"I AM..." | The True Vine | John 1:1-11 | John Lee
Notes
Transcript
Please grab your copy of God’s Word and turn to John 15. This morning we are finishing up our sermon series entitled, “I AM...” Throughout this series we have studied various passages from John’s Gospel while intentionally fixing our eyes upon the person and the work of Jesus Christ...so that... we might know Him, love Him, and follow Him.
In each self descriptive “I am” statement.....Jesus reveals His divinity while also pointing us to the truth that He is sufficient…that He is all that we need....Jesus is Bread. Jesus is Light. Jesus is the Gate. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the way , the truth, and the Life. Jesus is the Resurrection and Life…and as we will see this morning…Jesus is the true Vine.
Now...If you are able ...please stand for the reading of God’s Word. Hear the word of the Lord from John 15:1-11.
John 15:1–11 (CSB)
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord
Congregation: Praise be to God!
Seat everyone. Pray
Have you ever felt overwhelmed? It’s common.....most people…if we’re honest …we would say that there are moments or even seasons in life in which the overarching narrative is marked by anxiety, frustration, helplessness, or even despair. It makes sense…we live in a time and space…we live in a society and a culture that is best described as fast paced and stressful. Each day we’re bombarded by the demands and realities of life which often exceed our ability to manage effectively.
This feeling of being overwhelmed can lead to a multitude of implications.... ranging from depression...chronic stress and anxiety to a decline in one’s physical, relational, and spiritual health.
You see..in seasons in which you feel as though you’re drowning in the demands of daily life you can become so consumed by expectations and responsibilities that you withdraw from the church, you find yourself snapping at your loved ones, skipping meals or losing sleep…and worse of all you begin to neglect your relationship with Jesus…and as a result .....you feel like you’re barely able to keep your head above water.
And, what’s the result? .......Burn-out…in other words....you become emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted…you see....burn out brings with it a whole other level of depletion, cynicism, and detachment. You become even less productive and as a result you are crushed under the weight of guilt and shame resulting in even less productivity.
And the truth is…Christians are particularly susceptible to burnout....and this is a result of a pressure to do more for the church than what may be healthy or sustainable.....…and its all because of an unbiblical sense of obligation that results in a loss of gospel perspective ......And this loss of gospel perspective results in Christians trying to live the Christian life in their own strength all while they neglect the importance of abiding in Christ. …which inevitably leads to spiritual barrenness, a lack of joy, and an insecure faith.
You see.... in seasons in which you feel particularly overwhelmed or burnt out........it’s inevitable that you will miss the point and lose sight of what actually matters.
Whether you’re overwhelmed, burnt out, or maybe you’re doing just fine …either way.....we all need a shift in our perspective ....we need a reminder of why we exist....we need a prompting from God of what His actual expectation for us is and what actually constitutes a failure.
Well....in our text today…we find Jesus speaking to his disciples on the night before his crucifixion and He reveals to them and He reveals to us a truth about himself and a truth about us that provides this much needed perspective….......that..... it’s only by abiding in Christ that we can avoid burn out and experience the joy and assurance of a fruitful Christian life…even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.
You see.....In John 15.....Jesus is preparing His disciples for His upcoming death, ressurection, and ascension....and He's teaching them what it means and what it looks like to follow Him and He does so by describing the Christian life... as a branch producing fruit……and this description hinges on the claim that Jesus makes for Himself…that He is the true vine.....and the spiritual implications of this divine claim give us a strategy for living a fruitful life.
Let’s take a look....v.1
John 15:1 (CSB)
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Make note of or underline the word “true”....Jesus say, “I am the TRUE vine” …and this phrase... “True vine”.......points to the existence of a false vine…and this false vine that Jesus refers to is Israel…in fact.......Multiple times in the Old Testament…we see passages that depict the relationship between God and Israel with the picture of a gardener and a vineyard.....and this depiction is so prominent that by the time of Jesus…the vine had become the national symbol for Israel…and a golden vine was engraved on the temple in Jerusalem.
