I AM THE TRUE VINE…WHOSOEVER REMAINS IN ME WILL PRODUCE MUCH FRUIT

 

Hello Family,

Today we speak on the topic: Christ, the TRUE VINE (aka the real identity that every branch (Christian) should have in order to belong to the Real True Vine).

SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 15:1-8

John 15:1 says ‘I am the real vine and my Father is the gardener’. God sending his only begotten son is like Him planting a Vine. He gave His son all the qualities he has in order to do his will (so that the vine tree yields real vine fruit and not another kind of fruit).

John 15:2 says ‘He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit and prunes every branch that does bear fruit so that it will be clean and bear more fruit’. Here, we learn that God cuts off those unwilling to do His will and gives sanctifying grace to those who have chosen to do His will that they may be spotless and filled with His spirit to do more, His will.

Now, the question is what is God’s will? God’s will for us is to draw more souls to him. To do this, you have to love him and our neighbors in words and deeds (I John 3:18-24), to serve Him, to know Him, to be eternally happy with him and be with Him at all times and places.

John 15:3 says ‘You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you’. Here, the teaching is to be like Christ. All you have learnt from Christ are entirely the will of God for us. What we learnt from Christ are; He prayed and fasted, He had a very strong faith, He avoided sin at all cost, He spoke the truth, He defended the weak, He went about doing good,… etc.

John 15:4 says ‘Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way, you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me’. Here, to achieve the above, you must remain attached or rooted in Christ. For you need His inspiration, help and identity to be like him. 

John 15:5 says ‘I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me’. Here, Christ is the vine and we (His followers) are the branches. Those who remain identified in Christ and Christ in them will draw more souls to God. For you can do nothing without Christ. You need Christ’s identity to know and do God’s will.

John 15:6 says ‘Whoever does not remain in me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burnt’. You need to be identified in Christ to know and do God’s will in order to remain useful / relevant to God. 

John 15:7 says ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it’. Here, a promise is made that if you identify yourself with and in Christ, you will be given anything you ask for. Isn’t that interesting? Try it.

John 15:8 says ‘My Father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way, you become my disciples’. Alleluia, God is glorified in us for drawing more souls to Him by being Christ followers and doing what He did. This is the best assurance for our lives in other to live happily forever. Do not take this opportunity for granted. He loves you even if you do not know or love Him. 

Paul after encountering the Lord on his way to Damascus, Identified himself in Christ and was protected, walked in the fear of the Lord alone and no other and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, more souls were drawn to Christ. (Acts 9:26-31).

Psalm 22:26a-28, 30-32 tells us the praises given to God through our Lord, Jesus Christ as beneficiaries of his saving grace and gifts for being Christ followers. You and I can be partakers of this beautiful celebration if only we identify ourselves in Christ. 

“CHRIST IS OUR WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE. TRUST IN GOD ALONE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS”

 

PRAYER:

May the Lord bless His words in our hearts that they may bear much fruits and in turn, glorify Him and that we will be blessed bountifully as promised Christ’s followers. These we pray in Christ Jesus’ name. Amen

 

Thanks.