the True Vine May 20, 2018

Who: True Vine (), Vinedresser (), two types of branches (Believers – fruit bearers and non- believers – no fruit bearing).

When/ Where: Thursday night of Passion week, last week of Jesus’ ministry. He gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover. They met in the upper room and during this time Judas, the betrayer, is exposed. By the time we get to John 15 the process for Judas to betray Jesus is in full force. They leave the upper room and in John 15 and 16 they walk thru . (* note-12 disciples and other disciples).

What: of abiding and true fruit bearing.

Why: What is a true and what is not.

How: Abiding.

Goal: By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:8

 The Branches (fruit bearing and non-fruit bearing) – We are one or the other. o Is not a matter of losing salvation (Romans8:38-39 – nothing can separate us from the love of God.) o Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:11-14  Branches that bear no fruit. o Verse 2 and 6 of John 15. o We are all God’s creation, but not all believers. o Those that don’t bear fruit are cut off and thrown into the fire. o Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved scripture tells us, but we also see if we have truly called on His name their will be fruit (Romans 10:13). o There are, in the Kingdom of God, possessors of life and professors: “Not everyone that says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into My kingdom,” Jesus said in the . There are people who build a religious house, but they built it on sand, and rather do not build it on rock. ~ John MacArthur o In the , we see a vine. There was a corrupted vine. There was a degenerate vine. There was a fruitless vine. There was an empty vine. Who? Israel. The covenant people of God, the Jewish people. Isaiah 5 and Psalm 80 o Being connected to Israel or being “God’s Chosen people” was not all of it. They thought, I’m Jewish so I’m connected to God. Not so. The same is true for us, just because we are Americans, go to Church or our parents are Christians, that doesn’t make us one as well. o For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:2-5 A form of godliness o You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Romans 11:19-24, some of Israel reject, some do not, same with us o From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the , the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of , the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. :66-71, Fan or Follower? o “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23, Not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom. o Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17, Faith without works is dead. o I want to be clear, we are not saved by works, but if we are saved, works and fruit will follow. o These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 :13 o But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23  Fruit bearing branches – verse 2 o Pruning – Hebrews 12:6 o Type of pruning: Affliction, ungodliness, opposite fruit of the Spirit, God is working on us. o Fruit bearing branches abide (envelope) verses 4-5 and 7 o :27-28, His sheep hear His voice, do you? o Tendency to hurry up, ignore or brush off the pruning process.

The overall goal, verse 8, to bear fruit, to abide in Christ!

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. John 6:37

As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” :30-31

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13

Prayer Focus:

 Do I know Jesus?  Is fruit evident?  Pruning needed?