Life in the Vine

 

Text John 15: 4-6

 

Remain in me, and I will 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 a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned (NIV).

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing . 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned  (KJV).

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. 6 Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned (The Message).

A.    Christ emphatically states fruit bearing is a process that cannot be accomplished through the dictates of culture or simply doing one’s own thing.

 Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, &c.--As all spiritual fruitfulness had been ascribed to the mutual inhabitation, and living, active interpenetration (so to speak) of Christ and His disciples, so here the keeping up of this vital connection is made essential to continued fruitfulness.

5. without me--apart, or vitally disconnected from Me.
ye can do nothing--spiritually, acceptably.

6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch . . . withered . . . cast into the fire . . . burned--The one proper use of the vine is to bear fruit; failing this, it is good for one other thing--fuel. (See Ezekiel 15:1-5 ). How awfully striking the figure, in this view of it![1]

Fruit – Most frequently “fruit” is the total results from any specific action or disposition. The fruit produced may be evil (Matt 3:10; 7:15-20; 12: 33; Luke 6:43-44a; Romans 7:5), but more often good(Psalm 104:13; Matt. 3:8, Jams 3:17). John 15:1-16 illustrate how God produces life among men. In like fashion disciples are urged to “bear fruit.  [2]

2. As Gentiles we are grafted into Israel, the real olive tree. In actuality, in Christ we are grafted into more than a nation, we have become part of Christ himself – primary grafting. Christ will do a secondary grafting, a tertiary – or a whatever number if we ever find ourselves separated from our source. “Graft – Rom.11:17-24, A slip of cultivated plant is inserted (grafted) into the stock of a common one. Paul used the figure to illustrate how Gentile believers have been grafted into the stock of faithless Israel, but he warned the new branch could be cut away if proven faithless.”[3]

 3. Christ calls us all to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruits through us. “22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control (Good News). Fruit bearing is not personal effort. Rather it is the life of Christ expressed through us, as we remain connected to him.

We therefore conclude even believers who find themselves disconnected do not have to die. Christ says, “come” and whoever comes to him he will not turn away. Separated believers can turn to Christ and live again.