This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”Abiding In Christ\”, John 15:1-8, 1/9/2022

ABIDING IN CHRIST

John 15:1-8

Jesus uses this example to show us the working relationship between

Him, His Father, and us (the church). This example shows the purpose of

Mankind.

There are three workers in this example. First, you have the owner of the

Vineyard, the Father.  2^nd you have the true vine, Jesus. 3^rd you have the

Branches of the vine, the church.

The purpose of the Church is to produce fruit. There are levels of fruit.

There is no fruit. There is fruit. And there is much fruit. The objective is

To produce much fruit. The work of the church is to produce much fruit.

Next, there is the concept of abiding. The relationship between Jesus and the

The church is cemented in abiding. The Greek word for abide is meno which

Means to continue or dwell, or be present. The word meno is intransitive

And imperfect. Which means to continue to remain faithful.

JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE

V:1.  \”I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

1. Jesus defines Himself as the one who gives life.
2. He defines Himself as the only one who gives life.
3. Jesus defines Himself as unique.
4. A vine is rooted in the ground and spreads upward.
5. It is the ground that provides the nutrients for the

Vine growth.

• Jesus is the creator and owner of all the ground.
• Jesus is the one who provides the nutrients for the

Ground.

• Jesus is the author of the process of growth.
• The root grows down in the ground suck up

The nutrients for growth.

• The vine grows upward above the ground and

Processes the sunlight for the growth of the vine and it’s

Fruit.

• Others may claim temporary ownership, but Jesus is

The true owner.

• The question becomes, what fruit is Jesus referring to?
• Galatians 5 describes the fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

•   Philippians  1  states;

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

• Matthew 3:8 states;

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, \’We have Abraham as our father.\’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

• Proverbs 11:30 states;

Proverbs 11:30

 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

• While Jesus does not tell us what fruit He is referring to, we could

Conclude that the fruit is an attitude of obedience to His commands.

Since we are a new creation in Christ, the evidence of fruit is discipleship

And winning souls to Him.

The Father is the Gardner working in unity with the Son.

V:2. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

1. There are two types of church members.
2. There are those who bear no fruit.
3. There are many church member who bears no fruit.
4. They do not live up to their potential and are removed

By the Father from service.

• They are in Jesus, taking up space and hindering the growth

Of those who serve.

• The question becomes, since the none fruit-bearing branches

Are in Jesus, is this a judgment statement?

Could this be a statement of the chastisement of a carnal Christian?

                       The Greek word for “in” is “en” which means a relationship of rest.

                        Once in Christ, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of

                        Redemption. If it was not so, then it would be work salvation.

• The branches that bear fruit he purges of cleans.

1, Non of us is without sin. The best of us are growing in Christ.

• All of us have areas we need to improve so we bear more fruit.
• Envy, jealously, and hatred are knocking at the door that we must

Fight so we are more loving and Christ-like.

• Some bear fruit.
• They are pruned at the right time in the right way

To be more fruitful

CLEANED BY THE WORD OF GOD

V:3. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

1. The Word has the power to convict.
2. The conviction leads to cleaning.
3. Abiding is a two-way street.
4. You abide in Christ and Christ will abide in you.
5. When you are in Christ you have an open door to all the true

Successes in life.

• When you are obedient to Christ, there is nothing you cannot

Accomplish.

• We have to resist the temptation of thinking we can accomplish anything

On our own.

1. We can make plans, but God gives the increase.
2. The fruit of the spirit and the fruit of righteousness is God

Derived.

• Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are not capable of

Producing fruit.

• Without obedience to Jesus, we cannot realize the grace of God.
• It is only by abiding in Jesus that we can glorify the Father.

THE POTENTIAL TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT

V:5. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

1. We are defined as branches of the true vine.
2. By His grace, we have been placed in Christ.
3. We are in Christ not on our desire but by His love.
4. We have a choice, to remain in Christ or separate ourselves

And be all about self.

1. Actually, a believer cannot separate himself from Christ but can

Chose not to be obedient to Christ.

• We were chosen before the foundation of the earth to be in Christ.
• However, we can choose not to live up to the election.
• In so doing, we choose not to abide in Christ.
• The consequence of not abiding in Christ is to be separated from

His grace.

1. We cannot produce fruit, and therefore are like a dried-up branch.

2. Salt without it seasoning is useless.

3. The state of uselessness is a state-controlled by Satan.

4. To abide not in Christ is to abide in the devices of Satan.

5. To abide not in Christ is to choose a carnal life not growing

     In Him.

A SUCCESSFUL PRAYER LIFE

V:7.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. 8 This is to my Father\’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

1. The Blessing of abiding in Christ is a successful prayer life.
2. A successful prayer life operates on the Word of God.
3. Our prayers are the prayers that are pleasing to Jesus.
4. Our wishes become the wishes of Jesus.
5. We are absolutely dependent on Christ to produce fruit.
6. The desire of those who abide in Jesus is to give God the glory.
7.  The graces of God are immeasurable because we bear much

Fruit.

• On the other hand without Christ, we are void of spiritual power

Necessary to produce fruit.

• The glory of God is exhibited in our obedience to the commands

Of Christ.

• It is Christ desire that we be His disciples glowing in His light

Drawing others to Him.

• God gives us a choice to abide in Him.
• What will you choose?

THANK GOD FOR CHOOSING US TO ABIDE IN HIM

Rev. M. Mitchell