Now, this morning we're looking
at a very well-known scripture, John 15. Look at verse 1. John 15, verse 1. The Lord says,
I am. I am. We could stop right there
and spend the rest of the day talking about Christ being God
Almighty, the great I am that I am. The Lord here describes
Himself using this grapevine, this vineyard that he's passing
through, and he uses this occasion as a parable to teach us the
gospel. I am the true vine and my father,
speaking about God the Father, he is the husbandman. That is,
he's the owner and he's the vine dresser. He's the one who prunes
his vineyard. Well, I'm thinking the obvious
title for this message has to be Christ the True Vine. The True Vine, as it is stated
in verse 1. The Lord Jesus Christ, He's true,
He is truly God, He is the true God and Savior. Beside Him there
is no other God, the only just God and Savior. We have seen and we've studied
in the Gospel of John, the Lord using different symbols, metaphors,
if you will, to describe Himself and His work. I think at this
point in our study, it would be good for us to look back and
look at them one more time. They all begin with that saying
that we read in Exodus chapter 3, I am that I am. Now remember what we've seen? Turn back to John chapter 6 and
let's review for just a moment. This is always a good exercise
for us to do. And it'll become fresh to your
mind quickly. John chapter 6, the Lord said
unto them, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall
never hunger. He that believeth on me shall
never thirst. Are you hungry? Christ is our
bread. He's sufficient for everything
we need before our great God. And then we read this one in
John chapter 8 verse 12. John chapter 8 verse 12. The Lord spake unto them again
saying, I am the light. of the world. He that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The Lord Jesus Christ is a revelation of life, eternal life and salvation
that we have only in Him. Now, the other one that I want
to look at over here in John 8, 58, The Lord says, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. The Lord Jesus is that eternal
God from everlasting to everlasting. Thou art God alone. One other that we have found
in John chapter 10 verse 7. John chapter 10 verse 7. Barely,
barely, I say unto you, I am the door. Now notice in all these
symbols that he uses, he uses things that we can naturally
relate to. Bread. Everybody knows what bread
is. Everybody appreciates light, whether it be artificial light
or the light of the sun. It illuminates things so we can
see Christ is our light. And then everybody understands
the purpose of a door. A door is access and means of
entrance. And the Lord says here, I am
the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me
are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he
shall be saved and shall go in and out. I always wondered about
that in and out. It's not like we're saved and
lost and lost and saved and back and forth and back and forth.
We go into eternal life and out of death. And we find the Lord
Jesus Christ is plenty. We find him as the green pastures
of the word. And then also in John chapter
10, the Lord describes himself as the good shepherd. The good
shepherd who cares for the sheep, who owns the sheep, who defends
the sheep, who even gives his life for the sheep. You see verse
14, I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and I'm known
of mine. As a father knoweth me, even
so I know the father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
I am the good, good shepherd. And then in John chapter 11,
verse 25, the Lord describes himself as the resurrection and
the life. The Lord said in verse 25 of
John 11, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth
in me, Though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever
liveth and believeth in thee shall never die. Do you believe this? Yes, Christ
is our resurrection, and he is our life, because he lives, we
shall live in him. Now you remember John chapter
14, turn over there, John chapter 14, Thomas asked
that question, how can we know the way? And the Lord said, I
am the way, the truth, the life, no man comes unto the Father,
but by me. That pretty well covers everything,
doesn't it? The Lord Jesus Christ is the
way, not a way, the way. He is that truth. The Lord said, you shall know
the truth, and the truth will set you free. And He certainly
is our salvation. And certainly no one can approach
unto God apart from Christ. He is that door. He is our Savior. He is our salvation. And that brings us back to John
15 verse 1. The Lord said, I am not just
divine, but I am the true vine. The true vine. Now the significance
of the Lord Jesus Christ using those two words, I am, to describe
himself, it's not a mere coincidence, is it? Everything God does, He
does on purpose. Everything He says, He says on
purpose. Because it's the same person
that speaks from the burning bush unto Moses. We read in Exodus chapter 3 verse
4, God called unto him out of the midst of that burning bush.
