Transcript Document

Understanding The Meaning of a Text
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no FRUIT,
while every branch that does bear FRUIT he prunes
so that it will be even more FRUITFUL. You are
already clean because of the word I have spoken to
you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No
branch can bear FRUIT by itself; it must remain in the
vine. Neither can you bear FRUIT unless you remain
in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man
remains in me and I in him, he will bear much FRUIT;
apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does
not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown
away and withers; such branches are picked up,
thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much
FRUIT, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the
Father has LOVED me, so have I LOVED you. Now
remain in my LOVE. If you obey my commands, you
will remain in my LOVE, just as I have obeyed my
Father's commands and remain in his LOVE. I have
told you this so that my joy may be in you and that
your joy may be complete.
My command is this: LOVE each other as I have
LOVED you. Greater LOVE has no one than this, that
he lay down his life for his friends. You are my
friends if you do what I command. I no longer call
you servants, because a servant does not know his
master's business. Instead, I have called you
friends, for everything that I learned from my
Father I have made known to you. You did not
choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to
go and bear FRUIT- FRUIT that will last. Then the
Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
This is my command: LOVE each other.”
SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
Consider the historical context:
WHO is being spoken to? WHY? WHEN? WHAT did it
mean to them?
Ch. 13 to 17 = Jesus’ final words of comfort to his
disciples before his arrest (the importance of context.)
• Had invested 3.5 years with them.
• Concerned for Them.
• Takes Them Privately to an upper room for passover.
READ JOHN 13:1-15
For the rest of the chapter, Jesus emphases the
importance of loving each other!
JOHN 14 - JESUS PROMISES TO THEM;
1. Don’t worry I’m going to prepare a place for you in
heaven!
2. You’re going to be able to pray & ask for anything in
my name (vs 12-14)
3. I’m going send my Holy Spirit to live in you &
comfort you (vs 15-25)
4. I’m giving you the Gift of Peace. Don’t be troubled or
worry! (vs 27-31)
JOHN 14:31 “Come now, let’s leave this place.”
He concludes his object lesson with these words:
VS.11 “I’ve told you these thing so that my joy may be
in you and that your joy may be complete!”
What’s the odds of Jesus giving his last words of
encouragement to his dearest friends by saying:
“You’ll lose your salvation & burn in hell if you don’t
bear fruit” THEN “I’ve told you this so you’ll be full of
joy!!”
THE CONTEXT MAKES THAT INTERPRETATION
NONSENSE!
2. DEFINE THE KEY WORDS
Ever had an argument because you meant
different things with same word?
“Love” = mentioned 9 times
“Fruit” = mentioned 9 times
“Fruit” & “Fruitful” = 44 times in New Testament
Karpos
YOU CANT JUST ASSUME THE MEANING OF A WORD!
Mt.3:8 “the fruit of repentance”
Mt.26:29 “the fruit of the vine” (communion wine)
Rom.7:5 “we bore fruit for death” (sinful lifestyle)
Rom.15:28 “received this fruit” (offering of money)
Gal.5:22 “fruit of the spirit” (9 godly attitudes)
Eph.5:9 “the fruit of light” (truth, righteousness, goodness)
Col.1:6 “this gospel is bearing fruit and growing” (new
believers)
Heb.13:15 “praise to God - the fruit of our lips”
So what is the definition of “fruit” in John 15?
What is Jesus meaning when he says we must bear fruit in this
context?
3. INTERPRET UNCLEAR VERSES WITH CLEAR ONES!
In this passages we find 3 clear characteristics growing
spiritual fruit:
VS.4 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No
branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the
vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in
me.”
• BEARING FRUIT is produced by remaining in Christ
“REMAIN” = to stay, continue, abide, endure, lasting
(Greek: MENO)
VS.8 “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear
much fruit, showing yourselves to be my
disciples.”
• BEARING FRUIT brings glory to God
VS.11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be
in you and that your joy may be complete.”
• BEARING FRUIT will give me complete joy.
4. LOOK FOR THE MOST OBVIOUS MEANING.
Don’t try to make every detail in a story to mean
something.
When you let the text speak for itself, the meaning of
fruit becomes obvious:
JOHN 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain
in you, you may ask whatever you wish, and it will be
given you!”
REMAINING IN CHRIST PRODUCES answered prayers!
14:13 “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that
the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask
me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
• Answered prayers BRINGS GLORY TO GOD!
16:24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in
my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will
be complete!”
o Answered prayers GIVES ME COMPLETE JOY!
James 4:2 “You do not have, because you do not
ask God!”
VS.16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and
appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will
last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
ask in my name!”
I BEAR FRUIT BY ASKING IN PRAYER!
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION
MATT. 7:24 “Everyone who hears these word of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house upon the rock.”
We need to stop talking about prayer and just pray!
Understanding The Meaning of a Text