THE TRUE VINE AND HIS BRANCHES

All men are by nature lost because of their sins. Whether they like to be told so or not, hell in the end awaits them all because of their sins. There is no human need so urgent and great as the conversion of heart and life. Alas, the self-righteous are blind to their own sins. In short we have to say: All men are fallen Adam’s children, regardless of their age, education, position, culture or race. Our hospitals, penal institutions and cemeteries proclaim the reality of sin.

Really penitent sinners are filled with an upright remorse over their sins. They learn by the light of heaven that they are unworthy of the least of God’s blessings. Truly penitent sinners confess their sins before God. The confession of the truly penitent sinner leaves nothing, condones nothing and excuses nothing. True repentance is the work of God. Man cannot in any way atone for his sins and thus cancel his debt before the holy God.

No blessing greater than true conversion and forgiveness of sin. Only we have to say that now-a-days there is so much darkness in the hearts of God’s children because they are many times walking on the wrong road.

One of the beautiful examples of God’s work in Christ in the heart of really poor sinners is that of “the true Vine and the branches.” The text presents to us Christ as the true Vine and His children as branches on this Vine, receiving their life, their strength, their all, from Christ alone.

“I am the true Vine”—these beautiful words were spoken on the memorable night when Christ was on the way to Gethsemane. Soon the Savior would withdraw His visible presence from the disciples. Whence should they receive strength to carry on? We know their urgent question: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life,” John 6:68. Christ has given them the assurance of His continued presence in the words “I am the true Vine.” Believe me, by grace they might understand (and it is not changed in our time) that the union of the true believers with the Lord is as close as that of the vine and its branches. What a wonderful picture! But how many may know that clearly? Ask yourself! Visualize a healthy vine and behold its green branches. You do not make a distinction between the vine and the branches, but view them as one. So intimate, so close, is the union of a truly converted man or woman, boy or girl, with the Savior of His church and He will take care of them to all eternity. But listen: It comes from one side, it comes from HIM. Our text indicates how Christ has become the Vine and how human beings can become branches on this Vine by true grace alone.

Christ says: “My Father is the Husbandman.” God Himself planted this Vine when He sent His only-begotten Son into the world. And Christ was ready to give Himself as a ransom for poor and wretched sinners. May I ask you a question: Are you a really poor sinner? Or is it only a testimony with your mouth? Let it be the earnest desire of our soul that God will give His testimony in our heart.

The heavenly Husbandman tended the Vine, using the various tools of the Vine-dresser, the pick, shovel and pruning shears. God did all this when He laid on Christ the iniquity of His elect, from Adam on to the last one whom He shall give conversion of soul and life both. Indeed, Christ became the Vine, the living and life-giving Vine, when He expired upon the accursed tree of the Cross.

But how could we enter in such an intimate union with Christ as is portrayed in the text? How is it possible that mortal man, who was in open rebellion against God can be united with Christ? How could this blessed union come to pass and how can this union with Christ be established? Christ indicates the answer to this question in verse 3: “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.”

The Lord had opened their ears and hearts. He made room for His own words. Similarly, this is also necessary in our life, shall it be well on our journey to eternity. The Holy Spirit had opened their hearts (except Judas). Therefore Christ can say of His disciples then and now. “I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from Thee; and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them…. for they are Thine.”

Only through soul-saving faith can we be a true branch of the Vine Jesus Christ. When the sinner is made a branch of the true Vine, and the Savior speaks to him the blessed words: “Abide in Me and I in you,” then they are safe for time and eternity. What a great wonder would it be if we might hear more about that now-a-days: We in Christ and Christ in us! He has to become the Vine Which sends its sap and strength to the branches. He longs to become the vital power in His follower’s life.

Oh, are you, as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit become a branch of the true Vine? Can you say with Paul: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Oh, it would be to your eternal welfare. If we may be a branch of the only true Vine, Christ, then we are only fruitful as long as it is intimately united with Christ.

The Savior brings this thought to us when He says: “as the branch cannot bear fruit itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” But one who walks in his own ways, neglecting His Word, walking with the world and in sin is like a branch that is cut from the life-giving Vine. True, outwardly many appear to bring forth good works; but if they have never been in union with Christ, then the barrenness of their lives will be revealed sooner or later.

Only a humble child of God can be a fruitful branch, because they are united with Christ, the true Vine. Listen to verse 5: “He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.”

We have to learn to fight against the old Adam, and that can only be in the strength of Christ. But if we think that we do good works to earn heaven, these are the works done without Christ and therefore amount to—nothing! We can have only a God-pleasing life if we are really branches of the true Vine. Oh, it has to be the earnest desire of God’s people, not only to be fruitful branches, but also to become ever more fruitful.

Wonder of free grace, God Himself makes it possible for them to follow Christ in all His ways. They are under the watchful care of God Himself. But we have to learn that in many painful ways. In order that God may accomplish this blessed purpose, He bestows watchful care and attention upon His children.

The heavenly Vinedresser performs two distinct functions, so that the fruitful branches become ever more fruitful. The dear Savior says: “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away. “Many times God’s child has to say: “I am worthy to be cut off, because I live so far away from God.” Don’t you ever have difficulties with that?

The picture does not take into account dead branches, but only such branches as seem to be promising, such as are covered with a big growth of leaves, but are barren. The experienced vine-dresser knows long before the harvest which branches are fruitful.

Alas, there are always people who claim for themselves the name of Christians, although they have never been in communion with Christ. They hear the Word of God but for them it is a savor of death unto death. Oh, listen, a branch which is not in union with Christ cannot produce fruit. We cannot always recognize these barren branches since they often seem to be more promising than the true branches. But the heavenly Vine-dresser knows them and removes them. This is necessary if the true branches are to become fruitful.

There is still a warning for God’s children. Lazy and unfruitful Christians, who love the world and her ways, destroy the spiritual growth of their soul. If the world creeps more and more into our hearts and lives, then the true branches are seriously endangered. In His way the Lord will remove the sprouts, so that the true branches will become all the more fruitful. But this will go through painful ways.

The Lord has to do still more. “And every branch, that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” More fruit, that is God’s earnest demand. If we are to grow in the grace of Christ and become ever more fruitful, then the heavenly Vinedresser must at times trim the branches, yes, the fruitful branches, mercilessly, or, so it seems. For at bottom the reason is not harshness but tender loving care for the branches. It is necessary if the branches are to become more fruitful, producing better and richer fruit. Oh, then it can be that the Lord sends us a thorn in the flesh. He may kill and mortify our will. He may take from us the dearest things; but it is done that we may become the more fruitful. Cross and sorrow bring bitter tears to our eyes. But these tears only help in washing our eyes, so that we may see the Lord’s will all the better.

The Lord may tear from us the things which we prize most highly in this world; but it is done only that our affections will be set upon the eternal values. Temptations from without are not pleasant. But they help to exercise true faith, and thus God’s child has to learn to seek his or her strength in the Triune God. How more dependent upon God in Christ, how more fruitful.

God grant us that we may learn from on high how to become and remain a fruitful branch, which by grace grows evermore fruitful. Then we may understand in all afflictions: Psalter 427:3 last part:

I shall not die but live before Him,
And all His mighty works declare,
That all may joyfully adore Him
Who in His lovingkindness share.

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