In today’s study our titles are; Verse 1-6 The Vine and the Branches. Verses 7-17 Does God Answer all Prayers. Verses 18-27 The hatred of the world. John 15 and verse 1 reads.
John 15:1] I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
[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.
In this parable the Father is the husbandman, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. If we bear fruit, show that we love him by reading his Word and doing his commandments. Then he will see, and bless you, and open your eyes to his Word. If not, then he will close your eyes to his Truth, and prune you off the vine and cast you into the fire.
John 15:3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Jesus is the Living Word, he cleanses us as we read his Word. This is why I hope that all will come to his Word and read it every day. We sabbath, Rest every day, not just one hour a week. Let’ s go to Ephesians 5 and verse 25 reads.
Eph.5:25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
[27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
These are our homes in which we raise our children unto Christ. Back to John 15 and verse 4 reads.
John 15:4] 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.
Abide connects this parable with the last chapter. Abide G3306 menō pronounced men’-o is the primary verb to Mone. Here we see Abide means for the branch to remain attached to the vine. If we remain attached to Christ, then the Father and the Son dwell (Abide) within us. Let’s go to Ephesians 3 and verse 14 reads.
Eph.3:14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Don’t overlook is named, Christians.
Eph.3:16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Can you see the depth of why I went there? Back to John 15 and verse 5 reads.
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.
Let’s go to Hosea 14 and verse 7 reads.
Hos.14:7] They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
[8] Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
God is like a green fir tree, evergreen, everlasting. Let’s go to 2Corinthians 3 and verse 4 reads.
2Cor.3:4] And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
[5] Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
[6] Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
It is the Word of God that gives life everlasting. It is of Spirit and not of flesh. Back to John 15 and verse 6 reads.
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.
This should sound familiar. Jesus said this to the Kenites that witnessed his baptism. Let’s go to Matthew 3 and verse 10 reads.
Mat.3:10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
And the parable of the Tares. When asked what shall we do with the tares, do we pull them out. Jesus said this in Matthew 13 and verse 29 reads.
Mat.13:29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
The tares are the children of that wicked one, the wheat are the children of God.
Mat.13:30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Back to John 15 and verse 7 reads.
John 15:7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Talking about sharing his Word. Let’s go to 1John 2 and verse 14 reads.
1John 2:14] I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
[15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
This is what Jesus was talking about in John 14 and verse 12 reads.
John 14:12] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
[13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Back to John 15 and verse 8 reads.
John 15:8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
How do we glorify God? By bearing much fruit. As the man that had five talents and returned ten talents. Let’s go to Matthew 5 and verse 16 reads.
Mat.5:16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
And in Philippians 1 and verse 11 reads.
Phi.1:11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Back to John 15 and verse 9 reads.
John 15:9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Continue is Menos G3306 to Abide or Dwell in. His love is the Word of God.
John 15:10] 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.
Keeping his commandments is having knowledge of his Word. Stay in his Word and the Father and the Son will dwell within you, and wherever the Father is, there is heaven and all that dwell therein.
John 15:11] These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
With the joy of Jesus within us, our joy will certainly be full. John spoke of this in 1John 1 and verse 3 reads.
1John 1:3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
[4] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Back to John 15 and verse 12 reads.
John 15:12] This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
He is talking to his disciples, not to those that hate him. To say that Jesus loves all is a big mistake. Jesus does not love all. Those that hate the Father will be purged in the fire. Let’s go to Romans 12 and verse 9 reads.
Rom.12:9] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
We do not love God’s enemies for they are our enemies. Remember Jesus said they will hate you, for before they hated you they hated me. Let’s go to Ecclesiastes 3 and verse 8 reads.
Ecc.3:8] A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Back to John 15 and verse 13 reads.
John 15:13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
No greater love than this, that Emmanuel, God with us, willingly died on the cross for everyone to come to repentance and be forgiven of all sins. Let’s go to 1John 3 and verse 16 reads.
1John 3:16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Back to John 15 and verse 14 reads.
John 15:14] Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
[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.
