Intro

((Due to an error on my part. I state this ((teaching to His disciples was after His ((crucifixion. This is not accurate. It was ((before. However it does not take away from ((the message. It just sbows I am only human.

Welcome to today’s podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Due to some feedback announcing the Strong’s reference numbers was confusing folks so I will still have them but they can be seen in my blog dreamwalker1960.com
Today we expand upon who is a lukewarm in John 15.
John 15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

The breakdown
Verse 1: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (KJV)
I – G1473 – ego – a primary pronoun of the first person. I (only expressed when emphatic.) [Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 2010] {Strong’s}
a – emphatic – done or said in a strong way and without any doubt [Cambridge Dictionary] {CD}
Here is where we need to go deeper though. For John, especially when quoting Jesus, there is a more profound and powerful imagery that comes out. With the simple word “I” Jesus shows His resurrected form. In these teachings that are given they do not follow the normal syntax. They reach to a new level like saying: “He is light. But He is the true and proper light which alone deserves this name.” [Theological Dictionary of the New Testament] {TDNT}
The true – G228 – alethinos – truthful – “true” which denotes the sense of real, ideal, genuine. [Strong’s]
In this deep look we see here Jesus saying “the true” He is not just speaking of “true” or “genuine.” He is actually saying “divine.” [TDNT]
a – divine – connected with a god or like a god. [CD]
Just in these four words (“I am the vine”) Jesus is showing that He is the true and divine vine, and no other can come to God except through being a branch upon His vine.
Father – G3962 – pater – a nourisher, protector, upholder; of the nearest ancestor. [Strong’s]
In the deeper study within TDNT it is showing us the “harmony of the Father and the Son.” Of the two working together for the good of those that are on the vine which is Jesus. {book V p. 999 – 1001}
The husbandman – G1092 – georgos – a land-worker, i.e. farmer, a vinedresser [Strong’s]
a – vinedresser – a person who cultivates and prunes grapevines [Dictionary.com]
Verse 2 – 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. (KJV)
Every – G3956 – pas- all things [Strong’s]
To quote the TDNT:
“The uniqueness of the NT view is that here all ideas of totality relate to a specific history of creation and salvation. As compared with the OT, the NT is distinguished especially by a richer soteriology.”
Soteriology – theology dealing with salvation as effected by Jesus Christ.
Branch – G2814 – klema – a limb or shoot [Strong’s]
a – shoot – the first part of a plant to appear above the ground as it develops from a seed, or any new growth on an already existing plant [CD]
b – limb – a large branch of a tree [CD]
Shoot, young twig, branch, shoot of the vine [TDNT]
So this means “Every branch both young and old upon the vine which is Jesus Christ,” as the next words state.
In – G1722 – en
“The ‘en’ of Fellowship in John. Exclusively in John’s Gospel and 1 John. We have a distinctive ‘en’ of religious fellowship.” [TDNT]
Meaning a free will relationship between the branch (humanity), the Vine (Jesus Christ), and the Vinedresser (God).
Beareth – G5342 – phero – bear, bring forth [Strong’s]
Fruit – G2590 – karpos – of works or deeds [Strong’s]
“This power is fellowship with Christ.” [TDNT]
a – fellowship – a friendly feeling that exists between people who have a shared interest or are doing something as a group [CD]
He taketh away – G172 – airo – to take up or away; to take away what is attached to anything, to remove [Strong’s]
It is here that we come to an issue. In the many commentaries I read they go with the definition of “lift up,” which doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t even flow with the words of the Bible itself. When they translated the Bible to English in the early 1600s and then finalized it in 1611 they agreed upon the wording “he taketh away,” not “he lifteth up.” Those that made these commentaries made it sound as if they were lifting up to God those committing sin. This is contrary to the teachings within the Bible. We do not raise up the sin, we raise up ourselves to the altar seeking the removal of sin. Jesus Himself knew that this day would occur. So he repeats Himself in verse six and clarifies His meaning with more detail, which we will get to later. If their intent to say that the unfruitful are seeking forgiveness and wish to receive forgiveness and then to try to bear fruit. There can be some merit to that. However Jesus made Himself clear on this matter elsewhere in the Bible as well.
Revelation 3:15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
In John, Jesus states that God Himself will remove the branch that does not bear fruit. Not all branches that do not bear fruit laying upon the ground, but are a part of the vine itself.
Here in Revelation the Glorified Christ is making it clear that he will spit those out that are lukewarm. Using Christ’s words in John those that bear fruit would compare to those that are hot in the Revelation. So those that are cold in Revelation equates to those that deny Jesus altogether and live in sin. So that would mean that those that are lukewarm would be those that acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and so are a branch upon the vine, or were attached to the vine that is Jesus Christ. However, they bear no fruit and so are living in sin. So God takes them away in John and Christ spits them out in Revelation. Thus removing them from His fellowship cutting them from the vine. For very few fall upon the ground. Most stay on the vine unless they are cut off from it.
He purgeth – G2508 – kathairo – to cleanse, to prune, to expiate – purge
a – cleanse – to make something completely clean
b – expiate – to show that you are sorry for bad behavior by doing something or accepting punishment
c – purge – to make someone or something free of something evil or harmful.
That – G2443 – hina – in order that [Strong’s]
More – G4119 – pleion – more in quality, number or quality [Strong’s]
