For example: John 15:1-17
This is a really wonderful chapter. In this chapter Jesus is speaking to those who are already saved and explaining to them the various differences in His relationship with those who are saved. He's not telling them how to be saved, he's telling them how to be in a good relationship with Him. How they can "abide" in Him.
John 15:1–8, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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.
To get it out of the way right off the bat Jesus tells us that if someone bears no fruit at all, they've never been saved and since they were never saved to start with, He "cuts them off". (like Judas)
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
This is one of my most favorite verses of all! We are clean!!! Totally, completely clean! There are no "ands", "ifs" or 'buts" or "excepts" about this statement. Those who have been saved are clean! We are forgiven of ALL our sins, past, present and future!
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. “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.
Again, now He's not talking about salvation, He's talking about relationship. We remain in Him when we are living according to His Ways rather then the worlds ways. When we backslide or sin, we are no loner "in Him". We're still saved, just not in relationship with Him; just as my children weren't when they misbehaved. He explains that the only way we can bear fruit for Him, which is His will for us is if we remain in Him. In other words when we start trying to do things in our own strength it's not going to work. We must be in a close personal relationship with Him in order to do His Will and in order to live the way God wants us to.
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.
uh oh! now does this mean we lose our salvation? Again, no! He is still explaining what happens to us both when we are living in Him and when we don't. And there are times for all of us when we're not living in Him, simply because we're still human and we haven't yet received our new bodies and had our old nature removed. (that won't happen till the rapture)
When we aren't abiding in Him, we cannot produce fruit. Our prayers are pretty worthless and we're usually living in a worldly manner at least partially. Here Jesus is giving us a visual clue to what's happening to us spiritually when we're not plugged into Him, when we're not abiding in Him. We begin to "wither" spiritually. Next, Jesus isn't saying He's going to pick us up and throw us away, He's simply continuing with his comparison and saying that those who are withered and not living in Him are like withered up branches that the gardener throws away. We're worthless to Him in that condition. Jesus knows, because He knows our hearts, that for those of us who are saved (and remember, He's talking to people that are already saved) there could be nothing worse then to think that we would be withering up and dead inside spiritually and so worthless to Him. That's why He gives us that word picture to remember it by.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Now He goes back to when we are abiding in Him and reminds us to always remain in Him, not to let ourselves get disconnected and wither up. He tells us that as long as we're remaining in Him, our prayers are answered and we will bear a lot of fruit for Him.
John 15:9–12, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
OK, NOW is Jesus threatening us? Of course not! He again is telling us to remember that we need to remain in Him. Then He tells us how to do that. We do it by being obedient to Him. He even explains that that was how He remained in His Father's love while He was here. He did that to show us how we could remain in Him.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
His last statement here about why He's telling us this should put to rest any possible fear that "remaining in Him" is talking about our salvation. He's not threatening us. Instead He wants us to be filled with His Joy. He wants us to have lives of victory and joy in His love. He can and will give us that, that was His intention from the very start, but too often people simply accept His gift of salvation and let it end there. Those people will NOT live in His joy or victory. Only those who remain in Him after they are saved will live in joy and victory!
Just to make sure there's no misunderstanding at all, I want to reiterate that we all go in and out of this relationship with Him. (when I say "we" I'm meaning those of us who are truly disciples and following Him and not those who say they are Christians but don't remain in Him. They are not in a close personal relationship with Him.)
How do we fall out of this or stop "abiding in Him"? Whenever we sin for one thing, or whenever we fall back into old worldly patterns--maybe laugh at a crude joke that we shouldn't have even listened to, allowed ourselves to watch something on TV we shouldn't have, when we stop studying His Word, when we're disrespectful to others, etc. We get back into step with Him though confessing our sin and turning around (repenting) and going back to being obedient to Him.
Finally both so you'll know this isn't just "my" idea of what this means and so you'll have an even better understanding of this foundational teaching, I want to quote from two commentaries that I think you'll enjoy reading:
The key word is abide; it is used eleven times in John 15:1–11 (“continue” in John 15:9 and “remain” in John 15:11). What does it mean to “abide”? It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit. This certainly involves the Word of God and the confession of sin so that nothing hinders our communion with Him (John 15:3). It also involves obeying Him because we love Him (John 15:9–10).
How can we tell when we are “abiding in Christ”? Is there a special feeling? No, but there are special evidences that appear and they are unmistakably clear. For one thing, when you are abiding in Christ, you produce fruit (John 15:2). Also, you experience the Father’s “pruning” so that you will bear more fruit (John 15:2). The believer who is abiding in Christ has his prayers answered (John 15:7) and experiences a deepening love for Christ and for other believers (John 15:9, 12–13). He also experiences joy (John 15:11).
This abiding relationship is natural to the branch and the vine, but it must be cultivated in the Christian life. It is not automatic. Abiding in Christ demands worship, meditation on God’s Word, prayer, sacrifice, and service—but what a joyful experience it is! Once you have begun to cultivate this deeper communion with Christ, you have no desire to return to the shallow life of the careless Christian.
....The vinedresser prunes the branches in two ways: he cuts away dead wood that can breed disease and insects, and he cuts away living tissue so that the life of the vine will not be so dissipated that the quality of the crop will be jeopardized. In fact, the vinedresser will even cut away whole bunches of grapes so that the rest of the crop will be of higher quality. God wants both quantity and quality.....
....The greatest judgment God could bring to a believer would be to let him alone, let him have his own way. Because God loves us, He “prunes” us and encourages us to bear more fruit for His glory. If the branches could speak, they would confess that the pruning process hurts; but they would also rejoice that they will be able to produce more and better fruit.
Your Heavenly Father is never nearer to you than when He is pruning you. Sometimes He cuts away the dead wood that might cause trouble; but often He cuts off the living tissue that is robbing you of spiritual vigor. Pruning does not simply mean spiritual surgery that removes what is bad. It can also mean cutting away the good and the better so that we might enjoy the best. Yes, pruning hurts, but it also helps. We may not enjoy it, but we need it.
How does the Father prune us? Sometimes He simply uses the Word to convict and cleanse us. (The word translated “purge” in John 15:2 is the same as “clean” in John 13:10. See Eph. 5:26–27.) Sometimes He must chasten us (Heb. 12:1–11). At the time, it hurts when He removes something precious from us; but as the “spiritual crop” is produced, we see that the Father knew what He was doing.
The Bible exposition commentary
I absolutely must share this one because it talks especially to those of us with computers LOL
This might make it easier to remember too.
Computer networks have become important systems in today’s competitive marketplace. They enable teams of workers in different offices, at regional sites, and even from around the world to join together on tasks that would otherwise be difficult if not impossible.
One way of setting up a network is to use a central computer to handle the main programming, storage, and communication functions, with remote workstations for individual input and retrieval. This is similar to the situation that Jesus described in His image of the vine and the branches (John 15:1–10):
(1) Jesus is the key (15:1). Like the central processing unit of a computer system, Jesus provides the life, the direction, and the commands for His followers, those of us “on-line.”
(2) To be effective, believers must maintain their relationship with Jesus (15:4). In order to use the features of a network, a user must remain attached to the network. If one “signs off,” there is no more access to the central computer or to others in the network. Likewise, if we allow sin to disrupt our walk with Christ, we lose fellowship with Him and with other believers (1 John 1:6–7).
(3) Jesus wants His followers to be productive (John 15:5–8). Companies install computer networks so that their employees can get their work done. The systems cost too much to be treated as toys or to be underutilized. Correspondingly, the relationship that believers have with God was purchased through Christ’s blood, so we need to take it seriously. Christ wants us to enjoy walking with Him, but He also wants us to accomplish His purposes.
(4) To love Jesus is to follow His commands (15:9–10). Occasionally network users receive an “error message” indicating that they have not followed the instructions of the program correctly. By the same token, Jesus has given us commands to follow, and the only way to experience His life and power is to obey those commands. To do so is not only practical, but an expression of our love for the Lord.
Are you “on-line” with Jesus, drawing on His resources and obeying His commands? Is your life productive, accomplishing the tasks and responsibilities that He has assigned to you?
Word in life study Bible
This is a really wonderful chapter. In this chapter Jesus is speaking to those who are already saved and explaining to them the various differences in His relationship with those who are saved. He's not telling them how to be saved, he's telling them how to be in a good relationship with Him. How they can "abide" in Him.
John 15:1–8, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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.
To get it out of the way right off the bat Jesus tells us that if someone bears no fruit at all, they've never been saved and since they were never saved to start with, He "cuts them off". (like Judas)
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
This is one of my most favorite verses of all! We are clean!!! Totally, completely clean! There are no "ands", "ifs" or 'buts" or "excepts" about this statement. Those who have been saved are clean! We are forgiven of ALL our sins, past, present and future!
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. “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.
Again, now He's not talking about salvation, He's talking about relationship. We remain in Him when we are living according to His Ways rather then the worlds ways. When we backslide or sin, we are no loner "in Him". We're still saved, just not in relationship with Him; just as my children weren't when they misbehaved. He explains that the only way we can bear fruit for Him, which is His will for us is if we remain in Him. In other words when we start trying to do things in our own strength it's not going to work. We must be in a close personal relationship with Him in order to do His Will and in order to live the way God wants us to.
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.
uh oh! now does this mean we lose our salvation? Again, no! He is still explaining what happens to us both when we are living in Him and when we don't. And there are times for all of us when we're not living in Him, simply because we're still human and we haven't yet received our new bodies and had our old nature removed. (that won't happen till the rapture) When we aren't abiding in Him, we cannot produce fruit. Our prayers are pretty worthless and we're usually living in a worldly manner at least partially. Here Jesus is giving us a visual clue to what's happening to us spiritually when we're not plugged into Him, when we're not abiding in Him. We begin to "wither" spiritually. Next, Jesus isn't saying He's going to pick us up and throw us away, He's simply continuing with his comparison and saying that those who are withered and not living in Him are like withered up branches that the gardener throws away. We're worthless to Him in that condition. Jesus knows, because He knows our hearts, that for those of us who are saved (and remember, He's talking to people that are already saved) there could be nothing worse then to think that we would be withering up and dead inside spiritually and so worthless to Him. That's why He gives us that word picture to remember it by.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Now He goes back to when we are abiding in Him and reminds us to always remain in Him, not to let ourselves get disconnected and wither up. He tells us that as long as we're remaining in Him, our prayers are answered and we will bear a lot of fruit for Him.
John 15:9–12, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
OK, NOW is Jesus threatening us? Of course not! He again is telling us to remember that we need to remain in Him. Then He tells us how to do that. We do it by being obedient to Him. He even explains that that was how He remained in His Father's love while He was here. He did that to show us how we could remain in Him.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
His last statement here about why He's telling us this should put to rest any possible fear that "remaining in Him" is talking about our salvation. He's not threatening us. Instead He wants us to be filled with His Joy. He wants us to have lives of victory and joy in His love. He can and will give us that, that was His intention from the very start, but too often people simply accept His gift of salvation and let it end there. Those people will NOT live in His joy or victory. Only those who remain in Him after they are saved will live in joy and victory!
Just to make sure there's no misunderstanding at all, I want to reiterate that we all go in and out of this relationship with Him. (when I say "we" I'm meaning those of us who are truly disciples and following Him and not those who say they are Christians but don't remain in Him. They are not in a close personal relationship with Him.)
How do we fall out of this or stop "abiding in Him"? Whenever we sin for one thing, or whenever we fall back into old worldly patterns--maybe laugh at a crude joke that we shouldn't have even listened to, allowed ourselves to watch something on TV we shouldn't have, when we stop studying His Word, when we're disrespectful to others, etc. We get back into step with Him though confessing our sin and turning around (repenting) and going back to being obedient to Him.
Finally both so you'll know this isn't just "my" idea of what this means and so you'll have an even better understanding of this foundational teaching, I want to quote from two commentaries that I think you'll enjoy reading:
The key word is abide; it is used eleven times in John 15:1–11 (“continue” in John 15:9 and “remain” in John 15:11). What does it mean to “abide”? It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit. This certainly involves the Word of God and the confession of sin so that nothing hinders our communion with Him (John 15:3). It also involves obeying Him because we love Him (John 15:9–10).
How can we tell when we are “abiding in Christ”? Is there a special feeling? No, but there are special evidences that appear and they are unmistakably clear. For one thing, when you are abiding in Christ, you produce fruit (John 15:2). Also, you experience the Father’s “pruning” so that you will bear more fruit (John 15:2). The believer who is abiding in Christ has his prayers answered (John 15:7) and experiences a deepening love for Christ and for other believers (John 15:9, 12–13). He also experiences joy (John 15:11).
This abiding relationship is natural to the branch and the vine, but it must be cultivated in the Christian life. It is not automatic. Abiding in Christ demands worship, meditation on God’s Word, prayer, sacrifice, and service—but what a joyful experience it is! Once you have begun to cultivate this deeper communion with Christ, you have no desire to return to the shallow life of the careless Christian.
....The vinedresser prunes the branches in two ways: he cuts away dead wood that can breed disease and insects, and he cuts away living tissue so that the life of the vine will not be so dissipated that the quality of the crop will be jeopardized. In fact, the vinedresser will even cut away whole bunches of grapes so that the rest of the crop will be of higher quality. God wants both quantity and quality.....
....The greatest judgment God could bring to a believer would be to let him alone, let him have his own way. Because God loves us, He “prunes” us and encourages us to bear more fruit for His glory. If the branches could speak, they would confess that the pruning process hurts; but they would also rejoice that they will be able to produce more and better fruit.
Your Heavenly Father is never nearer to you than when He is pruning you. Sometimes He cuts away the dead wood that might cause trouble; but often He cuts off the living tissue that is robbing you of spiritual vigor. Pruning does not simply mean spiritual surgery that removes what is bad. It can also mean cutting away the good and the better so that we might enjoy the best. Yes, pruning hurts, but it also helps. We may not enjoy it, but we need it.
How does the Father prune us? Sometimes He simply uses the Word to convict and cleanse us. (The word translated “purge” in John 15:2 is the same as “clean” in John 13:10. See Eph. 5:26–27.) Sometimes He must chasten us (Heb. 12:1–11). At the time, it hurts when He removes something precious from us; but as the “spiritual crop” is produced, we see that the Father knew what He was doing.
The Bible exposition commentary
I absolutely must share this one because it talks especially to those of us with computers LOL
This might make it easier to remember too. Computer networks have become important systems in today’s competitive marketplace. They enable teams of workers in different offices, at regional sites, and even from around the world to join together on tasks that would otherwise be difficult if not impossible.
One way of setting up a network is to use a central computer to handle the main programming, storage, and communication functions, with remote workstations for individual input and retrieval. This is similar to the situation that Jesus described in His image of the vine and the branches (John 15:1–10):
(1) Jesus is the key (15:1). Like the central processing unit of a computer system, Jesus provides the life, the direction, and the commands for His followers, those of us “on-line.”
(2) To be effective, believers must maintain their relationship with Jesus (15:4). In order to use the features of a network, a user must remain attached to the network. If one “signs off,” there is no more access to the central computer or to others in the network. Likewise, if we allow sin to disrupt our walk with Christ, we lose fellowship with Him and with other believers (1 John 1:6–7).
(3) Jesus wants His followers to be productive (John 15:5–8). Companies install computer networks so that their employees can get their work done. The systems cost too much to be treated as toys or to be underutilized. Correspondingly, the relationship that believers have with God was purchased through Christ’s blood, so we need to take it seriously. Christ wants us to enjoy walking with Him, but He also wants us to accomplish His purposes.
(4) To love Jesus is to follow His commands (15:9–10). Occasionally network users receive an “error message” indicating that they have not followed the instructions of the program correctly. By the same token, Jesus has given us commands to follow, and the only way to experience His life and power is to obey those commands. To do so is not only practical, but an expression of our love for the Lord.
Are you “on-line” with Jesus, drawing on His resources and obeying His commands? Is your life productive, accomplishing the tasks and responsibilities that He has assigned to you?
Word in life study Bible
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