Abiding in the Vine

 

Abiding in the Vine

John 15:1-8  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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. 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.

Christ said that he is the true vine and his Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Christ that does not bear fruit the Father takes away. If you have owned fruit trees, then you know that they have to be periodically pruned. You need to trim the good branches, so that the fruit will have adequate room to grow, as well as produce more fruit. You also need to cut off the fruitless branches, so that the good branches will be able to produce healthy fruit.  The same is true with the body of Christ; the Father must remove the bad fruitless branches, so that the true branches will not die out. The Christians who produce good fruit in their spiritual lives, the Father will prune, so that they may produce more fruit. Christ said that he is the vine and those who abide in him will produce much fruit. Apart from Christ, you cannot bear good fruit. Christ also said, if anyone does not abide in him, he is cast out and is withered. The bad branches, will be gathered together and cast into the fire of destruction.

This is a warning from Christ that we must remain in him to inherit eternal life. A Christian must remain faithful to the Lord until the end, to inherit the Kingdom of God. The bad branches were also in Christ for a period of time, but they did not bear fruit, so the Father removed them. This parable teaches that a person can lose their salvation if they do not bear good fruit in their lives. Luke 3: 9 "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." The parable of the wise and foolish virgins also teaches this same lesson. The foolish virgins were also in Christ for a period of time, but they became empty vessels, and let their lamps grow dark. The wise virgins, who kept sufficient oil for their lamps, entered the wedding feast of the Lamb, and the door was shut. The foolish virgins knocked on the door and begged to enter, but were denied.

Christ said, that some will bear thirty fold fruit, others sixty, and some one hundred fold. Matt 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” We enter the Christian life as babies, who need to learn to walk spiritually. We take baby steps at first, and the Lord is patient with us, as we grow from milk to strong meat. But the time will come when the Lord expects us to produce the good fruit of the Spirit, and not the bad fruit of the carnal nature.

Galatians 5:19 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, long suffering, 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.

The most important fruit of the Spirit to have is love. Christ said that if you keep his commandments then you will abide in his love. He also said, this is my commandment that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this that he should lay down his life for his friends. God’s Word also tells us, that the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled, in that we love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, body, and soul, and love our neighbor as our self. God’s Word is clear that without love our faith is worthless. One way that we show the love of Christ is by meeting the physical needs of those who are suffering. God is commanding us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. James tells us that when we see our brethren naked, or destitute without food, and do nothing to help them, then our faith is dead. We show the world our faith in Christ when we display love for our fellow man. 

 John 15:9-14 “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. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?   15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,   16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?   17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.   18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.   19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!   20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?