by R. L. Morrison

"I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman. 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. Now ye are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you. 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. 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. 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" (John 15:1-6).

So spake Jesus as he went about among men in a body of flesh, teaching them the things of God. In this text, Jesus used a figure of speech. This is simply an illustration to help people understand the lesson. Jesus compared himself to a vine. Those to whom he spoke were familiar with the grape vine, which had many branches. They understood the value of pruning the vine, as the fruit is borne on the branches. When properly pruned, the vine bears an abundance of fruit. The strength of the vine is then used in fruit bearing, not wild unrestrained growth of the branches. Those to whom Jesus spoke knew these things; therefore they understood the spiritual lesson he taught them.

However, many today seemingly fail to understand this lesson, for they do not make the proper application of it. There are several truths that can be of great value to those who are concerned about salvation and their present relationship to God. Consider if you will, some of these great truths that Jesus taught.

First, Jesus compared himself to a vine, but he said, "I am the true vine." In effect, Jesus said, "I am the source of life." As a branch must be connected to the vine to live, so must every person who is spiritually alive be connected to Jesus Christ. The source of life is not in the branch, but in the vine. Man cannot save himself; salvation is in Christ. He is the true vine, the only source of spiritual life. If one ever overcomes sin and obtains eternal salvation, it will be done through Christ. There is no other source of spiritual life.

This relationship between the vine and branch teaches the relationship that must exist between Christ and the disciple or Christian. The branch depends on the vine for things necessary to life. As it receives these things it grows and bears fruit. So must the disciples look to Christ for all spiritual food. Jesus made provision for this food through the WORD. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Peter added, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). The word is the spiritual food that enables the disciple to grow, develop, and bear fruit. When there is no partaking of the word, there is no growth, no fruit bearing, no life.

Jesus also said the branch must abide in the vine: "Abide in me and I in you." This signifies a continual action or manner of life. It also teaches that it is possible for one to cease to abide in him. These words of Jesus can only be understood when one recognizes the possibility of a disciple departing from Christ. To say it in other words, a Christian can fall away and be lost. If this is impossible, as some teach, these words of Jesus, "abide in me" are vain or empty. Jesus did NOT warn men about a danger that does not exist, or something which cannot possibly come to pass in one's life.

We also learn that the branch of which Jesus spoke is not a denomination or some kind of a religious organization, as some would have us believe. He plainly said, "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch...". The church (any church) is not the vine, nor is it a branch of the vine. The only branches the true vine has are individuals. These people are those who have been drawn to Christ through the gospel, which is God's power to save the sinner (Romans 1:16). This gospel calls sinners to become Christians, or disciples of Jesus (2 Thess. 2:14). Those who respond to this calling are branches of the true vine, Jesus Christ. These are they who bear the fruit of righteousness in their lives here, and gain eternal life when time is declared to be no more.

Another lesson to be learned from these words of Jesus concerns the kind of fruit borne. Those who heard them spoken, knew, as we do, that a grape vine bears only grapes. There are different varieties or kinds of grapes, but every vine produces grapes after its own kind. This is a law of God, given in creation. Every seed, every plant or tree produces after its own kind.

This is true also of Christ and the gospel. To become a branch of the true vine, it is necessary for the sinner to hear the gospel, the "Good News" of forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation through Christ. The gospel requires obedience: action on the part of the believer. Faith is followed by repentance, a changed heart that results in a changed manner of life. Upon the penitent believers confession of faith in Christ and baptism for the remission of sins and into Christ, he becomes a branch of the true vine. As a branch, this one is to bear the fruit of righteousness. Peter said, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Those who do so believe the same things, are joined together in the same mind and judgment. There are no divisions between them in the name worn religiously, practice in worship, or living righteously. There cannot be, for the True Vine, Christ, provides the same spiritual food and strength for each branch. The vine only bears one kind of fruit, Christians!

The preceding paragraph pictures the vine and its branches as Jesus describes it. Jesus, himself, is the true vine. Individual christians are the branches (John 15:6). All branches of the true vine bear the same kind of fruit.

However, this is NOT the picture revealed by the religious world today. Generally, it is taught that the different branches are the different denominations, each bearing its own kind of fruit. In other words, the Baptist branch bears Baptists, the Methodist branch bears Methodists, the Lutheran branch bears Lutherans, the Adventist branch bears Adventists. This is a ridiculous situation. Have you ever seen, or do you ever expect to see, a vine bearing grapes on one branch, watermelons on another, and cucumbers on still another? Of course not. Well, this is simply making application of the vine and the branches in such a way that it can be easily understood! Do you think the PURE SEED of the kingdom of heaven, the word of God (Luke 8:11) will produce Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans and Adventists, plus all the other denominational groups? I will dare to say your answer will be "NO." Well, WHY? Simply because you know that a seed produces after its kind. God made it so in the beginning. And the WORD, the seed of the kingdom of heaven, produces ONLY after its kind. It has never, at any time, produced a sectarian, or a member of a denomination! Think about it!

Are you a branch of the true vine? Are you in Christ? Are you bearing fruit in Him? If not, do you realize what the end, or the final result of your life without Jesus will be?