Title: The Christian's Destiny
The Christian's Destiny
John 15:1-8
The text commentary/ The text is the parable of the vine. In Old Testament times, the vine often symbolized the nation of Israel. God planted Israel in the land of Canaan with a wonderful work of grace and gave them all blessings (Isaiah 5:4). As God's vineyard, Israel could have everything it needed to bear fruit. But Israel did not bear true fruit.
Question 1. What do you say about the relationship between God and Jesus? (Verse 1)
A: Jesus is the true vine, God is the farmer who manages and rules the vineyard, and we Christians have called us as the 'branch' of the vine. The relationship between God and Jesus is very organic.
Question 2. Explain the existence of Christians through the parable of the vine? (Verse 2)
A: For the vine, the fruit of the branch is essential for survival. The purpose of planting a vine is only for its fruit. Not for ornamental purposes, not for viewing flowers. We Christians are also worthy of bearing fruit. If the vine does not bear fruit, the branch is of no value.
Question 3. What are the fruits that will recognize Christian worth? (verse 23)
Answer: First, it is the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8-9). Second, it is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Third, it is the fruit of light (Ephesians 5:9). Fourth, it is the fruit of evangelism (Colossians 1:6).
Question 4. What must a Christian do in order to bear fruit? (Verses 2-5)
Answer: ⑴ You must be sanctified (verses 2-3). In verse 2 there is the word “cleansing”. This word means ‘to be omniscient.’ We are sanctified by the word (verse 3). Verse 4 says, “I am cleansed by the word of God.” God, who has already saved us through cleanliness, is to bear fruit when we continue to strive for sanctification to keep ourselves clean. What is the most terrifying sin? It is not believing in God (John 16:9).
(2) You must become one with the Lord. To be in him means to be attached to him. Just as the branches of the vine are attached to the vine, we must be attached to Jesus Christ. We can never bear fruit on our own. So, in order for us to be in the Lord, we must be grafted.
⑶ We must have deep fellowship with the Lord (verse 5). The decisive reason Christians today fail to bear fruit is that they only have a relationship of being children of God, and that they do not have a daily relationship to be in Christ.
Question 5. What is the fate of the vine? (Verses 6-7)
(1) If a Christian has no fruit, the Lord throws it away, and people set it on fire (v. 6). If you leave the life of Jesus, your grace will disappear, your heart will become dry, and you will be reviled by people.
(2) In order to bear much fruit, we must pray (verse 7). We must never forget the conditions for answering prayers. That is, when we pray under the premise that I am in Christ and the word of the Lord is in me, prayers are answered.
Question 6. How should we glorify God? (Verse 8)
It bears much fruit. The owner's wish to bear much fruit is God's wish for us on this earth. So it gives glory to God.
Decision question:
God seeks fruit from us and wants us to glorify God through the fruit.
We are the branches attached to Jesus, the true vine. The fate of the branch lives only when it is attached to Jesus, the main stem. If it is not attached, it will be discarded. However, if we Christians live close to Jesus, we will bear fruit. It bears fruit in abundance. A truly unfruitful believer is worthless. Let us bear the fruit worthy of repentance for the individual and the fruit of the Holy Spirit for the character. Let us bear the fruit of light to the world. And let us bear the fruits of evangelism for church revival.