Bible Study - Relationships (1) - Love like CHRIST - john 15:8-17 - June 4, 2017

Bible Study – Relationships (1) – Love like CHRIST – June 4, 2017

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Real Relationships.”

Our focus scripture in John 15:9-17:

Base every relationship on the unconditional love of CHRIST.

This begins a new series of study entitled “Real Relationships.” For the next six-weeks we will explore both the New Testament and Old Testament scripture regarding real relationships. Relationships are important and some can be difficult. Think about the relationships you have with your mother, father, brother, sister, other relatives, spouse, friends at school, church, work, sports, and the list goes on.

When I was growing up, we saw western movies with cowboys and Indians. 

What I am about to write is not recommended for today’s world because of blood borne diseases. The cowboys and Indians would cut themselves enough to show blood and match up their wounds to symbolize their blood flowing through each other’s veins thus becoming blood brothers. I had play mates and we cut ourselves so we could become blood brothers. This was to symbolize our forever bond and relationship. But it takes more than symbols to form lasting relationships.

Good, healthy relationships are important. We will explore relationships in this series of study.

The most important relationship is our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Being a Christian does not guarantee the right relationship with GOD because of our freedom to choose. But it does provide for the possibility for a solid foundation upon which to build the right relationship.

Most of us have a lot of baggage when it comes to trying to figure out what the right relationship with GOD may look like. Our upbringing, environment, ancestral proclivities, etc. tend to shape our perception of GOD and JESUS.

Often, some of us have misconceptions, false notions, a Santa Claus syndrome about GOD and the list goes on. What is vital is knowing and experiencing the truth about GOD as we walk with HIM through life upon earth.

To love unconditionally, which is agape love, takes the love of CHRIST in you. Christians are grafted into CHRIST or The Vine as HE refers to Himself as we will study in the lead-in scripture for this lesson.  

At the instant of salvation all Christians are saved from sin and its consequence of eternal death and are born in our spirit into GOD’S family. Christians become GOD’S Sons or Daughters through the miracle of rebirth in their spirit.

Having the label of Christian is one thing but living life directed by GOD through the indwelling Holy Spirit is another. Building the right relationship with GOD is a process which requires our willingness and desire to build such a relationship. GOD never overrides our right to choose. It is getting to know GOD in truth and not just knowing about GOD and creating our own notions about GOD.

Christians build an intimate loving relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS and putting into action, as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit, what they learn as they walk with JESUS. It is a life-long process coupled with the process of sanctification. Christians are grafted into CHRIST as CHRIST depicts Himself in our lead-in scripture John 15:1-8 as the true vine.

Being born physically or Spiritually never takes away our right to choose. GOD does not make us robots. As Christians, we always have the right to choose. The beauty of being a Christian is that we are under GOD’S grace. At the moment of salvation, all Christians are grafted, figuratively, into the vine of CHRIST. Their Spiritual growth and healthy growth is dependent upon remaining attached to the vine. Bring a vital, healthy branch of the true vine means that you are destined to grow Spiritually and produce fruit.

The Apostle Paul reveals a cluster of fruit in Galatians 5:22-26:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 

26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read John 15:1-8: (Lead-in)

The Vine and the Branches

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 

Planet earth is GOD’S vineyard. All humans are planted upon earth to experience life. When we give our hearts and lives, in faith, to JESUS, we experience life abundantly as JESUS stated in John 10:10:

10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Back to our lead-in scripture:

2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 

“HE removes” and “HE prunes” are interesting statements. Notice that JESUS does the removing or the pruning. Can a Christian remove himself or herself? Habitual sin will certainly lead to the death of a healthy connection to the vine.

When a branch dies, it is removed so it will not compromise the vine. HE simply removes the dead material to keep the other branches healthy and producing good fruit. This product or fruit is for a Christian to be made into the image of JESUS.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 

4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 

How do Christians remain? Study GOD’S Word, worship GOD, talk to GOD (prayer or normal conversation as you would with your very best friend), obediently serve GOD, confess our sins/wrong doings or thoughts to GOD, be honest with GOD and seek HIS help and guidance, trust GOD to lead you as you walk with HIM, confess the areas in your life where you question GOD as you seek answers and the list goes on.