In Isaiah 5 we read a story about a vineyard that that God planted, loved, and cared for…but instead of growing good grapes…the vineyard grew gross and inedible grapes....and Isiah 5:7 identifies the vineyard as the nation of Israel.
We also read in Psalm 80:8-9
Psalm 80:8–9 (CSB)8 You dug up a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared a place for it; it took root and filled the land.
This Psalm expresses God’s labor and care in planting his people in the Promised Land…....a people in which God desired a rich and bountiful harvest.....but the problem was.....God’s people.......never produced the good fruit that God desired. The nation of Israel was a useless vineyard that only bore sour grapes.........Israel failed
I am reminded of Jeremiah 2:21
Jeremiah 2:21 (CSB)
21 I planted you, a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn into a degenerate, foreign vine?
You see…Israel .... through their acts of idolatry and wickedness… they became a false and a wild vine. But Jesus.....He was different....Jesus perfectly obeyed God and brought Him joy.....a joy that is clearly seen at Jesus' baptism, where a voice from heaven proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matt. 3:17) In other words...the fruit that God desired from Israel but didn’t find, he gained for himself by sending his own Son to be the true vine, from which his new and righteous people…the church.... would live and produce good fruit.
So…in John 15:1 as Jesus is contrasting Himself with the Israel....the disciples would have immediately understood and associated the metaphor with Israel’s failure. And in stark contrast to Israel’s failure to bear fruit…Jesus emphatically proclaims, “I and only I, am the true vine.”
In other words......Jesus is the centerpiece of God’s redemptive plan...He alone is the way, the truth, and the life.....He alone is humanity’s way out of sin, death, and judgement. Jesus …and only Jesus …can say, “I am the real vine....the genuine vine…the dependable vine…the only vine.”
Now, look back at v.1
John 15:1 (CSB)
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
A vineyard needs someone to care for it…it needs a gardener…which is the sovereign role of God the Father. And this truth is important to note for two reasons.
First, it reveals to us the purpose of our lives. One of the most pondered and existential questions regarding the human condition is, “What is God’s purpose for my life? Why am I here?” Well....we find our answer in v.8
John 15:8 (CSB)
8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
The Christian’s purpose is to bring glory to God…and we do this by producing spiritual fruit. But what does it mean to produce spiritual fruit?
Throughout the New Testament…living for God is described as producing fruit. Consider the following examples....
In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist speaks of genuine repentance as fruit
In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus speaks of the evidences of spiritual authenticity as fruit.
In Romans 1:13, Paul refers to sharing the gospel with unbelievers as fruit.
In Romans 6:22 he refers to a Christians growth in holiness as fruit.
In Romans 15:28 he speaks of financial generosity and meeting the needs of others as fruit.
In Galatians 5:22-23 we see that the characteristics of Christlike character are called the fruits of the Spirit.
Colossians 1:10 describes good works as fruit
Hebrews 13:15 calls our singing praises to God as fruit
Colossians 1:10 pictures spiritual and numerical growth in the church as fruit....and proclaims that producing fruit pleases God.
Brothers and Sisters....God has one priority and one plan for your life…that you would produce Spiritual Fruit....and this seen clearly in v. 2.....Jesus is the Vine. God is the Gardener…and we are the branches…and...
John 15:2a (CSB)
2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes
Now…this verse....is commonly misinterpreted and misapplied....so it’s important for us to deal with it carefully. First off…it’s imperative to understand that this phrase, “a branch in me” does not mean a “believer in me”.....its commonly misinterpreted that God casts out unfruitful believers…or that you can lose your salvation......but this is not what this the text is saying ......you see... if you did nothing to earn your salvation you can do nothing to lose it.
Also, there’s no such thing as a fruitless believer…all true Christians bear some fruit in the form of obedience to God’s commands, faithfulness to Christ, and growth in godliness. In fact.....fruitfulness is the test of whether or not you are a genuine disciple of Jesus.....you see....the true and only proof of salvation is spiritual fruit. If there is no measurable spiritual fruit in your life…then the only result is that you are not a branch of the True Vine.
So.......these fruitless branches that the Gardener is removing are the nominal or cultural Christians ....those here who may call themselves Christians, attend church, or engage in church activities…but do not possess the life of Christ through a true and saving faith. Those here who profess with their mouth that they are Christ’s but their life looks nothing like His. In other words....there is no hatred of sin, no repentance, and no faith.…there’s no growth in godliness or holiness.........so God that He will actively remove them from the Church. Look at v.6
John 15:6 (CSB)
6 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.
Those who claim to be Christians but show no evidence of Christ living in them…they will be cut off…gathered, and burned. This is a serious warning…and friend…this is not something you should take lightly. Unless there is evidence of Jesus in you…you will be cast into the eternal fire.
Tell me.....Do you see any of the fruit of the Spirit in your life? If you are a Christian.... the honest answer should be Yes. For God does not hide himself in you..God does not come and go.....if there is no evidence....if there is no fruit…then God is not with you…and if God is not with you then you are not His.
Does God live in you? If so…then you should be able to identify an increasing righteousness, peace, and joy, with a growing love for God and his people. Now.......there may be is a mixed report or even a struggle in these areas.... but a true Christian will be able to see some fruit of inward change, to go along with an obedience to God’s Word. And Brothers and Sisters…if this is you …you can rest and be assured that your profession of faith is real....if not....your fruitlessness is exposing you as a fraud and God in His grace is revealing this to you so that you might hear His call, repent of your sin, and trust in Him.
Next, we’re told what God does with the branches that are producing fruit....look back at v.2
John 15:2b (CSB)
he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.
I am not much of a gardener…but I do know that if you want to gain the maximum amount of fruit from your vine you have to cut back the plant... and this idea of cutting or pruning is to remove whatever may inhibit growth....and this is the same principle that Jesus applies to God’s pruning of our spiritual lives.
You see…God will strip away anything in your life that is detrimental to your spiritual growth..He cuts back the leaves that prevent us from growing sweet fruit.....He will take the knife to your bad habits....he will improve your prayer life by giving you something to pray about. God applies his pruning shears to our priorities and our values…he cuts away relationships that would hinder our faith.
God also uses suffering and circumstance to prune us……in other words....you might suffer the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, or the loss of health .... you may experience temptation in a greater way or experience some sort of rejection. And yes…this sounds painful…and it is painful but in this is why James says in James 1:2-3.
James 1:2–3 (CSB)
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Brothers and Sisters....this command to rejoice is imperative and its a verb that addresses how we think…not how we feel.....Let’s be honest pain, suffering, and trials do not naturally bring smiles to our faces.....but we can rejoice because our trials…our sufferings are never outside of God’s control and we can rejoice because we know that God will accomplish His purposes through our trials and sufferings...…we can have great joy because we are confident that the purposes of God’s pruning is always for our good and God’ glory!
Friends…we serve a good and a wise God who knows exactly what He is doing. You can rest assured that there are no accidents in the believer’s life…nothing happens by fate or chance…God plants us exactly were we will grow the best.....we may not always understand or like why we live were we live…or why we are going through the circumstances we are going through…and if we’re honest...we may even find ourselves question God at times, “Why am I here? Why am I going through this? What are you doing in my life?”
Brothers and Sisters… I have good news for you this morning we serve a sovereign God who loves you and is shaping you in to Christlikeness…and this shaping takes a sharp blade and it produces pain....but we must never lose sight that God is in complete control and there is nothing in your life in which He doesn’t have handled.
