The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1515
Johnc hapter 15

Without being fed from the Word of God, you can do nothing.
So you may be a branch, even call yourself a Christian,
but if you don't stay attached to His Word, the Vine, you will produce no fruit.

The Gospel of John, chapter 15. This is so cool and we thank our Father for it.

John 15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
The "I AM", Jesus Christ, now likens Himself to a vine, which has branches. The question is, "Why would He make this analogy"?  The answer is: To teach us, so that we may get a clear PICTURE of how He abides in us and we in Him. And the Father is the husbandman, the vinedresser, the caretaker who goes through the vineyard and prunes the branches and cuts off the dead ones.

Note to "city slickers": A vine, like a grape vine, is the main artery, the trunk through which the life sustaining nutrients flow to feed and nourish the branches so that they can produce beautiful ripe fruit, like a whole cluster of grapes.

And there is only ONE TRUE VINE, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, none can come unto the Father except by Him (John 14:6)?

[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
There are two things noted here:

(1) If a branch [person] does not bear fruit, it [he] is cut off and taken away.

(2) If a branch does bear fruit then the Husbandman will occasionally prune it back so that it may be even more productive, because if the branches are left to grow "wild" they will not produce near as much fruit. Amazing, isn't it? Anyone who has kept a vineyard or has a fruit tree is very familiar with trimming and pruning. So within this simple agricultural process we, the branches, can better "See" and understand our relationship to the vine, which is Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God.

[3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
"Now, you have already been pruned by my words." (Phillip's translation)
[4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
This is so simple and basic, something we have all observed, whether it be a vine branch, cut flowers, or even a Christmas tree. If you "Cut off" a branch it will not be able to produce anything because it cannot be fed from the vine. A branch, by itself, apart from being "plugged into" the vine, cannot produce anything. Once it is cut off, it will become dry and lifeless and be destined for verse 6, which in this case is the "deep 6".
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
As long as you [a branch] stay plugged into the vine and are FED and RECEIVE the nutrients from it, then you will produce much fruit. But, without being fed from the Word of God, you can do nothing. So you may be a branch, even call yourself a Christian, but if you don't stay attached to His Word, the Vine, you will produce no fruit.

Here's how worthless branches that produce no fruit are handled:

John 15:6
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Of course this is analogous to the lake of fire following the Millennium, when all the "dead wood" that has been gathered is cast into the lake of fire and is consumed away and perishes, just as John 3:16 says.

That's the bad news. BUT, there is GOOD and WONDERFUL news too! If you stay attached to the True Vine, and become engorged with its nutrients [His words] which flow from it [Him], so that they [His words] abide in you, then you absolutely can't imagine the blessings the Father will bestow upon you.

[7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
What will a person who is attached to the Vine and filled with the Holy Spirit, the words which have flowed from the Vine, even the wisdom of Almighty God, ask for?  A new BMW? Hardly! They will seek more wisdom and understanding and that which is necessary to bring forth MORE FRUIT! Why? Because you see, the more nutrients you receive from the Vine, the more you become like Him and the more His will becomes your will, for He is "in you". Shall we say, "Like Father, like son", or "daughter" too!

And the more fruit you bear, the more the Father is glorified, and so the more He showers His love and blessings on you. Do you not do the same for your children when they love you and do good things to please you?  And you know how good it feels to give them a new toy or reward and watch the smile on their little faces, as they look up and put their arms around your neck and squeeze you and hug you and say "thank you mommy", or "thank you daddy". It doesn't get any better than that! Our Father loves His children and He loves to bless them too!

So understand, you won't have to ask for a BMW, because He will add "things" unto you, after you have first sought the kingdom of God (Mat. 6:33).

