyone (not even every Christian) abides in Christ.
A.) John 15:6
aa.) Jesus has already stated of this earlier in the passage, but he again repeats the same thought.
aaa.) Jesus wants us to know we are to take this seriously, and that we must be connected to Him, and He to us.
3) Jesus proceeds to give a promise to the Apostles connected to their faithfulness.
A.) John 15:7
B.) If one remains in Christ, and Christ remains in him, then His entire being is dedicated to doing the will of Christ.
ba.) When this is the case, a person’s prayers will be dedicated to doing Christ’s will and accomplishing Christ’s purposes.
bb.) When our life and prayers are in alignment with Jesus Christ, our prayers are heard and answered.
bba.) Our prayers will seek the will of God and bearing fruit for our Lord and God.
4) “By this is my Father glorified” (8a.)
A) “That you bear much fruit” (8b.)
aa.) As Christians, our goal is to glorify Christ.
ab.) That means that we are to grow to be like Him into Christian maturity.
ac.) As we grow to become mature in Christ, we need to share the love of God with those of our friends and family who do not yet know him as Lord and Saviour.
ad.) As we do this, souls will be rescued from the clutches of Satan and hell, into the kingdom of God.
ae.) As souls are won to Jesus Christ, God is glorified, and the work of Christ is carried out.
af.) In the Lord’s prayer, we pray the words “Thy Kingdom come.”
afa.) While the kingdom of God came into this world on the Day of Pentecost, for many the kingdom of God has not yet come.
afb.) For those of the lost the kingdom of God will not come until we take it to those who have never yet come into the kingdom of God.
B) “and so, prove to be my disciples.”
CONCLUSION:
1) The parable of the vine and the branches was just a simple story from everyday life.
A) Simple as it was, I doubt these men ever thought of that scene in the same way again.
B.) Years after this night these men would recall the teachings of Jesus each time, they saw someone cutting away dead wood, or pruning going on in a vineyard or garden.
ba.) Each time they would have seen it, they would have remembered their own need to be faithful, and to abide in Christ, and to let Christ abide in them.
C.) As we leave here today, may our hearts also be stirred to always be faithful to Christ, and to abide in Him, and to open our lives so that he can abide in us.
