WE ARE BRANCHES
1. It has been said that grapes are the most widely grown fruit in the world.
2. Grapes been cultivated for as long as 2500 years before Christ.
3. The popularity of grapes may help explain what Jesus said in Jn. 15.
THE LORD SAID THAT HE IS THE “TRUE VINE.” HE COMPARED HIS PEOPLE TO “BRANCHES.”
1. When we think about who a Christian is, this chapter provides us with an illustration.
2. A Christian is a branch of Christ.
3. A Christian is someone who is directly tied to Jesus.
4. As a shoot of a grapevine is connected to a stalk, so children of God are connected to the Lord.
5. This point is made numerous ways in the New Testament.
6.
Jesus said that we are “with Him” or we are “against
Him” (Mt.
7. A person is either hot and on the Lord’s side or cold and thus opposed to Him (Rev. 3:15-16).
8. We are a sheep or a goat (Mt. 25:33).
9. We are part of the cursed or numbered with the blessed (Mt. 25:34, 41).
10. We are in the sheepfold or we are outside the fold (Jn. 10:3).
11. We are walking in the light or
walking in darkness (Jn.
12. Jesus compared Himself to a door in Jn. 10:7.
13. Doors have two sides.
14. We are either on the side with Christ or we are on the side that does not have Him.
15. When someone wears the name Christian, he or she is making a statement.
16. Wearing this name means that a person has been joined to Christ.
17. As a branch of a grapevine is joined to the main stalk, so Christians are attached to Jesus.
18. For the Christian, Jesus is not a friend or a casual acquaintance.
19. He is not someone who is thought about from time to time.
20. The Christian is inseparably connected to Jesus of Nazareth.
21. Someone may ask, “How does this connection occur?”
A. It cannot occur unless a person believes.
B. If someone does not believe in Jesus, being joined to the Lord is impossible.
C. Belief is necessary but it is not enough.
D. Jesus is part of the Godhead.
E. He is holy, righteous, and perfect.
F. Human beings are not. Each accountable person is guilty of sin.
G. If we want to be joined with Christ, some changes are necessary.
H. The Bible refers to these changes as repentance.
22. Repentance means that someone decides to do God’s will.
23. This word describes a life that is so modified that a person begins to live as the Bible describes.
24. Repentance provides people with a new way to live. It is like turning over a new leaf.
25. What about all the past wrongs that people do before they repent?
26. How can we be connected to Jesus (who is perfect) if we have been imperfect?
27. How do we find forgiveness from our past mistakes?
28. Our mistakes and sins need to be taken away so we can be attached to the vine.
29. This is accomplished by baptism.
30. Acts 22:16 asks a question – quote.
31. The Bible says that baptism “washes away sins.”
32. Let’s take this passage and relate it to the illustration in Jn. 15.
33. Here is a person who wants to be joined to Jesus.
34. He or she wants to become a “branch.”
35. This individual also sees a problem.
36. Jesus is perfect but he or she is not.
37. This person believes, but belief is not enough.
38. The person is also sorry for past sins and wants to do better.
39. How can the past sins be removed?
40. How can a person be joined to Christ?
41. Acts 22:16 says that sins are washed away at baptism.
42. In addition to this reference, we have what Paul said in Rom. 6:5.
43. Here the ASV uses the word “united.”
44. The KJV says “planted together.”
45. These different renderings describe baptism.
46. Here is how the passage reads – READ.
47. We can be united together with Jesus Christ. This is exactly what Jesus described in Jn. 15.
48. How does this union occur? Listen to Rom. 6:4 – READ
A. Before a person is baptized he or she is outside of Christ.
B. Such a person is likened to a goat that is in darkness.
C. After being baptized, a person is “united” with (attached to) Jesus.
D. Why does this uniting only occur at the point of baptism?
E. The answer is found in Acts 22:16.
F. Jesus is pure so the branches that are attached to Him must be pure.
G. The cleansing process concludes with baptism.
H. Once a person has been immersed for the forgiveness of sins, he or she is clean.
I. After baptism people are added to Jesus body and they are part of the vine (church).
49. BEING ATTACHED TO THE LORD IS IMPORTANT.
A. In life we know that branches receive life from the vine.