John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
If you are a branch filled with the words from the Vine, then you are one of His disciples, for you are disciplined in His Word.
[9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
The Father gave His only begotten Son His commandments, His plan, His instructions, His Word, and Jesus fulfilled every last one of them, even unto His death and crucifixion on the cross. Now that is Love!
[10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
We show our love, not by whooping and hollering and saying "I love you Lord Jesus", but by KEEPING HIS WORD, staying attached to the True Vine, being filled with His words, and thereby PRODUCING FRUIT for Him.
[11] These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
How comforting it is to know that as long as you stay attached to the Vine He'll see that you have everything you need to be happy and content and joyful. PLUS, you know that you have pleased your Father.
John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Remember He gave this same commandment after He washed their feet. Just remember that when one of us gets pruned real good!
[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
And Jesus is about to display greater love than any man has ever had! For He will lay down His life even for those who hate Him and persecute Him, lest at any time they come to Him and receive His forgiveness and inherit eternal life.
John 15:14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
You might be plugged into a real nice church, and even have a license plate that reads "Friend of Jesus", but if you're not plugged into the Vine then you don't even know what His commands are. How then could you be His friend?
[15] Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
The word "servant" means "slave", and slaves are always just given orders to carry out without knowing the master's plan or any of the reasons behind the commands. By the way, that is how the serpent, Satan, operates. And it is true, if you don't "DO" the Word of God, then you are indeed a slave to this world, even of the false messiah who has you captive. For it was Satan who pulled 1/3 (Rev. 12:4) of the branches away from the true Vine in the world that then was (II Pet. 3:6-7). Of course Satan thinks he's a good vine, but you ought to see the "fruits" he produces! Stay away from his fruits.

But there are NO SECRETS kept in our Family, the Family of God. We are not "slaves" of some "unknown god" or "force". Our Father has made known His entire plan to us through Jesus Christ, the Light, the True Vine, the Word of God. Even from the beginning of the creation of the 1st earth age to the ushering in of the 3rd and final earth age, He has made known His Plan and declared His Love for His children.

So, attach yourself to the Vine and never let go!

Do you believe that the plan of God has been, and is, unfolding "on the fly" or that our Father has had His plan of salvation well thought out and well planned, including a timeline with specific events to occur at specific times and specific people chosen to carry them out according to that plan?

Perhaps this will help you determine the answer: Did you know that the entire overall plan of God is "written in the stars", in the heavens, and is contained in the uncorrupted, pure Zodiac, including the Virgin Birth (Virgo) and His Coming? Did you know His entire plan is written in detail in His Word. Well then, do you think you were born on __/__/__ by accident or has it occurred to you that you could be part of His plan? Do you recall that Jeremiah was "named" and "ordained" before he entered his mother's womb?

Here's your Father talking to Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
This is just one example, but know this: Jeremiah was part of God's plan from the beginning and if you are one of His disciples, then so are you!

Let's continue in the Gospel of John where Jesus is speaking to His disciples.

John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Sound a little bit like what He said to Jeremiah?

Most people when they read this verse understand that Jesus is talking to His disciples at the Last Supper, and He was, but not to them alone. This verse actually documents that Jesus is talking to His elect, both Then and Now. You see, we already read way back in the first chapters of this book how His disciples came unto Him, even without an altar call. That's because they were chosen and ordained long, long, before Jesus came to dwell in the flesh.

So just when were His disciples chosen?

All of God's elect, including His disciples, and including you if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, were chosen in the "world that then was" (II Pet. 3), before God knocked this earth off its true axis and out of its true orbit, destroying every living thing including all the cities, dinosaurs, etc. (Jer. 4), at which time this planet became "tohu va bohu", an Hebrew expression meaning totally void and without form, and the earth became completely covered with water and darkness.

You were chosen before all that occurred!

Paul documents it for us in Eph. 1:4 where he is speaking to God's elect about their being chosen by Jesus.

He writes:

Ephes. 1:4
According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Note: If you have a Companion Bible refer to appendix #146 titled "the foundation of the world".

The phrase "before the foundation of the world" actually means before the "overthrow", or "casting down", of Satan at his rebellion, where he drew a third of God's children into his camp, to be "with him "(Rev. 12:4). You see, God's elect stood against Satan at that time and earned the right to be used (chosen) by Him in this flesh age to fulfill His plan. In other words they stayed "with God" from the beginning and stood against Satan and his cronies. So they were "chosen" and given a "destiny", a part in the plan.

Here it is:

[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Do you remember back in chapter 9 when Jesus was asked whose sin caused the blind man to be born without the ability to see?  The answer was that he was born that way so that the "works of God" might be made manifest. In other words, he was chosen and predestined, according to the good pleasure of His (God's) will, as part of the plan, just as we read in verse 5? So it would not be a stretch at all to imagine that he might have even volunteered for the job!

Now let's re-read John 15:16.

John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
His disciples, His elect, were chosen and ordained (even predestined) that they should bring forth fruit. That's His PLAN! That is the "good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:5). So have you ever wondered why you were born? You just read it! You have been chosen and ordained to produce fruit according to the good pleasure of His will, His plan. And whatever you need to get your job done, just ask!