Who called? Moses, Moses, Moses. God called. I am that I am. The Lord Jesus
Christ is God. I and my father are one. We studied
that in John 10 and John 14, where the Lord said to Philip,
Philip said, show it to father. He said, you've seen me, you've
seen the father. I'm the father, we are one. Now what is the consequence
of those who do not believe that Jesus Christ is the I am? that he is God. Some believe
him to be just a mere prophet like, you know, Jesus is a lot
like Mohammed. He's one of God's prophets, some
people say. Some believe him to be a mere
prophet sent from God. Some like Nicodemus believe him
to be a great teacher. Some even think that he is a
great miracle worker, like some others, or a reformer, or a mere
earthly king to deliver us from hardship, to make life, you know,
a little bit easier. Blue sky and green lights and
bank account full of money and, you know, all our problems go
away when Jesus comes in. Does it? The Lord said, I am that I am. Those who believe not that Jesus
Christ is God shall die in their sin. That's pretty serious business,
isn't it? Now, why do I say that so dogmatically? Because that's what God teaches
in his word. Turn back to John chapter eight,
Let's read this one more time. Those who believe not Jesus Christ
is God, God our Savior shall die in their sin. John 8 24,
I said therefore unto you that you shall die in your sin for
if you believe not that I am, you shall die in your sin. Now,
that is plain as it can be said. Jesus Christ is God. He that believeth on the Son
hath everlasting life. He that believeth not the Son
shall not see life, but the, what? Wrath of God abides on
him. Now some people think, well,
preacher, that's just too narrow. Well, my dear friend, the way
of salvation is just that narrow and that straight. That's it. There's salvation in no other
than the Lord Jesus Christ who is called in scripture God our
Savior. Now don't turn. Let me just read
this to you. Enter ye in at the straight gate.
For wide is the gate, broad is the way that leads to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat. Because straight is
the gate, narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it. It is a narrow, restricted way. Every time you go down a street
in a big city and you see a sign that says, one way. You ever seen those signs? Don't
drive down that street the wrong way. If you do, you're going
to have trouble. Every time you see that sign,
one way. What should you think of? Christ
is that one way. Neither is there salvation in
any other for there's no other name under heaven given among
men whereby we must be saved. Now turn to John 15 verse 23
for just a minute. If any man love not the Lord
Jesus Christ, you remember the Apostle closing his epistle to
the Corinthians? If any man love not the Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha, let him be damned
when the Lord comes. And it says here in John 15,
23, he that hateth me hates my Father also. Well, I just love
God, but I can't stand Christ. You hate both. You're a hater
of God, not a lover of God. Men by nature love darkness,
not light. You see, no man comes to the
Father without the Lord Jesus Christ. He is all and in all. Now, with that introduction,
let's begin our study here in John 15 and pray that God the
Holy Spirit will lead us in the way of Christ, be our teacher
as we sit at His feet this morning. Take off our shoes. in our heart
and sit before the Lord Jesus Christ and learn of Him. I want
to learn of Him. I want to know more, more, we
sing that song, more about Jesus, what I know, more of His saving
grace, more of His love to others show. Now let's look at verse
1, John 15, I am the true vine. I am the true vine, my Father,
my Father. The Lord Jesus Christ using this
grapevine. That's what it is, a grapevine.
The Lord Jesus Christ describes himself as the true vine. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
only genuine, real way of salvation. All others that came before are
thieves and robbers. We read that just a moment ago
in John chapter 8. All others are fakes, counterfeits,
and phonies. They're salvation only in Christ
alone. All spiritual blessings are found
in Him. They come through Him and are
by Him. And my friend, they are in Him,
aren't they? In Him, He has blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. In Christ Jesus. In Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. And in Him, we are complete. Only in Him do we stand completely
justified, completely righteous, completely forgiven, and pardoned
in Christ Jesus. Now when the Apostle said, I
count everything else lost, dung, and ruined, that I may win Christ
and be found in Him. Now when the Lord comes back,
we talked about that this morning in our Bible study, when He comes
back the second time without sin into salvation, I don't want
to be found anywhere else but in Him. How about you? In Christ. Be found in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Believers are described as the
branches that derive all life nourishment from the true vine.
Believers are blessed to have union and communion with Christ
divine. Look at verse 5. Our Lord describes
himself and the branches. I am divine and you are the branches. that come forth from that vine. Now, the second thing we see
in verse 1, that the Father, God the Father, is the land owner
of the vineyard. God the Father is the husbandman,
the land owner, the vine dresser. He is the Lord God Almighty over
all things. This is His vineyard. This is
His creation. He owns it. He created it. He bought it. It's His. That
is, referring to the Lord Jesus Christ as the true vine, God
the Father established, blessed, and sent the Lord Jesus Christ
to be our Savior. In the fullness of the time,
God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law
to redeem them that were under the law. God the Father planted
the vine, the Lord Jesus Christ, planted the vine of Christ's
human nature, His body, and filled it with the graces of His Spirit.
