The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-10-29
THE suNpAY.soHool.
Christ the True vine-John 15,1-1e-
Memory Verses, 4, B.

LESSON FOR NOVEMBER ], 1891. |
GOLDEN TExT.-Herein is My Father glor1i
fed, that We bear much fruit.--John IS IS.
CENTRAL TRUTH.-Abiding In Christ Is th0
source Of the Christian life. its fruits and bleso-
ings.
TIME-Thursday evening. April 6, A. d. ~
ten or eleven o'clock, Immediately after To-
last lesson.
PLACE.-An upper room in Jerusalem.
CIRCUMsTANcEs.--At tho close Of the lasG
chapter the whole company arose and prepared
to leave the room; but Jesus had more to say,
and while thoy were standing He spoke chap
ters Is and lC, and the prayer In chapter n.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-"True vine:~
the source OF life TO all His disciples "Hus-
bandman:" the planter and owner Of the vine.
who cares for it. and whose is tho fruit. =
Every branch:" each individual Christian,
each church is q branch "Purgcth IT." cleans
eth It; by pruning, by taking away any insects
or fungus that hindcrs 1t, by culture, by new
life. So Jesus does with His disciples H0
cleaEseth the soul ~ by the operation OF tho
law that right doing develops right feeling.
and opens the heart to higher influences CHAP
7:1O; 2) by the sanctifying influences Of tho
Holy Spirit, which is given to each soul in tho
measure in which each proves itself worthy Of
and willing to receive Him; (3) by the discipline
of life which is the manifestation of Gods
special love to the soul (Heb. 1850. The object
Of all this redernptive work Is in order that tho
soul 'rncy bring forth moro fruit" This prun-
ing explains the reason for many Of our losses
and trials. 3. 'Now (already) yc are clcan:''
ceansed, as described in the previous verse.
Through" because of. account of, tho
word which have spoken unto you. You sro
already cleansed from past sin through your
acceptance of and obedience to My word Con-
scious CT their Ilpcrfcctions their late STRIFE
their weakness, they might fear lest they wero
not branches OF the true vine. Jesus comforts
thom with tho assurance that they are clcansed,
that they are bearing fruit, though they may
need further cleansing in order that they may
bring forth more fruit. T. abide in Me;" by
believing by loving, by communion, by obedi-
| ence. s. Much fruit" the fruits are holy
| character. good life. noble deeds. the CONVEX
| sion of others, the world made better. 2. ASK
| what ye WILL" ETC.: this promise is to those
| who abide IN Jesus and live according to His
| word. for such will! ask what is right and wise.
| 9. Continue ye in My love-" by obedience ".
1o). II. MY joy:' joy OF doing good, of loving,
of.free, healthy activity, of communion with God,
| Of faith and submission, of Heaven and all itS
| delights. Is. "Hencforth call you not serv-
ants:" they were to do His will, but not
| in servile manner, because they must,
nor merely from sense of duty. II have called
| you friends" He tells them His plans, He
works with them as friends, and they servo
Him because they love Him. 1a THAT your
fruit should rcman:" your work shall en-
| dure.
LESSON COMMENT.
Jesus here uses the vine as a life-giving
thing, the life-giving power which lay
in Himself Jesus says: 81 am the true
vine" This suggests that there are
vincs that are not "true." They are
spurious, and cannot rightly nourish
the branches so that they may bear
fruit. Those to whom Christ was speak
ing were in danger of thinking that
because they belonged to the vine of
Israel therefore they were ''all right.
Even the most selfish among the Jews
felt proud and self-satisfed in the claim:,
"We have Abraham to our father"
Therefore Christ taught them plainly
that He Himself alone was the ''truo
vine." All other vines were false,
degenerate" strange"
Are there any such vines left in our
days? Alas! yes. The same vine Of
Journalism remains. There is the vine
of culture" and the vine of "science"
and the vine of PHILOSOPHY" each OF
which is lauded by some enthusiastic
advocate. Gather all these together,
tie them up in ono bundle and label
them all: False vines" For the Son
of God Himself said: ~ am tho
true vine." He who wants spirit
ual life can never get it from any
degenerate vine. All that he will do
rive from such vine is untruth and
self-complacence. When men can gather
grapes from thorns or figs from thistles
then only can they extract truth from
falsehood.
All professed believers claim to be
branches of the true vine. But not all
who claim to be united to the true vine
are really branches. How may we know
whether we are true branches of tho
true vine? Jesus tells us in the lesson
that 'fruit-bearing" is the test. by
their fruits we shall know them" He
who claims to belong to Jesus must
bear the fruits Of such union. If there
is no fruit of the spirit in persons
life, all the outward profession in tho
world cannot avail anything.
Now turn to the unfruitful branches.
They really never belonged to the vine.
What became of them? Jesus tells us
plainly in this lesson. They are cast
forth, wither, are gathered and burned.
Love never threatens falsely. Since,
then, He warns and threatens, we
know that that of which He warns men
has real existence. All, therefore,
who are not united to the ''true" vine,
Jesus Christ, are certain to perish for
ever when he shall come to Judgment
Rev. A. f. Schauf1er, d. D.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. Much fruit. Shows ~ that they
who bear much fruit are like Christ.
(a) 1t shows that they abide in Him, or
they could not bear such fruit. (s) 1t
shows that they have learned of Him.
az 1t shows that they obey Him.
2. The joy of Christ. This Joy is ~
the joy of a free activity in doing right.
(2) The joy of entire conservation and
submission to God. (S) The Joy OF
doing good, of self denial for others.
(4) The joy of perfect faith in. wise
and loving God.
g. How may we abide in Himp (1) By
faith; (2) by communion with Him; (s)
by doing His will.