John 15:1-17
Remain in Jesus and Grow Fruit
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 14:6
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Jesus is the One Mediator to God
1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
Plants and vines grow...And faith, like the plant, is a process, a growing process...Faith is a process, a growing process...Faith is seeking through this process...Faith seeks the Truth...And faith needs to grow, so that it will be more fruitful...As one's faith grows it will be stronger and better at recognizing things...As one faith grows it is easier to recognize the Truth and the True Vine...As one's faith grows, we remain connected with the Truth...When we disconnect from the True Vine, we can no longer bear fruit...As our faith grows things open up better...We better see goodness...And our hope increases -as one's faith increases...
It is important to realize that we will not always agree with the Truth, but our agreement or disagreement (on Truth) does make something untrue...We may believe in something or things that are not true...Truth is not Truth just because it is something we would like it to mean or like it to be...
Jesus claims a uniqueness...If we do not remain in Him, we cannot bear fruit by ourselves...He is the connection and Mediator to His Father...St. Paul says He is the only Mediator to God...St. Paul also teaches us that God wants all people to be saved and come to this knowledge of the Truth...We must remain in the True Vine, and the Truth to be fruitful...Jesus tells us that no one can get to the Father except through Him...For our faith to mature, we need to realize that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...
Since Jesus stood up and said He is Truth two thousand years ago...So (for believers), we can see that our faith is connected to the Truth and this knowledge of the Truth...One with a strong faith recognizes this as Truth...