Understanding The Meaning of a Text

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much FRUIT; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much FRUIT, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has LOVED me, so have I LOVED you. Now remain in my LOVE. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my LOVE, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his LOVE. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

My command is this: LOVE each other as I have LOVED you. Greater LOVE has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear FRUIT- FRUIT that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: LOVE each other.”

SOME BASIC RULES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION Consider the historical context: WHO is being spoken to? WHY? WHEN? WHAT did it mean to them? Ch. 13 to 17 = Jesus’ final words of comfort to his disciples before his arrest (the importance of context.) Had invested 3.5 years with them. Concerned for Them. Takes Them Privately to an upper room for passover.

READ JOHN 13:1-15 For the rest of the chapter, Jesus emphases the importance of loving each other! JOHN 14 - JESUS PROMISES TO THEM; 1.Don’t worry I’m going to prepare a place for you in heaven! 2.You’re going to be able to pray & ask for anything in my name (vs 12-14) 3. I’m going send my Holy Spirit to live in you & comfort you (vs 15-25) 4.I’m giving you the Gift of Peace. Don’t be troubled or worry! (vs 27-31)

JOHN 14:31 “Come now, let’s leave this place.” He concludes his object lesson with these words: VS.11 “I’ve told you these thing so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete!” What’s the odds of Jesus giving his last words of encouragement to his dearest friends by saying: “You’ll lose your salvation & burn in hell if you don’t bear fruit” THEN “I’ve told you this so you’ll be full of joy!!” THE CONTEXT MAKES THAT INTERPRETATION NONSENSE!

2.DEFINE THE KEY WORDS Ever had an argument because you meant different things with same word? “Love” = mentioned 9 times “Fruit” = mentioned 9 times “Fruit” & “Fruitful” = 44 times in New Testament Karpos

YOU CANT JUST ASSUME THE MEANING OF A WORD! Mt.3:8 “the fruit of repentance” Mt.26:29 “the fruit of the vine” (communion wine) Rom.7:5 “we bore fruit for death” (sinful lifestyle) Rom.15:28 “received this fruit” (offering of money) Gal.5:22 “fruit of the spirit” (9 godly attitudes) Eph.5:9 “the fruit of light” (truth, righteousness, goodness) Col.1:6 “this gospel is bearing fruit and growing” (new believers) Heb.13:15 “praise to God - the fruit of our lips” So what is the definition of “fruit” in John 15? What is Jesus meaning when he says we must bear fruit in this context?

3.INTERPRET UNCLEAR VERSES WITH CLEAR ONES! In this passages we find 3 clear characteristics growing spiritual fruit: VS.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.” BEARING FRUIT is produced by remaining in Christ “REMAIN” = to stay, continue, abide, endure, lasting (Greek: MENO)

VS.8 “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” BEARING FRUIT brings glory to God VS.11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” BEARING FRUIT will give me complete joy.

4.LOOK FOR THE MOST OBVIOUS MEANING. Don’t try to make every detail in a story to mean something. When you let the text speak for itself, the meaning of fruit becomes obvious: JOHN 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you!” REMAINING IN CHRIST PRODUCES answered prayers!

14:13 “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Answered prayers BRINGS GLORY TO GOD! 16:24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete!” o Answered prayers GIVES ME COMPLETE JOY!

James 4:2 “You do not have, because you do not ask God!” VS.16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name!” I BEAR FRUIT BY ASKING IN PRAYER!

MY PERSONAL APPLICATION MATT. 7:24 “Everyone who hears these word of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.” We need to stop talking about prayer and just pray!

Understanding The Meaning of a Text