Capital Baptist Church Livestream

ROOTED IN CHRIST Pruning Away Sin Pastor Steve Reynolds Introduction: 
A. Let’s deepen our roots in Christ! Let us obey Colossians 2:6-7a which says, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” Deep spiritual roots will not and cannot happen by accident. They must be intentionally cultivated. God is the divine gardener, who has our spiritual maturity as His ultimate goal. Jesus used agricultural imagery to describe this process. 
B. Attend the Rooted In Christ Teaching Series to deepen your roots in Christ through planting, growing, pruning and harvesting. Discover a more fruitful and stronger kingdom life. 
June 1 Planting The Seed 
June 8 Growing In Maturity 
TODAY Pruning Away Sin 
June 22 Laboring In The Harvest 
C. TEXT: John 15:1-11 
Key Verse: 
2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2

HOW TO PRUNE AWAY SIN 
I. 
GOD HAS A GREEN THUMB The believer’s constant union and communion with Christ is taught in the metaphor of the vine and the branches. 
A. God the Father is the master gardener. 1 “…and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1b 
B. God the Son is the life-giving true vine. 1 “I am the true vine…” John 15:1a 5 “I am the vine…” John 15:5a 
C. We are to be abiding branches. 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:4-6 The word “abide” appears nine times in John 15:1-11. It means to stay connected with Jesus. 
II. GOD WILL PRUNE AWAY SIN Pruning in agriculture means to trim by cutting away dead or overgrown branches and stems to increase fruitfulness and growth. 
A. The Gardener cuts off sin so that fruit comes forth. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2

5 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:5-6, 11 
B. The fruit is being like Jesus. 13 “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” Ephesians 4:13 
C. Notice the progression of fruit bearing: 
• No fruit (15:2a) 
• Fruit (15:2b) 
• More fruit (15:2c) 
• Much fruit (15:5) 
III. GOD USES THE BIBLE TO PRUNE AWAY SIN The Bible is God’s primary “pruning tool.” A. You are made clean through the Word. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” John 15: 3 25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

B. Hide God’s Word in your heart to live clean. 9 “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:9-11 IV. ENJOY THE RESULTS OF ABIDING IN CHRIST Jesus gives three results that happen when you abide in Christ. A. Jesus’ words abide in you. 7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8 
B. Jesus’ love abides in you. 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.” John 15:9-10 
C. Jesus’ joy abides in you. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 PRUNE AWAY SIN IN YOUR LIFE

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