Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to the previous sermons: Without Him We Can Do Nothing - John 15:4-5
Abiding in Christ - John 15:4-5
Christ's Words Abiding in Us - John 15:7
In John 15:16 our Lord Jesus Christ presented the truth, saying, “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.”
In this verse our Lord is speaking to His own, to those who have received Him through faith as their personal and eternal Savior from sin. Even so, in the opening portion of the verse, we who are Christ’s own through faith in Him find two truths concerning our present Christian lives in this world. First, we find a truth concerning our place in this world. Second, we find a truth concerning our purpose in this world.
This sermon is a companion to the previous sermons: Without Him We Can Do Nothing - John 15:4-5
Abiding in Christ - John 15:4-5
Christ's Words Abiding in Us - John 15:7
In John 15:16 our Lord Jesus Christ presented the truth, saying, “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.”
In this verse our Lord is speaking to His own, to those who have received Him through faith as their personal and eternal Savior from sin. Even so, in the opening portion of the verse, we who are Christ’s own through faith in Him find two truths concerning our present Christian lives in this world. First, we find a truth concerning our place in this world. Second, we find a truth concerning our purpose in this world.
Our Place in This World
Concerning our place in this world, our Lord teaches us that we are a chosen and ordained people, chosen and ordained by our Lord Himself. In John 15:16 our Lord declared, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.” So then, what does it mean that we are a chosen and ordained people?
First, being a chosen and ordained people means that we believers are a special treasure in our Lord’s sight. In the opening portion of 1 Peter 2:9, God’s Word proclaims, “But ye are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” Herein the word “peculiar” does not carry the meaning of “strange or odd.” Rather, it carries the meaning of “a special possession.” Indeed, it refers to those who are separate from the crowd. Yet herein it does refer to those who are separate because they are strange, but to those who are separate because they are special. Brethren, we are chosen out of this world as a special people for the Lord our God and Savior. We are called out of the power of spiritual darkness into the kingdom of our Lord’s marvelous light. We are no longer hopelessly lost in our sin, but are now called and chosen as the eternal citizens of heaven and as the dear children of God. The Lord God of heaven and earth Himself has chosen us as a special and precious inheritance for Himself. Even so, Psalm 33:12 proclaims, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Second, being a chosen and ordained people means that we believers have a specific accountability to our Lord’s authority. In the opening of John 15:16, our Lord Jesus Christ specifically stated, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.” We are the ones who were chosen; He is the One who has chosen us. We are the ones who were ordained; He is the One who has ordained us. We are the chosen and ordained servants; He is the Lord and Master over our service. Therefore, we the servants must give an account to our Lord and Master concerning how we have served. Even so, Romans 14:12 declares, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Even so, 2 Corinthians 5:10 adds, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ [before our Lord and Master who chose us and ordained us]; that every one may receive the things done his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” So then, as a chosen and ordained people, we are the precious treasure of our Lord, who must give a specific accounting to our Lord.
Third, being a chosen and ordained people means that we believers have a spiritual purpose from our Lord’s hand. In fact, this spiritual purpose is that responsibility for which we must give specific accounting to our Lord. Even so, 1 Peter 2:9 reveals this purpose, saying, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [special] people, [Why?] that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Again Ephesians 2:10 reveals our purpose, saying, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [For what purpose?] unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Yet again Titus 2:14 reveals our purpose, indicating that our Savior Jesus Christ “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Finally, in John 15:16 our Lord Jesus Christ revealed our spiritual purpose as His chosen and ordained people, saying, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, [Why?] that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” Yea, this leads us to the second truth of John 15:16 concerning our lives in the world.
Our Purpose in This World
Concerning our purpose in this world, our Lord teaches us that He has chosen us and ordained us so that we might go and bring forth spiritual fruit. This is the calling of our Lord and Master upon our lives – that we should go and bring forth spiritual fruit. This is the definition of a truly successful Christian life – that we should go and bring forth this spiritual fruit. This is the way that our Christian lives will truly be unto the glory of God our heavenly Father – that we should go and bring forth much spiritual fruit. Even so, in John 15:8 our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” Yea, this is the way that we might walk worthy of and pleasing to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as His faithful disciples – that we should go and bring forth much spiritual fruit. Even so, Colossians 1:10 states, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, [How?] being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
This is the reason that God our heavenly Father chastens us when we walk in disobedience – that we might go and bring forth “the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” Even so, Hebrews 12:11 reveals the truth, saying, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” This is the reason that the Lord our God and heavenly Father performs such a painful work of purging and pruning so many things from our lives – that we might go and bring forth even more spiritual fruit. Even so, in John 15:1-2 our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, “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.”
