The Vine and the Branches

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The Vine and the Branches

 

In the Book of John, Jesus shows us one of the many examples of how the Church would be.

John 15:1-8

 

In some places the Church is called the body. In other places it is called the kingdom. It is also called a temple, and a family. In this passage it is compared to branches on a vine. Today we are going to study this text and the figurative imagery used here, so we can see the lesson being taught by Jesus.

 

First we look at the vine. The vine is the Messiah, Jesus. He cleanses us from sin through the Word.

John 15: 3

Ephesians 5: 25 - 26

 

He is the source of life, both physical life and spiritual life for the branches.

John 15: 4 - 5

 

He is the source of strength and nourishment for the branches through the Word.

John 15: 7 - 8

John 8: 31 - 32

 

It is because we receive the life, strength, and nourishment provided by Him that we are able to bear fruit. He binds the branches together as one, showing that we must rise above our differences and into unity in Christ. 

 

Next there is a vinedresser. This is the Father, Jehovah. God does not make mistakes. He knows who is and who is not truly one of His children. 

John 15: 1

 

God and God alone takes away and casts out those who fail to bear fruit. 

John 15: 2

John 15: 6

 

He also prunes those who do bear fruit, the faithful, so that they can bear even more fruit. 

 

Therefore, it is God the Father Who controls our relationship to the vine.

Acts 2: 47

II Timothy 2: 19

Revelation 3: 5

 

We also see that the unfaithful can be grafted back into the vine if they turn back to God

Romans 11: 23

 

Then there are the branches. The branches are each individual disciple. The branches are not congregations or collective organizations. The branches are INDIVIDUAL disciples. Note the singular pronouns used by Jesus.

John 15: 5 - 6

 

This is in stark contrast to the modern perversion of this text that is used to try to justify the existence of denominations. 

 

Notice also that some disciples abide in Christ but others do not. Those who do not are taken away. We abide in Christ as long as we keep His commandments. 

John 15: 9 - 10

I John 3: 24

 

The fruit we bear is done through our faithfulness. Notice as we have read, the fruit is distinct and separate from the branches. We are told to bear FRUIT, not to bear branches. So what is the fruit we must bear?

 

We must bear the fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5: 22 - 23

Romans 6: 20 - 22

 

So in order to be fruitful for Jesus, we must be faithful to Jesus.

I Corinthians 10: 12

 

This means that our relationship with Him is conditioned on whether we are faithfully obedient to Him or not. 

John 3: 36

 

From this lesson Christ teaches us that God is in charge. From this lesson He teaches us that He, the Messiah, gives life. From this lesson He teaches us that we are to be faithful. 

 

We need to try our best to do our part in this figure. We must try our best to be faithful to our Savior. But there is an important question each one of us must answer now. Are you even a part of the vine? 

 

Have you repented of your past sins?

Luke 13: 3

Acts 17: 30 - 31

 

Have you confessed your faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God?

Matthew 10: 32 - 33

Romans 10: 9 - 10

 

Have you been immersed in water to have your past sins washed away? 

Mark 16: 16

Acts 2: 38

Acts 22: 16

 

If you have not done all of those things, you are not even a part of the vine. 

 

If you are a part of the vine, have you been fruitful?

Revelation 2: 10

 

Have you been unfruitful due to sin in your life? If so, you can come back easily. Repent of that sin, confess it to God, and ask God to forgive you.

Acts 8: 22

I John 1: 8 - 10