Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 2, 2023

I Am the True Vine

John 15:1-6

1. Background

• impending departure of Jesus
• preparation for things to come (John 14:25-31)

2. Jesus Presents a Picture of Himself and of His Father 1

• Jesus: true vine (Psa. 80:8-16, Isa. 5:1-7)
• Father: vinedresser, activity of cultivation

3. Jesus Describes His Father’s Activity as Vinedresser 2

• fruit-bearing/productivity principle
• fruitless branches cut off
• fruitful branches cleansed
• distinction between profession and possession

4. Jesus Declares the Current Status of His Disciples 3

• already you are clean
• connection to the word Jesus had spoken to them
• never cut off

5. Jesus Issues a Command and Applies It 4-5

• abide in Me
• necessary prerequisite for fruitfulness
• apart from Me not one thing

6. Jesus Concludes with a Sobering Warning 6

• tragedy of the absence of a vital connection
• immediacy and certainty

7. So What?

• Because fruit-bearing glorifies the Father, stay in a steady state of reliance on Jesus, the True Vine.
• Connect fruitfulness to the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23)
• “For maximum fruitfulness extreme pruning is essential.” (Morris)
• Aim relentlessly to remain constantly in Jesus.
• “If I Come to Jesus” (Crosby)