The True Vine, Part 1

Introduction

27^th September 2014

Just after the Last Supper, and before He was arrested, Jesus said:

John 15v1-8
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
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.
"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. 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.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I've read this passage many times. It's so encouraging and it makes me feel good. But I noticed recently that I've never really asked myself if I really believe it. I found myself asking these questions:

• Do I really believe that God tends only one True Vine - Jesus?
• Do I really believe that I am in Christ - a branch of the True Vine?
• Do I really believe that any branch of the True Vine - any member of the Church - any Christian - that bears no fruit will be cut off - removed from the True Vine?
• Do I really believe that if I bear fruit I will be pruned, to make me even more fruitful? And am I willing for that to happen? Pruning always hurts, and it always involves loss.
• Do I really believe that I am already clean because I've believed the Gospel? (Romans 3v21-22a: "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Romans 4v3: "Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to Him as righteousness".
• Do I really believe that if I choose to remain in Christ, then Christ guarantees He will remain in me?
• Do I really believe that apart from Christ, I can no nothing?
• Do I really believe that if anyone does not remain in Christ, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned?
• Do I really believe that if I remain in Christ and His words remain in me then I can ask whatever I wish, and it will be given to me?
• Do I really believe that when God answers my prayers, He is glorified, and I am seen to be Christ's disciple?

More remarkably still, in the next verse, Jesus says:

John 15v9a
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.

That surely means that Jesus loves you and me as much as the heavenly Father loves Jesus.

Wouldn't life be different if we were fully confident of these things? I believe them more than I used to. And I pray that I will believe them more than I do.

All these things are true. And we all believe them to some extent. I pray for you and for myself that we will believe them much more, because then they will do us much good. Each one is worthy of considerable meditation and prayer, and I hope to look at them in more detail in the coming weeks.