John 14:30-15:17

Jun 15

Key points from John’s Gospel:

John 20:31 These are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?

Key Scripture:

John 14:30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going. 15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

By connecting Himself to Israel’s vine story, Jesus is saying:

“I am the fulfillment of God’s plan. And if you remain in Me, you will finally become the fruitful people God always intended.”

Remaining means staying and persevering, choosing not to disconnect.

1. What Is Promised to Those Who Remain?

Jesus makes it unmistakably clear: those who remain in Him will live fruitful lives.

Fruitfulness flows from closeness with Jesus.

John 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

3 Descriptions of Remaining in Jesus:

1. Obeying Him

John 15:10 “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

2. Loving Others Like Jesus

John 15:12 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”...17 “This is my command: Love each other.”

3. Letting Jesus’ Words Remain In You

John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

If we’re remaining in Him, loving people like He does and freely obeying Him then our prayers will be in line with His plans and purposes. If our prayers are in line with His plans and purposes we will see great things.

James 5:16b…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

The Horrible Reality of Hell

John 15:6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

Sermon about the reality of hell by Tim Mackie from the Bible Project

John 15:9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
From this passage and many others it is clear that Jesus does not want people to go to hell. Jesus made a way for us to escape the destination we're heading towards - and this is good news that people need to hear!

Acts 2:37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Jesus Commitment to You

John 15:4a Remain in me, and I will remain in you…

Romans 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

What is the fruit?

John 15:8 “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit.”

John 15:8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Character, faithfulness, people coming to faith - it all brings glory to the Father and shows that we’re true disciples.

Friend of God

John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.