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Notes: December 31, 2009

December 31, 2009 By

“I am the true vine”

Jesus often taught truth in metaphorical language.

John 15:1-8

1. Think about what has just happened. After the Passover meal, Jesus gave bread and wine to his disciples. He also announced that he would not drink any more of the fruit of the vine until his kingdom had been established. And now he declares that HE is the true vine. Can we not see that he is teaching that the symbolism of the Passover vine is fulfilled in him?

2. Two groups of souls are represented in this metaphor—a. branches that bear fruit, and b. branches that do not bear fruit.

3. These two groups have two very different ends—a. fruitful branches are cleansed, and b. fruitless branches are destroyed.

4. See John 13:10-11. Throughout the Gospel of John men are viewed as being in one of two groups: those who receive Christ, and those who do not; those who have the light and those who do not. The two groups are similar in their familiarity with Christ, but they arrive at opposite ends.

John 15:9-15

1. Holy living goes hand in hand with enjoying the love of Christ.

2. Loving others sacrificially is the ultimate love.

3. What a friend we have in Jesus.

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John 15:1-8
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every 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.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I 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.
6If 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.
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 13:10-11
10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
John 15:9-15
9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15Henceforth 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.
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