The Vine and The Branches

 

      In John 15:1-8 we find the lesson of "the vine and the branches." Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 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. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

 

      Who is the true vine? Christ is the "true vine." The last teaching He did among His disciples was designed to show the living union between Christ and His followers. Jesus literally said, "I, myself, am the vine, the real vine." The only way we can be fruitful is through our connection with Jesus, our Master. He is the only source of life for the branch.

 

      The true vine is "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) The true vine is "Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee." (Matthew 21:11) Jesus is unique. There has never been another to compare with Him. The officers that were sent to arrest Jesus said, "no man ever spoke like this Man!" (John 7:46) The true vine is the "Prince of peace." "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Christ is the true vine, the Son of God with power.

 

      Who are the branches? Some have thought and taught that the branches in this passage refer to denominations. They reason that the denominations are just various branches of the church. Jesus was speaking to His disciples when He said, "I am the vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5) The branches are the individual disciples. The Lord clearly stated that "a man" was a branch (not a denomination a branch.) "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 15:6)

 

      When a person repents and is baptized he becomes a Christian and is added to the church. (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:47) He becomes bound to Christ as a branch is to the vine.

 

      Branches (Christians) must abide in the vine. The branch must bear fruit. To be a fruitful branch one must abide in the vine. "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." (John 15:4) Those who do not abide in Christ are cast froth and burned as a fruitless branch. "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 15:6) The power to bear spiritual fruit is not ours. We are only a branch. The power to bear spiritual fruit comes from Christ, the true vine.

 

      Those who obey the word of God are the ones that abide in Christ. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7) There is no such thing as abiding in Christ without keeping His word. "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 15:10) Christians must know the word of God and practice it in their daily lives.

 

      Branches (Christians) must bear much fruit. You cannot be a true disciple (branch in Christ) if you do not bear much fruit. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:8)

 

      Christians must bear inwardly and outwardly. Much of the inward fruit will show in our outward life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24) The Christian life is a godly life that cultivates this fruit.

 

      Christians must bear fruit through evangelism. It is the responsibility of those who have been taught to then teach others. Paul said, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (II Timothy 2:2) We must sow the seed of the kingdom in the hearts of others. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11) Each of us must do everything in our power to bring souls to Jesus.

 

      Christians must bear fruit by doing good deeds of benevolence. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Christians bear fruit by practicing pure religion. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

 

      Branches (Christians) who do not abide in the vine will be burned. The end of the fruitless branch is both sad and tragic. Jesus said, "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) He also said, "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 15:6) It is possible for a person who has become a branch (come into Christ) to fail as a Christian because of a fruitless life and to be cut off and burned. Those who are "cast out as a branch" are no longer a part of Christ, "the true vine."

 

      Being fruitless Christian leads to being "cast out." Being a faithful Christian has the op­posite effect. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7-8) Are you a fruitful (faithful) branch in Christ the true vine?

 

      To become a Christian, you must hear the gospel (John 6:44-45), you must believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 16:16), you must repent of sins (Acts 2:38), you must confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and you must be baptized to be saved (I Peter 3:21). After baptism you must abide in Christ and bear much fruit in His kingdom!

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA

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