Close and Clean with Jesus

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Close and Clean with Jesus

John 15: 1-8

Remain/abide – to maintain unbroken fellowship with another

Unbroken – nothing interferes with the believer and his/her Savior

The TRUE Vine

  • Jesus embodies and fulfills God’s intentions for BLESSING
  • Jesus is pointing out that He is replacing Israel as the focus of God’s plan of REDEMPTION
  • His implication is twofold:
    • No longer is the sacrificial system NECESSARY
    • FAITH in Him becomes the decisive characteristic for membership in God’s family

The VINEDRESSER

  • Actions of the vineyard keeper:  To watch over and care for the vine
    • PRUNES THE BRANCHES
    • REMOVES THE BRANCHES THAT DO NOT PRODUCE FRUIT
    • It is possible for a believer in Jesus Christ to be FRUITLESS and useless to the cause of Christ – 2 Peter 1: 5-8
  • Consequences of a believer who fails to abide in Christ:
    • The person is set ASIDE – loss of intimacy, fellowship, and communion
    • The person WITHERS– loss of vitality, loss of spiritual energy, and loss of passion
    • The person suffers the loss of REWARD– 1 Corinthians 3: 11-15

The BRANCHES

  • How do we remain close to Christ so that we produce spiritual fruit:
    • The study of His WORD
    • CONFESSION and repentance of sin
    • OBEDIENCE to his word
    • PRAYER
  • Results of remaining close to Christ
    • Spiritual FRUIT
    • Spiritual DISCIPLINE
    • ANSWERED prayer
    • Deepening LOVE for Christ and others
    • Experiences great JOY

Matt Wethington