He had the Holy Spirit without measure. God supported the vine. He laid help upon one that is
mighty. He upheld the vine as the mediator. He made it strong as our advocate,
our intercessor. He made it strong for purposes
of His grace and glory. And He took infinite delight being and bringing the Lord Jesus Christ
to be our God and our Savior, a plant of renown. God speaks
from heaven and said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased. Daily His delight, we read in
Proverbs 8 verse 30. I would daily His delight, rejoicing
always before Him. God speaks and said, this is
my son, hear him. I'm well pleased with him. God
is well pleased for his righteousness sake. He will magnify the law,
make it honorable. The Lord Jesus Christ is God's
designated savior vine, the true vine. Salvation is in him only. Now, having said that, look at
verse two. Every branch in me, Now the branch here is a picture
of a believer. Every branch in me that beareth
not fruit, he takes away, and every branch that beareth fruit,
he prunes it, he purges it, he works on it, that it may bring
forth more, more fruit. Now in these two verses here,
or in this verse rather, Verse 2. In this verse, two branches
are described. Two branches are described. True
branches and false branches. It's like the Lord gives in other
places, tares and wheat. Sheep and goats. That is in the
visible body of a congregation. We find true branches and we
find false ones. We find tares and we find wheat. We find sheep and we find goats. We find fruitful branches and
we find fruitless, barren branches. In every congregation there are
found believers and unbelievers. Being in religion or being a
member or group of a church or a cult is not being one with
Christ. Salvation is a branch being in
the vine, connected to the vine, being vitally united in a living
union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, the true vine,
as He is the head and we are the body. Believers are one in
Christ Jesus. Now remember from last week,
turn to John 14 verse 20. I talked about this thing of
union and communion with Christ. Verse 20 of John 14, At that
day shall ye know that I am in the Father, and ye in me, and
I in you. We're going to see this again,
this union with Christ. I call this a vital living union
and oneness with our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn to John
chapter 20, verse 22. The glory which thou hast given,
thou gavest me, I've given them, that they may be one as we are
one. Verse 23 of John 17, I in them,
thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. That the world may know that
thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Now don't turn, let me just read
this to you again. Over in Hebrews chapter two we
study, for both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are
all one. of which he is not ashamed, to
call them brethren." We are one in Christ Jesus. The vine and
the branch are one. What's true of the vine is true
of the branch. Now, let's consider these two
different branches. We see first of all that there
are branches that bear no fruit. There are branches that he takes
away. There are branches that he says
down here in verse 6, if a man, notice it says man, it doesn't
say if a believer abide not in me. But if a man abide not in
me, he is cast forward as a branch and is withered, and men gather
them, and they cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
So we see, first of all, the fruitless branches, described
as barren branches that have no fruit. Now we've seen a prime
example of this, and no doubt the Lord is referring to Judas,
who betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ. But also we've seen this in another
example of those who appear to be branches, or appear to be
disciples, or appear to be believers, and then when something happens,
they depart from Him. They never really were connected
to the vine. Judas is an example of that.
Simon Magus and Demas that forsook Paul. Now turn back to John chapter
6. And here's another example. John
chapter 6 and verse 65. Let's begin reading at verse
64 of John 6. But there are some of you that
believe not, For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that
believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore
said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were
given unto him of my father. From that time many of his disciples,
they appeared to be branches, they appeared to be followers.
But were they? No, they were fruitless. They
went back and walked no more. They did not abide in the vine,
did they? Then the Lord said to the twelve,
Will you also go away? And Simon Peter answered, Lord,
to whom shall we go? Now here's the fruit of the true
branches. Thou hast the word of eternal
life. And we believe and we're sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God. So there are many who give a
profession or make a profession. There are many who at one time
or another give an appearance of being branches, they give
an appearance of being in union with Christ, but when trial comes,
when difficult times come, or often I've seen it come this
way, when persecution comes over the gospel of God's grace, by
and by, they're offended and they walk away. They walk away. John referred to them in his
epistle in 1 John 2.19, he said, they went out from us because
they were not of us. If they would have been of us,
they would have continued with us abiding in the vine. Now let me show you an example
of this. The Lord gives this again in
a parable, another parable of a sower. Back in Matthew 13,
turn back over there. You see, the true branches are
known by abiding in the vine. Now, the Lord says here in Matthew
13 verse 18, Hear ye therefore the parable of a sower. When
any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it
not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which
is sown in his heart, this is he which received seed by the
wayside. But he that receiveth seed in
the stony places, the same as he that heareth the word, and
at once with joy he receives it, he appears to be a branch
in the vine, yet he has no root. He's not rooted and grounded
in Christ, but dureth for a while, he endures for a while, but when
tribulation or persecution arrives because of the Word, by and by,
he's offended. He also that receiveth seed among
the thorns is he that heareth the Word and the care of this
world, And the deceitfulness of riches choked the word, and
he becomes unfruitful." Unfruitful. The branch bears no fruit. But here's the description of
that branch grafted in the vine. He that receives seed in the
good ground is he that heareth the word and understands it,
which also beareth fruit. And bringeth forth some hundredfold,
some sixty, some thirty. You see the branches in the vine,
they bear fruit. While many profess to be professors
of religion, they are never Possessors of the Lord Jesus Christ. They
profess, but they don't possess Christ. They're not found in
Him. Oh, they're found in the church,
they're found in religious doing, they're found in all these activities,
but they're not found in Christ Jesus. Now, there are many warnings
in Scripture about this. Let's turn and read one of them.
