Christ teaching on the vine and the branches is one of the most mis-taught portions of scripture. While in prayer the Lord spoke to me concerning these scriptures from the Gospel of John
Jhn 15:1 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. |
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Jhn 15:2 | 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. |
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Jhn 15:3 | Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. |
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Jhn 15:4 | 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. |
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Jhn 15:5 | 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. |
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Jhn 15:6 | 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. |
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Jhn 15:7 | If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. |
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Jhn 15:8 | Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. |
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Jhn 15:9 | As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. |
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Jhn 15:10 | If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. |
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The starting verse show the relation-ship between the Father, son, Holy Spirit and the Believer.
Jhn 15:1 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. |
The Lord is the vine the source of the raw material from which the branches are constructed.
The Father is the husbandman {gardener}that takes care of the vine
The Spirit is the sap that flows through the vine that gives life to the branches, and produces the fruit which is Christ nature and character.
When one accepts Christ he enters into this relationship. We enter into a union with God through the death burial and resurrection of Messiah.
With in the fruit is the seed that carries the carries the blue print that reproduces the vine. God purpose in our lives is to have the character of Christ reproduced in our live and to reproduce his nature in the lives of others through us. However for this to happen we must first let God have his way with us.
The next verse carries a severe warning to those that make confessions of faith but will not conform to his character.
Jhn 15:2 | 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. |
Every branch[Christian] that bares not fruit[nature and character of Jesus] is removed from the vine.
Bearing the fruit of Christ likeness is not an option it is a life giving need.
In many pentecostal spheres there is an emphasis on the gifts, callings and manifestations of the supernatural power of God, While vitality of Christ likeness is being put aside. In many instances it is being ignored totally. The result of this is that many saints who are expecting blessing from God are now actually facing being cut off from God.
The gifts and the callings of God are with out repentance. As long as you live you have them, and you can walk away from God and still operate in the power of your gifts and calling, and your heart still be far away from him.
Christ was referring to this in this verse from Mathew 7
Mat 7:21 | Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. |
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Mat 7:22 | Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? |
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Mat 7:23 | And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. |
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The word iniquity in the Greek means violation of the law.
I do not endorse religious legalism, but in living in the freedom of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.
His blood was spilled for the remission of our sins. When something goes into remission it stops it's forward progress.
If you are claiming to be covered by the blood and living in sin, you are lying to yourself , and in fact you living against the blood of Christ and guilty before God until you repent and turn back to him. God is merciful and he will forgive.
In these next two verses Christ tells us how to bare good fruit.
Jhn 15:4 | 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. |
Jhn 15:5 | 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. |
In the greek the word abide means to:
1) to remain as one, not to become another or different |
The Greek word here is in the command form. This an order from our Lord and not an option. Through the Cross we have the power to become one with out Lord, in mind, deed purpose and thought.
This is the true concept conveyed in the image of the vine and branches. The key to having the fruit of the Spirit is to be in total communion with the Lord Jesus Christ .
The next verse states the penalty for forsaking the communion we are freely given through Christ .
Jhn 15:6 | 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. |
Cast forth-disregarded as unprofitable
withered-death
into the fire-hell
In the garden before the Lord was taken to be crucified, he prayed in our behalf concerning our unity
with him, and each other.
Jhn 17:20 | Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; |
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Jhn 17:21 | That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me |
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If we live in communion with him, souls will be truly restored.
Jhn 17:22 | And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: |
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To the saints is given the glory of Christ that we may be union with each other.
If we seek to be in communion with Christ and each other we will be have the Glory in our lives.
Today there is much seeking of the Glory, but few seek to live as one with Christ.
When you live as one with Christ the glory becomes a natural by product of your life.
Jhn 17:23 | I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. |
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When you live in communion with Christ the love of God penetrates the dark world around you.
Then you can operate in true ministry , which is God loving people, through people.
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Tags:
branches, communion, cross, vine
Posted at: 07:49 AM | Add Comment
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