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Sermon Notes – John Brown – John 15 – What Have We Been Called To? 

What is it that insures fruit that lets the branch remain?

In the first two verses there is an implication that there is a branch that is ‘in Christ’ “that does not bear fruit, He (the Father) takes away.” V 2.The Father is not all about saving us from sin just so we wouldn’t go to hell. Jesus came to deal with that which became a barrier between God and man.  

This is hard to understand but we have to accept it or we will believe that the Father is not a good story teller. Do you think it might be that the Father could be a poor a story teller or picture painter that some of what is recorded in the Bible could not be an accurate rendering of what the Father is meaning?  

Jesus says in verses 1 & 2 that a branch that is not part of the vine cannot bear leaves or fruit. So Jesus is obviously talking about those who are ‘in Him’ here. Is this story truth? Can we be part of the vine, up to bearing leaves if not fruit, and be cut off? What in verse 5 indicates the criteria for remaining ‘in Him?’ 

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This same thought is taught by Jesus elsewhere.Go to Matthew 13 verses 18 – 23.            Verse 21 – life comes but does not produce anything and falls away.            Verse 22 – life is here too but is “unfruitful.”The Father is looking for more than just the evidence of life. He wants fruit!  

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Revelation 20:12 – 15: 

Here at the judgment, we are all judged by what is written in some “books” and a “book of life.” This “book of life” is mentioned again in Revelation 21:27. 

In Revelation 3:1 – 5, Jesus is speaking to the church of believers in Sardis and says about them that, “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Then He promises that, “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life.” This brings up a question: Can you receive the word of the kingdom and not enter in? Can your name be erased from the “book of life?” 

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John 15:6 Our Father is interested in more than just life. He’s not just looking for life – He’s looking for fruit. Why then, are there some branches that don’t bear fruit? What have we been called to do? This is a race that we should strive to win. See 1 Cor. 9:24 – 27. 

Next week = What is this abiding? What does the fruit look like?