1 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 one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now you are clean through 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 remains in the vine, so 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, the same brings forth 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 and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.
8 In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.
We have here, a graphic illustration of the Christian life. Jesus is the vine, the root of our salvation, by no other name can a man, or woman, be saved. It is His death and resurrection that enables the Spirit to flow through us with power and grace. It is through this formula that believers are able to live a victorious, consistent life, and be witnesses for the entire world to see. The Father is the creator of the vineyard, and the owner of all. The individual is a part of that vine. Everyone who names the name of Christ is a branch of the vine.
How does a person become a part of this vine? Jesus said; “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus replied; “How can a man be born when he is old?” Jesus reply was, “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Verse 2 states: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
If there is life on the inside, it will show on the outside. If there is life, then that life will have growth and produce effects that are distinguishable to those it comes into contact with. A rose bush without roses is no more than an ugly vine with instruments of pain on every branch. So it is with the Christian, if there is life inside, it will show.
Not long, after we begin this new life in Christ, we come to the realization that there is another force working within, trying to extinguish this new life. It is the carnal mind, the self-life that enjoys everything going its way. Paul says that it is enmity with God. The branch reaches a point where its growth is hindered, and its ability to produce fruit is effected. The fruit here mentioned is not the fruit of soul winning, it is the fruit of the Spirit. This is where God’s purging is to be accomplished. The fruit is found in Galations 5:22 & 23.
• Love: This is an intense desire to please God, and the ability to put another person’s feelings and desires, on a plane equal to, and even above your own on occasion.
• Joy: This is the exultation that arises from a sense of God’s mercy communicated to the soul in pardon of iniquities, and the prospect of that soon coming eternal home.
• Peace: The calm, quiet, and order which take place in the justified soul. Instead of doubts, fears, and dreadful forbodings.
The three mentioned are the immediate rewards of accepting Jesus, and are constant, as long as we maintain fellowship with Him. The remaining six are fruit that develops and increases with maturity and adversity.
• Longsuffering: Submitting cheerfully to every dispensation of God’s providence, and thus deriving benefit from every occurrence.
• Gentleness: This comes from growing & maturing.
• Goodness: The perpetual desire and sincere study, not only to abstain from every appearance of evil, but to do good to the bodies & souls of men to the uttermost of our ability. Which at times requires a reverse gear in our actions.
• Faith: Here it is used for fidelity – punctuality in performing promises.
• Meekness: Patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge. An even balance of all tempers & passions. The entire opposite of anger.
• Temperance: Continuous, self-government, or moderation. “The Christian life is a disciplined life.” Pray, read, tithes, self-evaluation. In other word; to keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. 1 Corinthians 9:27.
Without this second work of grace these actions and reactions would not be achievable for most of us. There are some unique individuals that have the will power to accomplish these traits without the help of God, but most of us wouldn’t be able to come close to these traits. Self is in a continuous battle with the will of God, each battling for supremacy of your life.
Verse 3 tells us that we are clean through the word. In other words our obedience to the known will of God, that we find in His word, is how we keep the spirit moving in our life. If we fail to do this then we will learn the truth of verse 4: As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except in abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
This is the destiny of those who fail to have this carnal nature removed. This is not what many are being taught. The Bible cries out against a sinning religion. Paul cries out against it in Romans, when asked, “what shall we say, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” His reply is “God forbid.” Romans 6:1
James reaffirms this in his statement:
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
It is a dangerous undertaking to establish your belief on certain scriptures found in the word. When you apply the word as we are doing here, you see that there are no contradictions between an illustration by our Lord and the entire meanings of the Bible.
If we fail to have this Old nature eradicated, it will hinder and finally choke out the new life in Christ, and if we die in that state our souls will be doomed to eternal Hell.
Without the second work of grace we will fail to achieve that state of servanthood that is essential in the work of God. If you know in your heart that this battle is raging, within you. I implore you this day to go to the master and allow him to purge you of the old nature and fill you with his spirit.
If we look at this truth we come to realize that pruning is not a one-time thing, it is a seasonal need. Many in our ranks believe these two works of grace are all that is needed for a guaranteed trip to heaven. Yet we see experientially that this is not true. A Methodist preacher by the name of James Mudge, a general in the ranks of John Wesley, states, “I grew more and more convinced as the years went on, that in my case at least (and it seemed to me also in the case of nearly if not quite all others I met), after the second blessing there was a need of further consecrations from time to time, deepening, extending, and perfecting the work. In other words, I felt and saw that the sanctification wrought at conversion, and at the second blessing was in both cases, entire up to the light then given, and no further. This is where Paul’s’ admonition to keep under the body applies to our walk. Life is continuously changing situations in our personal lives. If we are not careful and learn discipline in our spiritual lives, the cares and trials of this life can, overtake us and we will stop the flow of the spirit in our lives. And we will again live for the flesh. The works of the flesh are; sexual immorality -- impurity -- debauchery idolatry – witchcraft – hatred –discord – jealousy -- fits of rage, selfish ambition-- dissentions -- factions -- envy – drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galations 5:19-21
God has a plan for our lives. It is up to each and everyone of us, as individuals, to make ourselves available to His will. Today you make the decision; Will you live for self, or will you become a part of the vine and share in the love of Jesus.
