The One Jesus Loves, Part 31: Stay Close to Jesus

THE ONE JESUS LOVES – 31

 The Gospel of John

 

Stay Close to Jesus

John 15:1-17

 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

 

1.  Be FAITHFUL to the God who SAVED YOU.

 (John 15:1 ESV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”  

 

(John 15:2, 6 ESV) Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit… 6 If anyone does not abide in me…

 

(James 2:14 ESV) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

 

(1 John 2:5-6 ESV) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

(2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

 

(Luke 8:13 ESV) And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

 

(1 John 2:19 ESV) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

 

(Colossians 1:21-23a ESV) And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard…

 

2.  If you remain FAITHFUL, God will make you FRUITFUL.

 

(John 15:2 ESV) Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

 

(John 15:4 ESV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

 

3.  When we ABIDE in Him, we experience:

·      His FAVOR.

 

(Acts 6:8 ESV) And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

 

(John 15:7 ESV) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

 

(John 15:16 ESV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

 

·      His FRIENDSHIP.

 

(John 15:9-10 ESV) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

 

(John 15:11 ESV) These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

 

·      His JOY.

 

(John 15:12 ESV) This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

 

(John 15:13-15 ESV) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

 

(Psalm 25:14 MSG) God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in.