Lessons from the Vine (4 of 4)
Series: I Am
Joe Alain
John 15:1-8 (Focal verse, 5)
John 15:1-8 deals with the intimate and living relationship that believers share with Christ. Believers as God's branches are vitally connected to Christ. As a result, we draw our life from Christ. The promise of this text is that in an abiding relationship with Jesus, we bear "much fruit" (v.8) which brings glory to our Father. However, without Him (i.e., Christ) we "can do nothing."
There are some powerful "lessons from the vine" for disciples in this passage of Scripture.
1. Jesus is the true source of life
Here we have another one of the great "I am" statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John that clearly identifies Himself with God, the great "I am." When Jesus used the symbolism of the Vine, his listeners knew exactly what he meant. The vine had become the symbol of the nation of Israel. It was the emblem on the coins of the Maccabees. One of the great treasures and glories of the Temple was the great golden vine upon the front of the Holy Place. When Jesus calls himself the "true vine" (v.1), he is saying, "I am the vine of God and you must be branches joined to me. It is not because you belong to Israel that you are saved, but it is faith in Me as the true source of life." The first lesson of the vine is crystal clear, Jesus is the true source of life - He is God!
What is the significance of this truth for us? Because Jesus is the true source of life,
2. Life results from being connected to Jesus
We draw our life from Christ as Paul said, "'For in him we live and move and have our being'" (Acts 17:28). Jesus is the true source of life. Common sense tells us that oranges do not grow on apple trees and strawberries are not produced from pear trees. Like begets like. It is terribly frustrating, in fact it is impossible, to try to live the Christian life if you are not one. The life you were created to live is impossible to see realized without Jesus, the tru ...
Series: I Am
Joe Alain
John 15:1-8 (Focal verse, 5)
John 15:1-8 deals with the intimate and living relationship that believers share with Christ. Believers as God's branches are vitally connected to Christ. As a result, we draw our life from Christ. The promise of this text is that in an abiding relationship with Jesus, we bear "much fruit" (v.8) which brings glory to our Father. However, without Him (i.e., Christ) we "can do nothing."
There are some powerful "lessons from the vine" for disciples in this passage of Scripture.
1. Jesus is the true source of life
Here we have another one of the great "I am" statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John that clearly identifies Himself with God, the great "I am." When Jesus used the symbolism of the Vine, his listeners knew exactly what he meant. The vine had become the symbol of the nation of Israel. It was the emblem on the coins of the Maccabees. One of the great treasures and glories of the Temple was the great golden vine upon the front of the Holy Place. When Jesus calls himself the "true vine" (v.1), he is saying, "I am the vine of God and you must be branches joined to me. It is not because you belong to Israel that you are saved, but it is faith in Me as the true source of life." The first lesson of the vine is crystal clear, Jesus is the true source of life - He is God!
What is the significance of this truth for us? Because Jesus is the true source of life,
2. Life results from being connected to Jesus
We draw our life from Christ as Paul said, "'For in him we live and move and have our being'" (Acts 17:28). Jesus is the true source of life. Common sense tells us that oranges do not grow on apple trees and strawberries are not produced from pear trees. Like begets like. It is terribly frustrating, in fact it is impossible, to try to live the Christian life if you are not one. The life you were created to live is impossible to see realized without Jesus, the tru ...
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