Gospels (66) - John 15:7-14

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Gospels

Rusty's Notes

John 15
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

• 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 - 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.[1]
• Judgment Seat of Christ – Is for believers and is a judgment of their works based upon done by self or “in Christ”.

It’s the fruit that burns… not the believer

• Romans 14:23 - …everything that is not from faith is sin. [2]
• Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,[3]
• Will our selfish works even be in heaven because they are sin? Or will they be listed without any penalty?

 
7 If you remain (abide) in me and my words remain (abide) in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.

• Abide – Live my life by another source.
• It means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in and through us to produce fruit.[4]
• Describe what living by faith looks like for me.
• This is what we hear… “This abiding relationship is natural to the branch and the vine, but it must be cultivated in the Christian life. It is not automatic. Abiding in Christ demands worship, meditation on God’s Word, prayer, sacrifice, and service—but what a joyful experience it is! Once you have begun to cultivate this deeper communion with Christ, you have no desire to return to the shallow life of the careless Christian.”[5]
• This is not about memorizing the Word of God… This is about knowing your Father so well that you know what His will is for your life and it greatly impacts how you communicate with Him.
• This is not a formula for getting what you want.
• This is the result of knowing the Father.
• 1 John 2:13-14 – 1) Children understand forgiveness, 2) young men understand how to overcome the evil one and 3) the fathers know the One who is from the beginning.
• There is an intimacy with the Creator.

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

• How is fruit born through our lives?
• Father through the Son through our lives (while we rest).
• Who produces the fruit? The gardener through the vine through the branch.
• You can think you do a lot but hopefully it is the Father doing it through you.
• Yield to His life and much fruit will be produced and God is glorified.
• It is impossible in the flesh but only works in the Spirit.
• Many of these things could be counterfeited by the flesh, but the deception would eventually be detected, for real spiritual fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit.
• Man-made results are dead and cannot reproduce themselves, but Spirit-produced fruit will go on reproducing from one life to another.
• There will be fruit—more fruit—much fruit.[6]

 
CHRISTLIKE LOVE
9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.

• To the 11 disciples.
• There is only 1 way to do this… yield their life to another.
• Christ’s love becomes their love for each other.
• Unity – You will never see unity in the Church (body of Christ) until they learn to live their life by another.
• When we have been opposed, hated, belittled, even irritated by others… we are given a free pass.
• This is our thinking in the flesh.
• Christ says, love them as I have loved you.
• I know you can’t do it… you’ve already proved that.
• So yield your life to me and I will do it for you.
• Remain (abide) in me and I will do it for you.
• I got you!

10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

• What are his commandments?
• Love the Jesus and others – I John 3:23
• Do you view this as a command (as you were probably taught… so as to control your behavior)?
• Or do you see this the result of abiding in Christ?
• Jesus perfected the Law…
• Did he do this in His own strength to prove His obedience to the Father?
• Or was Jesus obedient as a result of abiding with His Father’s love?
• You always start with intimacy…
• Out of intimacy comes obedience.
• We are taught to start with obedience.
• I’m convinced that I can have a lot of sad breakfast with men and women who have entered into difficult circumstances.
• But my response to each person will always be the same.
• Get to know the Father.
• This is trusting that God’s Word will be true.

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

• What is a friend?
• It is not accountability partner.
• It is knowing the other person so well that you don’t have to ask them the personal questions.
• Who were Jesus’ friends?
• Not only the disciples (and us), but also the Father and the Spirit.
• No greater love was ever displayed than what Jesus did for us at the cross.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. [7]
Believe in Jesus’s name and love others.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Co 3:12–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 14:23). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 8:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 356). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 15:1–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.