Consider Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28 (CSB)
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
What is the purpose for which God works all things for good? Look at v.29
Romans 8:29 (CSB)
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Christian.....this is God’s plan for your life. This is why God sent His Son into the world. This is why God gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us. This is why God breathed out His Word to us. This is why you exist in this world.. You see… It is the will of God to have the Spirit of God use the Word of God so that the children of God look like the Son of God.
God is at work to make you and me look like Jesus. Period. God’s purpose is NOT to make you a better dad or a better mom.....He is NOT working in you to make you a better wife or a better husband....a better son or daughter......His purpose is not to transform you into the greatest at whatever profession you hold…his purpose is not for you to have the best life you can right now…He is not worried about giving you health, wealth, or success! God is working in you for one purpose and one purpose alone…His great objective for your life is to make you more and more like the eternal Son of God....Jesus Christ. God wants you to produce spiritual fruit for His glory..... and God our Gardener knows exactly what He’s doing. In fact....look at v.3
John 15:3 (CSB)
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
In other words.....As God works to remove from you that which is unwanted … and...He is also at work changing and growing you spiritually through the power of His Word.
I am reminded of Hebrews 4:12
Hebrews 4:12 (CSB)
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God intends for His Word to penetrate our calloused hearts......to unmask our true desires and thoughts......In the same way He uses trials in our lives.....God intends for His Word to cut away anything that would hinder our growth in godliness. In other words…we must come to God’s Word…whether it’s the individual study of His Word or the sitting under the preaching of His Word....we should seek the truth that will cut away our sin and stimulates our desire to pursue holiness....we should come not to simply learn facts but to lay our hearts bare under the pruning knife of our loving Father…the Gardener.
So.. Jesus is the Vine…the Father is the Gardener…and we are the branches…and the only way for branches to have life and strength and to produce good fruit is to be united to the vine..…look at v.4
John 15:4 (CSB)
4 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.
Brothers and Sisters…Jesus is the source of your power.....and this truth reminds me about a little mouse who was crossing a wooden bridge over a deep ravine on the top of an elephant. And as the elephant crossed the bridge…the bridge shook with a mighty force under the weight of the massive elephant. And when they finally reached the other side the mouse looked at his massive companion and said, “Boy! We sure did shake that bridge, didn’t we!?”
I dont know about you but oftentimes I’m tempted to be like that mouse....when I am crossing troubled waters…I am attempted to say, “God we really shook that bridge didn't we?!” But brother’s and Sisters....we have done nothing to contribute to the power of Christ in our lives…He alone is responsible for fruitful, productive, God glorifying lives. There is no goodness that you and even bring to the table. In fact Isaiah 64:6 tells us
Isaiah 64:6 (CSB)
6 All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
and Romans 3:23 agrees by saying
Romans 3:23 (CSB)
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
and Ephesians 2:1 reminds us that before Christ saved you....
Ephesians 2:1 (CSB)
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
Friends it is clear that we cannot produce spiritual fruit on our own....without Jesus…we are utter failures....but when you run to Jesus…He changes everything. It is Jesus who transforms your heart…renews your mind......and restores your soul....it Jesus who sanctifies your mind and your behavior…Jesus cleanses and purifies your hands....Jesus alone changes your attitude and alters your behavior. Christ alone!
And with this in mind Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you!” But.... what does it mean to abide in Christ? Well....think back to the branch.......a branch is only alive if the sap flows from the trunk through the vine and into the branch. Without the sap the branch dies. In the same way......when you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior…the life of Jesus begins to flow through you like the sap through a branch.....in other words…it is Jesus that made you alive and it is Jesus who empowers you to live for Him.....as His Spirit lives in you He enables you to serve Him and trust Him and live for Him a....and get this....HE also promises that he will never leave you....Jesus will never walk out on You…He will never forsake you..... and He promises that He will sustain you at all times.