Verse 3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Now – G2235 – ede – at (or by) this time [Strong’s]
Ye – G5210 – hymeis – yourself, you [Strong’s]
Clean – G2513 – katharos – free from impure admixture, without blemish, spotless [Strong’s]
“In both John and 1 John the question of the full purity of Christians is discussed. It is affirmed absolutely in theory in John 15:3.” [TDNT]
Through – G1223 – dia – denoting the channel of an act [Strong’s]
The word – G3056 -logos – the teachings of Jesus to the disciples that eventually became the gospels.
“But the person who receives and keeps” the teachings of Christ (the word) is now clean [TDNT in quotations]
I have spoken – G2980 – laleo – the use of this word was to show that Jesus was like a parent talking to His children, at that point the disciples. But in turn to us at went on to the present.
Verse 4 – 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. (KJV)
Abide – G3306 – meno – remain, dwell, continue [Strong’s]
“…… God abides in Christ. Believers abide in Christ, and Christ in them. God abides in believers, and believers in God. The eschatological promise of salvation becomes immediate possession in virtue of this statement in the present tense.” [TDNT book IV pg. 576]
Cannot – ou(G3756), dynamai(G1410)
a: ou – also [Strong’s]
b: dynamai – to be able or possible, can, cannot, to be able to have power [Strong’s]
Bear – G5342 – phero – to bear, carry, being moved, borne along [Strong’s]
“The term has the special sense of bearing fruit…… the vine with branches that bear fruit.” [TDNT]
Of – G575 – apo – off, away (from something near) [Strong’s]
Except – G3362 – ean me – unless, except [Strong’s]
It abide – G3306 – meno – to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) [Strong’s] See meno above for TDNT
No more – oude(G3761), houto(G3779)
a: oude – nor however, neither, nor, not even
b: houto – in this way
Verse 5 – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (KJV)
And I – G2504 – kago – from kai and ego: likewise me
Much – G4183 – polys – much, many, great, abundant
Without – G5565 – choris – separately or apart from [Strong’s]
Me – G1700 – emou – of me, mine, my [Strong’s]
Do – G4160 – poieo – to make or do [Strong’s]
The use of this word “poieo” had it usage done primarily to the actions, works and miracles of Jesus Christ. [TDNT] The use here stating that only with Jesus in and with you can you do holy works.
Nothing – ou(G3756), oudeis(G3762)
a: oudeis – not even one, none, nobody, nothing [Strong’s]
“…for without me ye can do nothing.” Without having Jesus within you. You cannot bear fruit.
verse 6 – 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. (KJV)
A man – G5100 – tis – some or any person or object [Strong’s]
Me – G1698 – emoi – to me [Strong’s]
He is cast – G906 – ballo – to throw [Strong’s]
“To throw” or “to cast,” “to cast off fruit. ‘Often in the NT “ballo” is used in different ways in connection with the thought of judgement, partly as a committal to the element which exercises it. Partly of expulsion from the community of salvation, when used with “exo.” [TDNT]
Forth – G1854 – exo – out [Strong’s]
As – G5613 – hos – in that manner [Strong’s]
And – G2532 – kai – and, also, even, so, then, too. [Strong’s]
Is withered – G3583 – xeraino – to desiccate, to shrivel [Strong’s]
Men gather – G4863 – synago – sunago – to lead together, collect or convene, to entertain [Strong’s]
Them into – G1519 -eis – to or into [Strong’s]
The fire – G4442 – pyr – pur – fire [Strong’s]
A judgement [TDNT]
They are burned – G2545 – kaio – to set on fire, consume [Strong’s]
With the TDNT the emphasis of this word is keyed to self-burning. Voluntarily giving oneself over to be burned.
The main takeaways from the translation of this verse is if you accept Christ as your Savior and you choose not to follow his teaching and live a truly Christian life. You instead choose to live in the world of man which entertains you. You are broken off from the Divine Vine that is Christ and you are cast willingly into the fires of judgement. Which agrees with Revelation 3:15-16.
This also shows that we must actively and with full knowledge follow the teachings within the Bible and if it is called a sin in the Bible and we are told not to live in this fashion. Then that is what we MUST do as our part of this relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a one-sided relationship. We have an active part within it, which we need to do or we voluntary to lose our salvation and to be removed from Jesus and His Heavenly Father. This is verified in the next verse.
Verse 7 – If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (KJV)
Verse 8 – Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (KJV)
Herein – en(G1722), touto(G5129)
a: touto – to (in, with, or by) this (person or thing) [Strong’s]
Glorified – G1392 – doxazo – to render (or esteem) glorious [Strong’s]
Shall ye be – G1096 – ginomai – to cause to be, to become [Strong’s]
Disciples – G3701 – mathetes – a learner [Strong’s]
Summary
One important factor that needs to be made here. When Christ is giving this lesson to the disciples. He has been resurrected. This is after the crucifixion. So to see Jesus as the Divine Vine gives true meaning to that imagery.
He makes it clear that to be a part of Him upon this vine you are one with Him. So you are saved. So to be able to be on the vine you have had to be grafted onto the vine. Meaning to be saved. So again we see that those that are on the vine can stop bearing fruit. You can only not bear fruit when Jesus is not a part of you. If you were saved but Jesus is not a part of you then what are you? You are the lukewarm. And as seen in Revelation 3 you are seen as worse than those that that deny God altogether.
So as has been shown in this podcast and the previous one the lukewarm were a part of the body. They were saved. As can be seen here God Himself cuts these people from the vine and gives them over to humanity. And then ultimately due to these peoples own desires and intentions are cast willingly into the fires of judgement.
In my next podcast we will look at Mathew 7 to see how people are influenced to turn willingly away from Jesus and the salvation He offers unto us all.
Again go to dreamwalker1960.com to see my blog post for this podcast.
God bless