Turn over here to Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews chapter 3. We could turn to others and read,
but let's find Hebrews chapter 3. We studied this not too long
ago, last year. Hebrews 3 verse 12, take heed,
take heed, that is pay attention, brethren, lest there be any in
you, in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from
the living God. But exhort one another daily
while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through
the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of
Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto
the end, abiding in the vine. Now stay here in the book of
Hebrews. Let's see if we can find one other verse on this.
I don't have this written down, but let's turn to Hebrews chapter
10. Now he says, verse 38, the just
shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw
back unto perdition, but unto them that believe to the saving
of the soul. God's sheep, he said, my sheep,
hear my voice. I know them, and they hear my
voice, and I give unto them eternal life, and no man can pluck them
out of my hand." While many give an appearance for a while that they are believers by their
association with other believers and by outward profession or
performance of church duties, in reality they really bear no
spiritual fruit. We are told to examine ourselves
whether we be in the faith. Now don't turn. Let me just read
this to you. There's another warning about that found in the
book of Jude, right before the Revelation. Let me just read
these words to you. He says concerning these who
appear to be branches but are not, they're fruitless and barren.
He said, these are spots in your feast of charity when they feast
with you, feeding themselves without fear, clouds they are
without water, carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withered,
without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots." Raging waves
of sea foaming out their shame wandering stars to whom is reserved
the blackness and darkness forever fruitless branches fruitless
branches God help us to examine ourselves whether we be in Christ
or just about Christ I want to be found in him and count everything
else dung ruin and loss and to be found a fruitful branch in
Christ bringing glory unto him." Now, here's the second thing.
Now he describes also the true branches, those who by the grace
and power of God are vitally united to the true vine, every
branch in me. Every branch in me. Now we're
given a description of the true vine. The true vine and the true
branches in that vine. Now, let's consider this. How
are believers put in the vine? How are believers put in the
vine? Do they put themselves in the
vine? Now even naturally speaking, when you look at a grapevine,
I've got a grapevine back here. And I trim it and I get fruit
from it. But the branches, they don't Put themselves in the vine,
they grow out of the vine, don't they? So, how are believers put
in Christ? Listen to this scripture. But
of him are you in Christ Jesus. Did you get that? But of him
are you in Christ Jesus. Not of him that willeth, nor
of him that runneth, but it's God that shows mercy. But of
him are you in Christ Jesus. Who of God is made unto us wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. We are chosen
in Him. We're going to see this. Turn
just one page over to John 15. We are chosen in Christ before
the foundation of the world. He chose us. We didn't choose
Him. He loved us first. Before we
ever knew him or loved him, the foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's
foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's
foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation
of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's
foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of God's foundation of Fruit, fruitful branches,
because He ordained this, that your fruit should remain, that
whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He'll give
it to you. Believers, are put in Christ by His choice,
by His will, by His purpose. Being born into the kingdom of
God according to His will, not according to the will of the
flesh or the will of man, but of God. By the one Spirit are
we all baptized into the one body. That's the new birth. 1 Corinthians 12, 12 and 13. Believers are united to Christ
by God-given faith. God-given faith looks one to
one person, looking unto Jesus Christ, the author and finisher
of our faith, looking unto Him. Saving faith is totally dependent
upon Him. Saving faith is always coming
to the Lord Jesus Christ. To whom coming? To whom coming?
Because true branches are in Christ, they do bear fruit from
the vine. The fruit of the Spirit is what?
Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, temperance,
goodness, faith. These things are of God. We read
in Matthew 13 a moment ago, he that receives seed into good
ground is he that heareth the word and understands it, which
also bears fruit. Psalm 100, Psalm 60, Psalm 30,
all believers Branches in the vine bear fruit
and it's Christ in us and us in him the fruitful branches
are also They also receive pruning look what it says in verse 2
he purchased it prunes it that it may bring forth more fruit
more fruit fruitful branches receive pruning from the hand
wise almighty God our father that they may bring more fruit
to his glory look at verse 8 John 15 verse 8 herein is my father
glorified that you bear much fruit so shall you be my disciples
now I thought of this illustration about pruning a grapevine. Have you ever pruned a grapevine?