Jesus has called us friends, verse 13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. He also called us his mother, brother, and sister in Matthew 12:50. Let’s not overlook the subject, Jesus says what he has heard of his Father he has made known to us. In Mark 13:30 he said Behold, for I have foretold you all things. Jesus is the Living Word, the question is have you read his Word. Many people have not read the Word of God, though they call themselves Christians.
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.
Chosen, Jesus is talking to his elect here. Those that have had their eyes opened by the Lord. Jesus just said that whatever you ask for, in his name, the Father would give to you. It is for bringing forth fruit. And he says you can judge them by their fruits. Another condition was given. You must be a doer of his Word. Let’s go to Colossians 1 and verse 4 reads.
Col.1:4] Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
[5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
We are reading it now in John 15.
Col.1:6] Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Read his Word and be a doer of his Word, these are good fruits. Back to John 15 and verse 17 reads.
John 15:17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.
This commandment from Jesus is very specific. To love one another, being brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s go to 1John 4 and verse 19 reads.
1John 4:19] We love him, because he first loved us.
[20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Back to John 15 and verse 18 reads.
John 15:18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[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.
We are going back to 1John 4 and verse 2 reads.
1John 4:2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
[3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
[4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
[5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
[6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
[9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
[10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Propitiation is Atonement.
1John 4:11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
[12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
[13] Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
[14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
[15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Here we have dwelleth again, God dwells in his children who love him and love one another. Back to John 15 and verse 20 reads.
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.
We have two different seeds in this world, the Serpent’s Seed and the children of God. If they persecute you, then you’re doing it right. They only persecute the righteous. Let’s go to 1Peter 4 and verse 13 reads.
1Pet.4:13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
[14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Back to John 15 and verse 21 reads.
John 15:21] But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
For calling yourself Christians. Yes, for that reason you will be persecuted. Because they know not the Father who sent the Son.
John 15:22] If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
Remember John 9 and verse 39 reads.
John 9:39] And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
[40] And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
[41] Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Let’s go to Romans 1 and verse 18 reads.
Rom.1:18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
The LORD did give them the Truth but they chose not to believe. Not to believe is the sin of death. Notice in these verses we have the three world ages and the Trinity, Godhead. Back to John 15 and verse 23 reads.
John 15:23] He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
Let’s go to 1John 2 and verse 22 reads.
1John 2:22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
[23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Here we have a true saying; They say they are Jews, but do lie, and are of the synagogue of Satan. Rev.2:9. I myself am of the tribe of Judah, but because of the Law and the Prophets I believe that Jesus is God with us and call myself a Christian. Isaiah 7:14, Deuteronomy 18:15-18 makes it clear to me that the Word of God has come in the flesh. John 1:14. Back to John 15 and verse 24 reads.
John 15:24] 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.
[25] But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
Let’s go to Psalms 35 and verse 19 reads.
Psa.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.
[20] For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
[21] Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
And in Psalms 69 and verse 4 reads.
Psa.69:4] They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
Back to John 15 and verse 26 reads.
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:
When God’s Elect are delivered up to Satan at the sixth trump, it is the Holy Spirit that speaks through us. Let’s go to Mark 13 and verse 11 reads.
Mark 13:11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Find time to read Joel 2 and Acts 2 to see when Jesus gave us the Comforter. And how it pertains to the end times. Back to John 15 and verse 27 reads.
John 15:27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Speaking to his disciples here, they would be delivered up to the synagogues as a witness against them. They were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministries and witnessed all the miracles and casting out of devils from among the people. Truly, he was the Son of God, and they would bear witness to those who would crucify him. But, as we know, there is more to God’s Word than we’ve been taught. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.
1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
With this in mind, about the last part of that last verse; Because you have been with me from the beginning. Let’s go to Ephesians 1 and verse 4 reads.
Eph.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:
Since the first earth age, foundation G2602 from G2598 Katabole, the overthrow of Satan in the first earth age. The word World is Ion in the Greek, and means a length of time.
Eph.1:5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Predestinated means; chosen from the first earth age to be his Elect in these end times.
Eph.1:6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
God’s Elect do not have free will in these end times. He will open your eyes and ears to his Word and you will produce much good fruit. Let’s go to Romans 8 and verse 23 reads.
Rom.8:23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God’s Elect don’t even know what to pray for, but the Lord intercedes for his saints, his Elect. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible