I am the Vine

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV)

Christ told us that we must abide in him; that is, we must remain in him. The Reformed doctrine of the saints’ perseverance includes language on our abiding. It is written the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13)

Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Christ is laying out a flow chart of responsibilities as such. Through Christ, we are saved by faith and restored by blood. This blood waters the branches of the vine that are us, his saints. Through his blood and our salvation, we produce works of faith, the fruit of the vine.

Throughout our life, the world will challenge our faith. Even our fruits can bring challenges and confrontations upon us. People like to sin. We all like to sin, or we would do it, especially knowing God’s detest for the sinner. When in the execution of our works of faith, we challenge this notion, it will bring about confrontation. But this should never preclude us from completing the commands of Christ.

When we, the branches, remain in the vine that is Christ, we will be able to complete His work. Without Christ, we can do nothing. In Luke 9:49, Luke wrote, “John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” Jesus told John not to stop the man. Even though the man was not an apostle, he could carry out the works of exorcising demons in Christ's name because he was in Christ. At some point, this man had accepted Christ and became a true believer. He was abiding in Christ. It is Jesus who makes this clear to us.

When we remain in Christ and endure as His saints, we, as Paul put it, fight the good fight and finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7-8). No matter what your ministries are or their success, always remember, regardless of the volume of your good works, they exist because you abide in Christ. Walk a road without Christ, and you will head for destruction.

Grace and Mercies!