VERY IMPORTANT:Do not overlook the fact that the fruit you are to produce is to "REMAIN". For how long? (I thought you would never ask!) FOREVER. You see the fruit you are to produce is to help bring others to Him that they might be reconciled to God and receive Eternal Life. (Do you "see" that His disciples, you, are part of the Plan of Salvation, which was "laid out" and "determined" from the beginning, IN DETAIL, even with what children, who remained with Him at the rebellion, would have what part? The blind man got that particular job. What's your destiny, your predetermined destination?)

[17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Be patient, loving and kind to each other as you fulfill your destiny! Washing some stinky feet is nothing when compared to the awesome honor of being one of His children and working together to get the job done.
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
You can expect the world to hate you and persecute you. Otherwise, why would need the gospel armor on and in place (Eph. 6)?
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Just mention God and Christ to the "liberal left" and they get crazy and start throwing fiery darts. They seek to erase God and His commandments from every aspect of society including school rooms, court rooms, probably even bathrooms. They would very much like to remove Christians too!
John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
If you have understood the concept of the True Vine, then this verse is easy.The branches are fed by the Vine, His words, which fill the branches up and abide in them. So if we are plugged into the Vine, then we all speak the same thing as Jesus spoke, His words, for it is His voice we speak with. In other words, when Jesus' disciples speak people hear Him, His words; they're all recorded in the little black book laying there on your coffee table. You can either reject Him or keep His sayings.
[21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
They are hanging on a different vine that they think has life in it, but it's roots extend into the bottomless pit where there is no life.
[22] If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
The "them" are those that "hate" Him as the next few verses will show. "They" have no excuse [cloke] for rejecting the Messiah. Had He not convicted them they would have a cloke of innocency.
John 15:23
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
You can't love one without loving the other, nor can you hate one without hating the other.
[24] If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
No man could have performed the miracles Jesus did. Man cannot feed 5,000 people with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread. Man cannot raise another from the dead who has been in the grave for 4 days. Yet, even though they witnessed these awesome miracles, that they know could only come from God, they still hated Him.
[25] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
Of course it was written in the scriptures that they [kenites] would hate Him without cause, and so it came to pass as it is written of "them" in the Psalms.
Psalm 35:19
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
You should read this entire Psalm to put this verse in context, for it is a of Psalm of vengeance against the enemies of the Lord. And if they hated Him without a cause, they will hate you without a cause, but as the Psalm declares, our Father sees to their just reward. It is not a healthy thing to have the Creator of the Universe take vengeance on you.
John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And so that Comforter, the Holy Spirit of Truth, came on Pentecost Day and testified of His presence, through the mouths of His disciples, speaking the wonderful works of God. And being that it was the Spirit of Truth, from the True Vine, there was no problem with all those present hearing what was said in their very own dialect.

It is written in Acts 2:7-8.

Acts 2:7
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Galilee was kind of the "low rent" district where learned men with PhD's did not come from.
[8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Notice that everyone heard them speak in their own tongue [native language]. That's how the Spirit of Truth works. But there is a different spirit that tries to imitate this and causes people to babble unintelligibly and say it is evidence of the Spirit of Truth. It is not. It is far from it.

Have you ever read how Peter stood up and said this was an example, a sampling, of what would happen in the last days as recorded by the prophet Joel? Peter knew well he wasn't in the last days just before the return of Jesus, as some people believe the disciples thought. In II Pet. 1:14, Peter tells us that Jesus told him he [Peter] would die in the flesh and not see His return.

2 Peter 1:13
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

[14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

That's why he wrote his epistles, to "teach on" after he was dead (next verse). When do suppose Jesus told Peter this? Probably on the mount at the transfiguration, for Peter says Jesus Christ "showed" me. Peter continues:
[15]Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
So don't believe someone who tells you the disciples thought they were expecting Jesus to return in their life time! They were not mere "patsies" or "slaves". They were Jesus' friends and He told them the whole plan as from the beginning. Got it?

This next statement from the Lord Jesus Christ is so profound it should give you "goose bumps", for the "And Ye" refers back to verse 16 and to whom Jesus is talking?  It is to His disciples, meaning His elect, meaning you if are one of His disciples.

John 15:27
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Are you one of His disciples? Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Then you WILL bear witness of Him, and you WILL bring forth fruit, because He CHOSE you for that purpose (vs. 16), because you were "WITH HIM" [not with Satan], i.e. you stayed with Him, from the beginning.

Note: There is no danger from the tingling sensation caused by the "goose bumps" and it will subside in a minute or two, or perhaps in a day or two. It all depends on the level of understanding you have of verse 27.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

The "American Wisdom Series"

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net7

If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration, or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home page.

Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.