Jesus said I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
(John 15:1).
In the fifteenth chapter of John there are four key words that can help us have a
better understanding of the Christian life.
1. The VINE in the Old Testament was a symbol for Israel. Isaiah said, The vineyard of the Lord
Almighty is the House of Israel … (Isaiah 5:7). Jesus is presented “as the true Israel, the
genuine vine, the man of God’s right hand” (F. F. Bruce). In the Gospel of John Jesus says, I
am the true vine.
2. The BRANCHES are a symbol for Christ’ followers. Those who believe in Him. They
are His disciples.
3. The VINEDRESSER is a symbol of the Father. He watches over the vine with loving care. The
Father makes the vine as fruitful as it can be. If a branch did not bear fruit, it was useless and
thrown away.
4. The FRUIT is a symbol of the invisible power of the Holy Spirit. This power abides in
those who are genuine Christians. In Jesus Christ (the vine or tree) we find the source of eternal life.
The Apostle John said For God so loved the world (that is you and me) that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes (trust and put their confidence) in him shall not perish (shall not die
spiritually) but have eternal life) John 3:16.
At times I have wondered how many, who profess to be Christians, remember how excited they were
when they first met the Lord? I was so excited that I hardly could wait to tell others about my
conversion experience. But, in time, I like many professing Christians lost some of that excitement.
John MacArthur said something that is so true. “The ultimate test of Christianity is endurance … The
proof of real faith is devotion to Christ even when unfavorable circumstances surround us.
A branch cannot bear fruit if it is not attached to a vine (tree). Jesus, the vine, said, … apart from me
you can do nothing (John 15:5). If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, which
is the invisible power ofthe Holy Spirit(John 15:5).
T. W. Manson said (living the Christian life is) a passionate devotion – a devotion to a living Lord and a
call to reproduce in their own lives the new divine life that is in (Jesus). Paul said, I can do all things in
him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
TRUE CHRISTIAN LIVING IS A DAILY PERSONAL LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.
-The Scripture passages are taken from the New International Version (NIV)-
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