“Reproducing Righteousness”  --  John 15:1-17

 

Introduction:  How do we reproduce the righteousness of Christ? 

How can we determine righteousness in our lives.  There are two aspects
concerning the righteousness of the Saints.

1.  The Righteousness Of The Saints  -- Concerns Salvation

    a.  This righteousness is given to us by Christ the moment we

         receive Him as our Lord.  It is imputed righteousness.

    b.  Isa.  61:10  states we have been covered “with the robe of

         righteousness.”  We did nothing to attain it.

2.  The Righteousnesses Of The Saints  --  Concerns Service

    a.  According to Isa. 64:6 before we are saved our righteousnesses

         are as filthy rags.

    b.  In Revelation 19:8 states we will be clothed in fine linen which

         “is the righteousness of the saints”.  The word righteousness

         means “righteous acts or deeds”.   So he is not speaking of the

         imputed righteousness of Christ, but the practical righteousness

         produced in the believer’s life.

Now that we know we must produce righteousness to be an acceptable

servant, how do we accomplish it?  We must abide in Christ!

I.  The Nature Of Our Relationship

    A.  The Vine & The Branch Connected

         1.  Our connection is a living one.  The life, sap, fatness, and

             fruitfulness of the branch is communicated by the vine.

         2.  The branch does nothing to attain what it needs to produce

             fruit, it simply accepts what it receives from the vine.

         3.  The branch grows from the vine and is nourished by the vine.

         4.  Gal. 4:6 - “God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your

             hearts.” The life that was in Christ is now in us.  The Spirit

             of God connects us in a life-union that makes us one!

    B.  The Vine & The Branch Complete

         1.  Without the vine the branch can do nothing!

             a.  The branch owes the vine it life and fruitfulness.  The

                 daily flowing of the life-sap (Holy Spirit) from the vine

                 is the only way to produce fruit in the branches!

             b.  John 15:5 - “... without me ye can do nothing”

         2.  Without the branch the vine can do nothing!

             a.  A vine that has no branches can not produce fruit.  Just

                 as we are dependent upon Christ, he has made himself

                 dependent upon us.

             b.  Without you and I producing fruit, Jesus cannot extend to

                 the world his grace.

         3.  All the vine possesses belongs to the branch!  The whole

             purpose of the vine is to nourish the branch.  All that Jesus is

             in heaven and earth, he is for the believer.  John 17:22 - “The

             glory which thou gavest me, I have given them”

         4.  All the branch possesses belongs to the vine! The branch

             does not exist for itself.  Its only reason for existence is to

             produce for the vine.  We are to live for Christ

II.  The Necessity Of The Relationship 

    A.  Abide In Christ

         1.  Abiding -- “to remain”  -- to stay connected

         2.  The reason we have a hard time producing the fruit Christ

             desires in our life is because we do not live consistently in

             holiness in Christ. 

         3.  Ill.  --  When I was a kid I kept mowing down an apple tree

             my parents had planted in the backyard.  It never could

             produce fruit because I would not allow it to continue in

             growth.  After my mom put rocks around it to protect it, it

             produced it’s first apple five years later.  We are like this tree.

         4.  There are three things we need to abide in!

             a.  Christ -- Speaks of the need for purity -- vs. 4

             b.  Prayer  --  Speaks of the need for fellowship  -- vs. 7

             c.  Love  -- Speaks of the need for compassion -- vs. 9

    B.  Accept His Will

         1.  There are two things we must be willing to accept!

             a.  Cleansing  --  “purgeth” = “to cleanse”  any branch not

                 producing will be pruned as excess or waste.

             b.  Obedience  -- “keep my commandments” -- “keep” = “to

                 observe” -- A requirement of success is obedience.

         2.  Producing fruit is not Working to Accomplish but

             Willing to Accept  -- The vine does all the work.  The

             branch simply receives that which is needed to produce.

    C.  Accomplish His Purpose  -- Three things will be produced.

         1.  Fruit -- vs. 2a --      By Connection

         2.  More Fruit -- vs. 2b -- By Cleansing

         3   Much Fruit -- vs. 7  --  By Consistency

Conclusion:  If you are connected to Christ you will produce fruit, but the only
way you will produce much fruit is to allow Christ to purge

you, and then remain consistent.  You will be successful!

The Final Result  -- vs. 11 -- Your Joy will be Full!