TOPIC: ABIDING IN THE VINE

Sunday, February 06, 2022

Bible Text: John 15:4-7

Memory Verse: “Remain in me, as I also 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.” – John 15:4, NIV

Grape vines are fascinating work of nature to study. For example, grape branches are pruned heavily after harvest. Very little of the flora is left after pruning – the main vines are left untouched, but the majority of the branches from that season are cut off. Any branches that do not remain in the vine are pruned off.

Jesus, who is well conversant with the Jewish use of Grapevine, uses it to illustrate the importance of abiding in him as disciples. In His final farewell message to His disciples, He made it clear that as branches, the disciples cannot bear fruit except they continually abide in Him (the true vine). If they do not, they will be like a branch that is thrown away and withers.

When we abide in the Word of God, Christ will continually abide in us as Christians. If we do that, then He has assured us that whatever we ask for in His name, it will be done for us. When those who had been abiding in Christ no longer live a fruitful life, repent and turn away from their sins, he or she will no longer enjoy these promises until they truly repent of their sins and ask God for forgiveness before they can gain access and continue to enjoy these promises.