Yea, this is the great purpose for which we are required to be faithfully abiding in Christ and allowing Christ to be abiding in us – that we should go and bring forth much spiritual fruit to the glory of the Father. Even so, in John 15:4-5 our Lord gave instruction, saying, “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. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, that same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Certainly, brethren, it must be understood that we cannot bring forth any spiritual fruit without abiding in Christ. Yet it must also be understood that the very purpose for our abiding in Christ is that we might bring forth much spiritual fruit. So then, brethren, are our present Christian lives characterized by such fruit bearing?
Concerning our place in this world, our Lord teaches us that we are a chosen and ordained people, chosen and ordained by our Lord Himself. In John 15:16 our Lord declared, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.” So then, what does it mean that we are a chosen and ordained people?
First, being a chosen and ordained people means that we believers are a special treasure in our Lord’s sight. In the opening portion of 1 Peter 2:9, God’s Word proclaims, “But ye are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” Herein the word “peculiar” does not carry the meaning of “strange or odd.” Rather, it carries the meaning of “a special possession.” Indeed, it refers to those who are separate from the crowd. Yet herein it does refer to those who are separate because they are strange, but to those who are separate because they are special. Brethren, we are chosen out of this world as a special people for the Lord our God and Savior. We are called out of the power of spiritual darkness into the kingdom of our Lord’s marvelous light. We are no longer hopelessly lost in our sin, but are now called and chosen as the eternal citizens of heaven and as the dear children of God. The Lord God of heaven and earth Himself has chosen us as a special and precious inheritance for Himself. Even so, Psalm 33:12 proclaims, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Second, being a chosen and ordained people means that we believers have a specific accountability to our Lord’s authority. In the opening of John 15:16, our Lord Jesus Christ specifically stated, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.” We are the ones who were chosen; He is the One who has chosen us. We are the ones who were ordained; He is the One who has ordained us. We are the chosen and ordained servants; He is the Lord and Master over our service. Therefore, we the servants must give an account to our Lord and Master concerning how we have served. Even so, Romans 14:12 declares, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Even so, 2 Corinthians 5:10 adds, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ [before our Lord and Master who chose us and ordained us]; that every one may receive the things done his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” So then, as a chosen and ordained people, we are the precious treasure of our Lord, who must give a specific accounting to our Lord.
Third, being a chosen and ordained people means that we believers have a spiritual purpose from our Lord’s hand. In fact, this spiritual purpose is that responsibility for which we must give specific accounting to our Lord. Even so, 1 Peter 2:9 reveals this purpose, saying, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [special] people, [Why?] that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Again Ephesians 2:10 reveals our purpose, saying, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus [For what purpose?] unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Yet again Titus 2:14 reveals our purpose, indicating that our Savior Jesus Christ “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Finally, in John 15:16 our Lord Jesus Christ revealed our spiritual purpose as His chosen and ordained people, saying, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, [Why?] that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” Yea, this leads us to the second truth of John 15:16 concerning our lives in the world.
Our Purpose in This World
Concerning our purpose in this world, our Lord teaches us that He has chosen us and ordained us so that we might go and bring forth spiritual fruit. This is the calling of our Lord and Master upon our lives – that we should go and bring forth spiritual fruit. This is the definition of a truly successful Christian life – that we should go and bring forth this spiritual fruit. This is the way that our Christian lives will truly be unto the glory of God our heavenly Father – that we should go and bring forth much spiritual fruit. Even so, in John 15:8 our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” Yea, this is the way that we might walk worthy of and pleasing to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as His faithful disciples – that we should go and bring forth much spiritual fruit. Even so, Colossians 1:10 states, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, [How?] being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
This is the reason that God our heavenly Father chastens us when we walk in disobedience – that we might go and bring forth “the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” Even so, Hebrews 12:11 reveals the truth, saying, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” This is the reason that the Lord our God and heavenly Father performs such a painful work of purging and pruning so many things from our lives – that we might go and bring forth even more spiritual fruit. Even so, in John 15:1-2 our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed, “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.”
Yea, this is the great purpose for which we are required to be faithfully abiding in Christ and allowing Christ to be abiding in us – that we should go and bring forth much spiritual fruit to the glory of the Father. Even so, in John 15:4-5 our Lord gave instruction, saying, “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. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, that same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Certainly, brethren, it must be understood that we cannot bring forth any spiritual fruit without abiding in Christ. Yet it must also be understood that the very purpose for our abiding in Christ is that we might bring forth much spiritual fruit. So then, brethren, are our present Christian lives characterized by such fruit bearing?