SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 9 October 2022
Text: John 15:9-13
Subject: “Bears much fruit” John 15:5
INTRODUCTION
1. The Lord’s teaching about Love was deep
2. The following texts are to be noted:
a) The Lord’s love for His disciples is noted (John 13:1)
b) The new commandment was to love one another (John 13:34-35)
c) Love for the Lord and keeping His commandments (John 14:21-23)
ABIDING IN THE LORD’S LOVE
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:9-13
1. The Source of Love
a) The Father
b) The Son
2. The Nature of this Love
a) Divine
b) Spiritual
c) Pure
d) Eternal
e) Rich
f) Life-changing
3. The Example of the Lord Jesus
a) He abided in the Father’s love
b) He kept His Father’s commandments in love
c) A stirring example
4. A special love-command
a) To abide in the Lord’s love (John 13:9-10)
b) To keep His commandments (John 13:10)
c) To love one another as commanded (John 13:12)
5. An important comment about this Love
a) The blessing of Joy
i) It comes from His teachings
ii) The Joy of the Lord is to abide
iii) The Joy of the Lord is full
b) The command to practise love for one another
i) To love one another (repeated command cf. John 13:34-35)
ii) No greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend
RELATED TO FRUIT-BEARING
1. The focus and emphasis on Love is related to fruit-bearing
2. The fruit of the Spirit is one expression of fruit-bearing
A STARK CONTRAST
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
1. The works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)
a) These are evident
b) These are marks of one who will not inherit the kingdom of God