Well, I've pruned a grapevine many, many times. I remember
years ago, I was down in Tennessee preaching for a pastor friend
of mine in Tennessee and I stayed with an older man who had a rather
large vineyard. He had several large grapevines. Matter of fact, he even dug some
of them up and I brought them home and planted them here. And
I asked him about pruning those grapevines. And he said, let
me tell you how to prune a grapevine. He said, prune everything that
you think needs to be pruned, and then step back and look at
it, and then go back in there and prune everything again. He
said, the point is, you can't overdo it. Prune it, prune it,
cut it, cut it, cut it, prune it some more, and when you think
you've pruned enough, prune a little more. Sometimes that's exactly the
way God works on the true branches. He cuts everything off that doesn't
give Him honor and glory that we might grow in grace in the
knowledge of Christ. He cuts off that pride, that
self-righteousness, that arrogance, puts us in the dust. that we
might give him all the honor and glory. Sometimes this pruning
comes by various trials. The Lord calls them precious
trials. The trying of your faith. Let's
turn and read that one more time. Turn over to 1 Peter chapter
1. The trying of our faith. This pruning, this pruning that
God does, sometimes it's a painful thing, but it's a necessary thing.
He prunes us. He cuts us back. We know that
that he gets all the honor, so that he gets all the honor and
glory. First Peter chapter 1 and verse 6. First Peter 1, 6. He
says, wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptation, that the
trial of your faith, being much more precious, precious than
of gold that would perish, though it be tried with fire, might
be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love, in whom though
now ye see him not, yet Believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable,
full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation
of your soul. Sometimes the Lord sends to us
from the hand of our loving Father precious trials to wean us from
the flesh, to cause us to see how we're totally dependent upon
Him. He says in this next verse down
here, verse 4 or 5, without me you can do Nothing, nothing,
nothing, nothing. There's one other verse I want
to read about this thing of pruning, how the Lord prunes us that we
might bring forth more fruit to His glory. In Hebrews chapter
12, turn over there, sometimes it comes by trials, other times
it just comes by the chasting of the Lord. In Hebrews chapter
12, Look at verse 5. And have you forgotten the exhortation
which speaketh unto you unto children? My son despise not
the chasing of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him, for whom the Father, for whom the Lord loveth, he chastens. You see, the husbandman prunes
his vineyard. Whom the Lord loveth, he chastens
and scourges every son whom he receiveth. If you endure a chastening,
God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom
the Father chasteth not? The chastening of love from the
Father's hand. But if you be without chastisement, you're
illegitimate, you're not a true son of God. Bastard is the word. Wherefore you're all partakers,
then are you bastards and not sons, not legitimate sons of
God. These chastening and these trials
come from the hand of our loving Father who sends these things
our way for our eternal good and His glory that He might receive
more fruit unto His glory. Now let's turn to one other scripture
on that. I'm going to wind this up, I think, with this verse.
Turn to Psalm 92. Psalm 92. And we'll pick up there next
week where the Lord says, you're all clean through the word what
I've spoken unto you. Psalm 92, this has been one of
my favorite scriptures over the years. You know, believers are also
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. But
in Psalm 92, look at verse 12. The righteous shall flourish,
fruitful. Now who are the righteous? How
are they righteous? Well, you know the answer, don't you? We're
only righteous in Christ. We're justified only in Him.
The Lord is our righteousness. The righteous shall flourish
because of Him. Like the palm tree he shall grow
like a cedar in Lebanon." We grow in grace and in the knowledge
of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, "...desire the sincere
milk of the word that you might grow thereby, those that be planted..."
You see that? "...planted in the house of the
Lord." There's the vineyard. There's the branches. "...planted
in the house of the LORD shall flourish fruitful in the courts
of our God. They shall still bring forth
fruit in old age. They shall be fat and flourishing. They shall be full of grace."
You remember in John chapter 1 where we studied of His fullness? of His fullness. We're full because
of Him. Of His fullness have we all received
grace for grace. Of His fullness have all we received
grace because of His fullness. They shall bring forth fruit
in old age. They shall be fat, full, flourishing, green, to
show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no
unrighteousness in Him. In Him. Now, we're going to end
up, we're going to close right there, and we'll come back next
week and we'll look at verse 3. Now you're clean to the Word,
and then we'll work on this phrase next week, abide in me. Abide
in me. He says this six or seven times
here in these few verses, stay put. Stay put. they put in the vine, abide in
me and I in you.