You see....apart from Jesus ..... there is nothing that you and I can do nothing to please God…but....because of Jesus…..because of His perfect life…substitutionary death....and victorious ressurection....because of His grace in regenerating sinners hearts and giving them the gift of faith....because of His grace in leading us to repentance…because of His gift of the Holy Spirit…we now have the ability to deny sin and to live for Him…look at v.5
John 15:5 (CSB)
5 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.
The key to living out a Christian life that is pleasing to God is simple......its’s Christ living in us. …without him we are helpless and hopeless to accomplish anything of eternal significance.
I dont know about you…but there are many things that I want to do and be....and I often find myself trying to accomplish these things in my own strength, wisdom, and goodness....but over and over again....I reach the end of myself…and its in that moment of feeling absolutely overwhelmed…that moment when I feel like I am drowning in anxiety, fear, and brokenness…in that moment that I have burnt myself down to the filter....God sop graciously reminds me.
If you want to be a godly husband and I know you do.....you can't do it on your own power…without my enabling help…you can’t do it.
If you want to be a dad who reflects Jesus…and I know you do.....stop relying on your own ability....trust in me…abide in me…for without my enabling help you cant do it! It just is not possible.
If you want to be Christlike pastor.....if you want to be a faithful preacher…and I know you do.....without Jesus working in you…without you resting in His grace.....you are a man who will never accomplish what I have called you to do.
Friends…we must remember that we are just branches....and we can do nothing apart from the vine! But the good news is…if you belong to Him…He promises that He will finish the work that He has begun in you…He promises that He is strengthening you to do all that He has called you too…friends....it is Christ and Christ alone who enables us to live a fruitful life that is pleasing to God.....and just as Christ is us we are to be in Him.....Just like a fish is in water and the water is in the fish we are to abide in Christ as he abides in us.
Now....there are three specific results that we will see in our lives as a result of abiding in Jesus.
Abiding in Jesus leads to power in prayer
John 15:7 (CSB)
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.
Abiding in Jesus involves reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on His Word....we should live our lives based on what we learn from the Bible…and as we pray we are to make sure our prayers are in line with God’s Word. In other words…we should pray for faith…for strength,…and for grace…we should pray for mercy and mercy.... we should ensure that our prayers are in alignment God’s Word…and Jesus promises that when we do this, we can be sure that our prayers will be heard by God.
2. Abiding in Jesus provides confidence of God’s love for you.
John 15:9 (CSB)
9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.
How deep and how wide is the Father’s love for you. Brothers and Sisters....it would be impossible to measure the depths Christ’s love for us! It is impossible for us to fully comprehend the depth of love that the Father has for the Son within the Trinity. The love between two eternal beings is a lofty concept that is beyond our understanding. However, we can take comfort in the fact that the love of Jesus towards those who have faith in him is equally profound. Yet…we are invited to find refuge in the fortress of Christ’s free and continued mighty love.
Finally,
3. Abiding in Jesus fills us with Joy
John 15:11 (CSB)
11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
The world often claims that following Jesus means that you have to give up all the pleasures of life.......but Jesus teaches the exact opposite.........in fact....He promises that abiding in him is the path to true and lasting joy.....not the fleeting pleasures of the world.....but the joy that he himself possesses.
Unfortunately, we can lose this joy when we disobey God or doubt him…we can also lose this joy when we allow worldly distractions to become idols and hurt our relationship with Jesus. I am reminded of David …in his famous prayer for forgiveness after he committed adultery and a conspiracy to commit murder.... He cried out to God....
Psalm 51:11–12 (CSB)
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
The joy of salvation is not found in a life free from trials and suffering....but it’s a deep…spiritual joy that grows in us as we remain connected to Jesus like branches in a vine. Brothers and Sisters.....do you long for the fullness of Joy that Jesus promises? Know that He desires that for you too....and it begins by abiding in Jesus....by cherishing His Word and responding to His Word in obedience. As you do this....He will overwhelm you with His divine and perfect joy.
Lets Pray