A Fruitful Disciple
Notes
Transcript
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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
“Jesus teaches that His relationship to the disciples is that of a vine to the branches. The emphasis of this upper room discourse is the fourth phase of their relationship.” Bill Hull
Phase 1 “come and see” introductory
“Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.
Phase 2 “Come and follow me” basic training
“Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
Phase 3 “ Come and be with Me” specialized training
Sends out the 12 Matt.10 Send out the 72
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Phase 4 “remain in Me” expectation to reproduce
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
II. Understand the Relationships
II. Understand the Relationships
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.
A) Role of the True Vine (Source of Life)
A) Role of the True Vine (Source of Life)
Key phrase “in Me”
“The phrase “in Me” is used 16 times in John’s Gospel (6:56; 10:38; 14:10 [twice], 11, 20, 30; 15:2, 4 [twice], 5–7; 16:33; 17:21, 23). In each case it refers to fellowship with Christ. It is inconsistent then to say the phrase in 15:2 refers to a person who merely professes to be saved but is not. A person “in Me” is always a true Christian.” The preposition ἔν is used “to designate a close personal relation.”
[1] Joseph C. Dillow, “Abiding Is Remaining in Fellowship: Another Look at John 15:1–6,” Bibliotheca Sacra147 (1990): 44–53.
Jesus Christ (7 I am statements by Jesus)
I am the Bread of Life (6:35,41,48,51)
I am the Light of the world (8:12)
I am the Door of the sheep (10:7,9)
I am the Good Shepherd (10:11, 14)
I am the Resurrection and Life (11:25)
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14:6)
I am the True Vine (15:1,5)
B) Role of the Father
B) Role of the Father
1 Owner (v1)
2 Removes (v.2)
3) Prunes (v.2)
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
4) Is glorified (v.8)
C) Role of the branches
C) Role of the branches
Reproduce
Produce Fruit (v2)
Produce more Fruit (v2)
Produce much Fruit (vs 5,8)
Definition of fruit
Definition of fruit
καρπός (karpos). n. masc. fruit, harvest, gain. This noun is often used as a figure of speech to describe the fruitful outcome of righteous actions.
Joshua A. Crutchfield, “Reward,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
① product or outcome of someth., fruit
ⓐ in a physical sense
α. of plants:
William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 509.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
III. Understand Your Responsibility
III. Understand Your Responsibility
Believe
Believe
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Remain in Christ (Command)
Remain in the Word
Cannot produce fruit by yourself
Definition of Remain
Definition of Remain
μένω (menō): vb.; ≡ 1. LN stay, remain, abide
James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
To abide “in” Christ means to remain in close relationship to Him.
Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
How do you remain in close relationship?
Study the Word
Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
Diligent - to do something with intense effort and motivation—‘to work hard, to do one’s best, to endeavor.’
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 661.
2. Fight Temptation
For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,
since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments
and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
3. Confess sins
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4. Give a Defense
but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
IV. Understand Your Reward
IV. Understand Your Reward
Fruit bearings does at least 3 things.
Meet expectations
God is Glorified
Authenticates the disciple
My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
Closing
Closing
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
Each day Christians have a choice
1 Will I follow Christ today?
2. Will His Spirit guide me?
3. Will His Word instruct me?
4. Will I be fruitful?