John 15:1-17 NIV

“Remain in Me” JOHN 15:1-17

The Vine - Jesus The Vinedresser – God The Branches - Us Verse 1

John 15:2-4 (NIV) 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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.

John 14:20 (NIV) On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Righteousness is not EARNED…it is a gift We become righteous when we accept the blood of Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins. We are washed clean of our sins and purified by the blood of Christ. Righteousness is not EARNED…it is a gift

Romans 8:12-16 (NIV) 12 “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Romans 5:17 (NIV) “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”

Romans 3:21 (NIV) 21 “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

I Corinthians 6:11 (NIV) 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord.

How Do We Remain in Christ? Allow the Holy Spirit to Work in Your Life

John 14:15-17 (NIV) 15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Not Allowing the Holy Spirit to Flow Ephesians 4:30 - “…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” I Thessalonians 5:16-19 - 16 “Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”

How Do We Remain in Christ? Allow the Holy Spirit to Work in Your Life Hang with Jesus

“The moment we feel we can succeed and attain victory over sin by the strength of our will alone is the moment we are worshipping our will.” Richard Foster Celebration of Discipline

Colossians 2:20-23 (NLT) 20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Spiritual disciplines don’t EARN you righteousness…they are designed to put you in the position to RECEIVE righteousness from God.

Disciplines of the Spiritual Life The path does not produce the change; it only places us where the change can occur. This is the path of disciplined grace! Disciplines of the Spiritual Life Heresy of Antinomianism Moral Bankruptcy through the absence of human striving Heresy of Moralism Moral Bankruptcy through human striving for righteousness “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard J. Foster

If we want to ‘Remain in Jesus Christ’ we MUST… Allow the Holy Spirit to work with and flow through us. Exercise the Spiritual Disciplines with the understanding they only LEAD us to the place God can then change us.

Disciplines of the Spiritual Life The path does not produce the change; it only places us where the change can occur. This is the path of disciplined grace! Disciplines of the Spiritual Life Heresy of Antinomianism Moral Bankruptcy through the absence of human striving Heresy of Moralism Moral Bankruptcy through human striving for righteousness “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard J. Foster