John 15:1-27, Jesus is Vine; We are branches; So, bring much fruit.

1. Jesus is true vine; God the Father is Gardener.

"John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." Jesus was teaching his disciples. Jesus tells them that he is grapes plant, which is vine; and God the Father is the gardener. "2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Many people followed Jesus. Even though, common people, Priests, Scribes, Pharisees, and his disciples, were around Jesus; the analogy of vine and branches were for Jesus and his sincere followers only. Jesus presented a diagnostic test, in this verse to show who is sincere. This is the fruit test, that has three strong points. 1 what is the fruit? 2 the Gardener takes away fake branches. 3 the Gardner prunes or purges the good ones for more fruit. (1) what is the fruit? Many preachers say that the fruits are those who are saved by them, as if they are saving souls. That is nonsense. Nobody can save souls; it is done by God only. Then what is the fruit of a godly person? Usually we refer "Galatians 5:22. It is, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,(and) temperance: ..." They are also okay. However, they are caused by the gift of the holy spirit that is in us. But this fruit is caused by our abiding in Jesus Christ. "James 3:18 says, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Since we preach the gospel of peace, it is the fruit of righteousness. "Philippians 1:11 says Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." This confirms that it is by Jesus Christ. So, the fruit here is the fruit of righteousness. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: The Gardener takes the fake believers away. It is not the physical removal of fake people that follows him. They still walk around him. But God removes them spiritually and eternally. (3) Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. The Gardner purges or prunes the sincere ones, for more fruits. It is to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous. That is to cut off or to trim branch parts for better and more fruitful growth. It is difficult for sincere followers to bear, yet it is needed for spiritual growth and to yield more fruit. "Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." This process will not be understood by the world, or by religious people. By looking at us, they may think that God is punishing us, and even we are rejected by God. But we understand what it is, and we bear it.

 2. Abide in me, and my words abide in you

Usually some manifestations of God, that may be a miracle, or an experience, makes us to believe in God. Those who stay in that level, will stay in religion, and will never come to the spirit level in God. After our experience with a manifestation, we must be in the word of God to grow. "3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Jesus says that the word he spoke will clean us. False preachers use this to say that we must believe the spoken words and say nonsense as spoken word. They are deceivers. What Jesus spoke, are written in the Bible, and so they now are written words. Believe the words that are written, they are the one that was spoken by Jesus, and do what the words say, that will make us clean, and it is the first step toward growth. "4 Abide in me, and I in you." Jesus says that if we abide in him, he will abide in us. "4 continues, As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."  Then continue to abide in him through his word and keep yielding the fruit of righteousness. "5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." As we grow more, we yield much fruit. What is much fruit? Our righteousness is our fruit. God's Grace, Spirit, and power are all by measure but not by count. So also, much fruit is not more in number, but by measure of quality and power. We moved on from sin to righteousness, to serve God, to give fruit unto holiness, and end everlasting life, according to Romans 6:19-22.

3. We ask what we will; it will be done to us.

"6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." This is not visible, but spiritual. Outwardly everything may look glamorous. But they are deserved for eternal fire. "Matthew 3:10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." Even though we are in an evangelical ministry, if our spirit is not united with the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we will be eternally damned. "7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Many preachers quote this verse for answering prayers, faith, and such things. They preach it to receive things from God; like healing, jobs, our luxuries and pleasures. First, we must know that these verses are not intended to receive worldly provision, but it is to the true disciples. They have the abiding and they yield fruit. They will ask nothing but godly things, for their spiritual growth and it will be done unto them, in their being. No worldly thing was given to them. It could be, that they could have received much power to become perfectly holy, and to become the Bride. "8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." God is glorified in it, and we become perfect disciples to Jesus Christ.

4. As the Father loved me, have I loved you.

"9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:" Be careful in understanding this verse. Study it with the Spirit, but not with our emotions, and with human definition of love. Preachers explain the Father's love as a flow of milk and honey. Let me take you to two places. Learn the Father's love from them. (1). God the Word was equal in status with God the Father. It is in Philippians 2:6. The Father sent him to become a man; from being the creator to creation, from omnipotent God to be mere flesh, how humiliating it was; even then, it is to be killed by men. It is strange, but it is not Father's hatred, but love. (2). Just before the cross, the Son prayed to the Father that he may find another way and save him from his cruel death. The Father did not answer him. Instead he sent angels to strengthen him, and Moses and Elias to comfort him. It is Father's love. Jesus Christ promises the same kind of love to his disciples. If I preach this, not even a single person will give me a thumbs up. But I hear the preaching of the love of Jesus Christ as the love of the Father, with all emotions and eloquence; and receive thousands of thumbs up. I look at them and sit there shocked and stunned. This is the spiritual status of our believers. "9 again, As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." Yes, they continued in his love. History says that except John, almost all apostles have died as martyrs. It is the love of Jesus Christ. They will be his bride in eternity. Jesus tells them "I will receive you unto myself, in 14:3" I am sorry; I do not want to discourage you from being his disciple. But it is the truth. But, you do not have to become martyrs. You can become the Sons of God, which is the next high calling.

5. If you do what I command, you are my friends.

"10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." Even in the last chapter we studied the same thing, in 14:15. Our keeping the commandments is proof for our love to him. There is no way around it. Jesus obeyed his Father, even though he sent him to die on the cross. "11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Even though Jesus suffered and died, it is joy thinking of the eternal glory. "Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." In the same way his disciples will also have joy. "John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." All things center around obeying his commandments. "16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." He chose them to do the ministry, and to yield fruit. Whatever they ask, God will give, and we just saw it in verse 7. "17 These things I command you, that ye love one another." His commandment is to love God and our neighbor.

6. The World will love the Preachers of the world

"18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." If we are of God, this is very important to us, to know. People like Dr. Billy Graham have saved millions of souls around the world. But, without God we cannot save even our own souls. But famous people save, thousands, tens of thousands, and millions. They are of the world and that is why they are famous in the world. Some say that Jesus Christ also is famous in the world. The name Jesus Christ is known in the whole world; but the world neither know him, nor know what he preached. The world will hate him, if they know him and know the gospel he preached. Notice, that Jesus Christ chose his people out of this world. So, we do not belong to this world, but we live in this world. "20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." The world has persecuted Jesus Christ, it will persecute you also. If we are famous, we are not of Jesus Christ. "21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also." They do not know God the father, and they have received false Christ and another Jesus of Christianity. Their sin remains since the word of God is given. "24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." The religious people hated the father and the Son. But they had the word of God, and so their sins remained. "26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." Jesus Christ has sent the Holy Ghost the Comforter, and he will teach us the things of Jesus Christ to us, since we are with him all the time. So, be with Jesus Christ, but not with the world. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy ghost will be with us revealing themselves to us. Remain with them.

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