HE IS OUR LIFE! HE IS OUR "I AM".

     In John 15:1-11; John introduces us to Jesus by seven "I Am" statements and these statements reveal Christ to those who read His gospel about the nature and person of Christ. We need to study these statements so we can know Christ and what it is He calls us to. 

     One of the early things we need to know about Christ is that He is our life! We will not succeed if we ever think it is us that makes our spiritual life work. While we may have some responsibility for our spiritual growth, it is really the work of Christ that gives rise to our life.

     Some years ago, the Associated Press released a study done by an agricultural school in Iowa. It reported that production of 100 bushels of corn from one acre of land, in addition to the many hours of the farmer's labor, required 4,000,000 pounds of water, 6,800 pounds of oxygen, 5,200 pounds of carbon, 160 pounds of nitrogen, 125 pounds of potassium, 75 pounds of yellow sulfur, and other elements too numerous to list. In addition to these things, which no man can produce, rain and sunshine at the right time are critical. It was estimated that only 5% of the produce of a farm can be attributed to the efforts of man. If we were honest, we'd have to admit that the same is true in producing spiritual fruit.

     It is imperative that we understand the importance of "remaining" in Christ for our spiritual life. It is not enough to make a 'profession of faith' if it is not followed by a 'practice of faith'! The Bible teaches us that our spiritual life will falter if we don't actively remain in Christ and produce fruit, in fact, we can die spiritually if we live a totally fruitless life! 

     What About Fruitless Branches:  John 15:1-2a; says,  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 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. And John 15: 6; says, 

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.

     As John introduces us to Christ here as a "vine," he makes it quite clear that those branches that produce no fruit will be cut off! These are branches that have been attached to the vine. It is clear that John is teaching here that branches that started off attached but produce no fruit whatsoever will be terminated and cast aside. There is nothing more tragic than to accept Christ as your Savior but then go on to live like you always did before and produce no spiritual fruit whatsoever! It is not "once saved, always saved.” It is "once saved, remain saved"! You cannot cut off a branch that is not attached already!

     It is a great tragedy when a believer or a Church moves away from any fruitfulness and finally finds itself lost. A complete loss of any fruitfulness is necessary to be removed.

• Judas Iscariot found himself cut away by his choices to turn against Christ whom he had earlier served.
• King Saul who earlier in his life had been anointed by God found himself cut away from God and His Spirit through unfruitfulness.
• Demas in I Timothy 4:10;  is said to have deserted the Apostle Paul because he loved the present world and evidently had returned to it rather than produce spiritual fruit.

 John 15:6; says, 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. When a branch once attached ceases to demonstrate any life in it, it must be removed in order to keep disease from spreading into the healthy parts of the plant. Thus the dead branches are condemned, cut, and thrown away. They are only good for a brief moment of heat by burning.

     Folks, here me!!!!  The condemnation of rejecting Christ will be eternal fire! Please come to Him today and make Him Lord of your life. You will be happy you did.

Blessings,

Pastor Bob & Daphne Coutts