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 

An honest relationship is a powerful relationship, where GOD’S will and purpose is achieved through your life.

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

Christians can die on the vine and when they do, they wither and die Spiritually. It does not mean they lose their salvation but they do become barren of the fruit they were designed to produce. They lose their rewards but not their salvation. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) They drop out of the race of life under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When they remove themselves they cannot be producers of fruit. As dead parts of the vine, they rob the vine of vital nutrients and do more harm to the vine if they hang on. This again does not mean that they lose their salvation but they do lose the joy and rewards of being productive according to GOD’S plan and purpose for their lives.

Once Christians become detached can they be reattached? Christians never lose their salvation or their status a Sons or Daughters of GOD. They can always confess their sins and repent and GOD will cleanse and restore.

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 

Being a productive branch has its rewards because when you are a healthy branch you know the mind of GOD and when you ask for GOD’S help, it is done because you are interested in doing the perfect will of GOD. When Christians are in right relationship with GOD through JESUS, they seek to do the will of GOD and respond according to HIS plan and purpose for their lives.

How did JESUS maintain the right relationship with HIS Father? Prayer was vital to JESUS, being obedient and knowing the scriptures. JESUS had complete confidence and faith in GOD. The two were, in essence, One. That is what GOD desires for us as Christians. HE desires for us to be One with HIM by being One with JESUS.

JESUS said it well as recorded in John 17:13-26:

13 Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them. 

JESUS knew GOD intimately. This knowing gave JESUS true joy and HIS desire is for all who place their faith in HIM to experience this same Joy.

14 I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 

15 I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one.

JESUS was praying for HIS disciples and all Christians.

16 They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 

17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19 I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Sanctify means to be set aside to serve GOD. JESUS willingly and obediently set Himself aside to serve GOD so that all who place their faith in JESUS would know and experience the truth.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. 

21 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. 

22 I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. 

23 I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

24 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world's foundation. 

Do you recall Ephesians 1:4? Who else did GOD love before the world’s foundation?

25 Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. 

26 I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.

Back to John 15:

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Obedient service honors GOD. Obedient Christians reflect GOD to others. Do you recall a previous lesson where we read that Christians are a fragrance to others? Now, let’s explore our focus scripture!

Let’s read John 15:9-11:

Christ like Love

9 "As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. 

10 If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love. 

11 "I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 

JESUS knew that HIS time upon earth was short. HE wanted to reveal the relationship HE had with HIS Father, GOD, in Heaven to HIS disciples. JESUS revealed that as HE trusted GOD, they were to trust GOD as well. JESUS was obedient to everything GOD asked HIM to do, even experiencing physical death. JESUS trusted GOD to raise HIM from the physically dead as proof to HIS disciples and all who will place their faith in HIM that they would receive eternal life and are guaranteed bodily resurrection to their Glorified bodies when JESUS returns to earth the second time.

Let’s read John 15:12-13:

12 This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. 

13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 

GOD’S love and the love of JESUS transcends normal human love. The closest example to Their love for us is depicted by a friend dying for a friend.

Let’s read John 15:14-17:

14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Do you desire to be a friend of JESUS? Then be obedient to HIS commands. How will you know HIS commands? It is all about having the right relationship with HIM.

15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. 

Those who place their faith in JESUS have been redeemed from the slavery of sin and its consequence, eternal death. You are no longer alienated from JESUS or GOD. You have been born in your spirit to become a child of GOD and as such privy to knowing the mind and heart of GOD.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

As kids, when we played baseball or football, we chose our team players. Of course, we wanted to have the best players on our team. Those who did not measure up to our standard, were left to last or possibly not chosen.

But guess what? JESUS said, “I choose you!” I want you on MY team and I want you to be grafted into MY vine and I want you to produce fruit that will last. I want you to keep on being producers of fruit because when you are it is evidence that you are Spiritually healthy and the rewards are eternal. MY vitality is flowing through ME to you.

17 This is what I command you: love one another.

What is the measure? It is measured not only by the fruit produced but just as important, it is reflected by your love for one another!

The only way we can love like CHRIST is to be a healthy branch grafted into the true vine, JESUS. Are you a healthy branch? If not confess it and ask JESUS to reveal why not. Ask HIM to help you become a healthy branch and bear fruit. Blessings!!!