B. The vine helps protect the branches.
C. Branches can only survive if they stay connected to the vine.
D. Being a branch tells us some things about Christianity.
50. In fact, we can relate the thought to a story that is recorded in Mt. 21.
51. Jesus found a fig tree.
52. This tree looked promising.
53. It was filled with leaves but it had no figs.
54. The Lord was not pleased with a leafy tree.
55. This tree looked good, but a fruit tree is supposed to have fruit.
56. Since it failed to produce what God intended Jesus, cursed it.
57. Mt. 21:19 – READ.
A. There are lessons in Jn. 15 and Mt. 21:19.
B. If we want to have spiritual life we must be joined to Jesus.
C. Without this joining, life with God is impossible.
D. Once we are joined to Jesus, we need to produce fruit.
E. God does not want us to be a leafy branch.
F. We are to be like a branch that is producing grapes.
G. Verse 5 of Jn. 15 says – READ.
H. God’s will is for us to bear “much fruit.”
I. There is a sense in which God sees us as a shoot off a grape vine.
J. Does our branch have any grapes on it? What do they look and taste like?
K. There are members of church who are like the tree that Jesus cursed.
L. There are a lot of leaves but no fruit.
M. This kind of life may look good but it will not get a Christian to heaven.
58. Let’s look again at what Jesus said in Jn. 15:2 – the first part of the verse – READ.
59. Are there people in the Lord’s body who do not bear any fruit?
60. This verse says “yes” to this question.
61. Where are the non-bearing branches taken?
62. Verse 6 – READ.
63. In this chapter Jesus is not talking about a literal grapevine.
64. He is describing the church (His people).
65. When Christians are content to be lifeless and inactive they are going to be lost.
66. Two weeks ago we showed that we must be like soldiers who are on active duty.
67. Last week we viewed the matter from things that are boiled.
68. Today we find that God says to His people, “Be busy and active or I will cut you off.”
69. This principle may sound harsh and unloving.
70. Someone might say they do not believe Jesus would ever say or do such a thing.
71. Let’s take a moment to look at the matter from a secular viewpoint.
A. What if we have a grapevine or fruit tree that does not produce?
B. This kind of plant or tree is not an asset. It is a detriment.
C. Space is being wasted. The time spent on unproductive trees and vines is unproductive.
D. The money that is used could be spent elsewhere.
E. Dead wood needs to be pruned. Non-bearing trees and vines need to be destroyed.
F. No one in the secular realm wants to keep unproductive plants and trees.
72. In the spiritual realm, however, it is believed that God will accept any old thing.
73. We can be useless, lifeless, and dead wood but God smiles upon us.
74. This is a lie straight from Satan’s headquarters.
75. In Jn. 15 Jesus warns us that this view is absolutely false.
76. The vine is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The branches in this illustration are His people.
77. Jesus cares about who is attached to Him.
78. If we do not comply with what He has said, we will be cut off.
79. This means that there were be members of the church who do not make it to heaven.
80. IN THIS CHAPTER JESUS SHOWED WHAT GOD WANTS FROM HIS PEOPLE.
A. Verse 5 – READ.
B. Jesus wants His people to bear fruit.
C. Being a dedicated Christian results in bearing fruit.
D. Commitment to Christ brings forth “much fruit.”
E. I like this image because I have seen a variety of grapes on the vines at our house.
F. There are some grapes which are plump, juicy, and succulent.
G. Others are small, hard, sour, and infected with bugs.
81. What kind of person are we?
82. Are we in a state where we have never been joined to Jesus?
83. This is our status if we have never been baptized.
84. Are we like a shoot that is leafy but unproductive?
85. Are we like a branch that is producing scrawny and useless grapes?
86. Or are we trying to give God the very best we can?
87. The illustration that Jesus gave helps us determine what our spiritual life is like.
88. If we are old enough to be responsible for our actions, have we become attached to the Lord?
89. Have we been “united” to Jesus Christ by baptism?
90. Are we doing our best to make the Lord’s vineyard a productive place?
91. Are we producing quality fruit for God?
92. Some here may need help; this morning we are prepared to aid you.