CHRIST THE VINE - PART II
When we think of the matter of abiding in Christ, there is a temptation to make it into something mysterious or confusing. Always remember the Gospel of Christ is a simple matter. A relationship with Christ is a simple matter. Some of the more modern translations will have “remain” in Christ in John 15 instead of ”abide.” That perhaps sheds some light on the simplicity of that which is under consideration here. Remaining in Christ simply means maintaining a relationship with him.
When Christ describes his relationship to his people, he says it is like that of a vine to a branch. He is pointing to the effortlessness on the part of his people when it comes to bearing fruit. One does not have to be an expert in matters pertaining to the world of botany to know that fruit-bearing is not consistent with the idea of struggling. In other words, if one walks through an orchard, let’s say, he does not see trees struggling to bear fruit. If the tree is healthy, if the branches are connected, the bearing of fruit is a completely natural process. Break the branch off of the tree, and the branch dies and no fruit is borne. But as long as it is connected, there is no struggle, there is only life.
Branches do not produce their own fruit by self-effort. It is a natural process. In the same way, bearing fruit to God is the natural result of staying close to Christ. It cannot fail. The only thing the branch is “concerned with” is being connected to the vine. There is much work for the believer to do in this world. But it is not the kind of work that is promoted in man-made religion. It is not busyness. It is not trying to feel secure in our salvation by accomplishing things. It is the natural result of our relationship with Christ.
Notice again Jesus’ words: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in me, and I in them, the same bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). This is a spiritual law that cannot fail. Just as the farmer in the natural realm may be certain that a crop will be produced if the preparations are adequately made and the tree is healthy, so the believer may have absolute confidence that he or she will do and be what God wants by simply maintaining focus on Jesus.
The reason so many Christian “systems” fail spiritually, no matter how much material or worldly “fruit“ is produced, is because abiding in Christ is such a rare thing. We rarely see it. Few believers see their primary—and, properly understood, only—purpose as being the maintenance of a relationship with Jesus in a continual moment-by-moment attitude of absolute dependence. If you will remain conscious of your Lord’s intimate presence every day, you will be amazed at the many and varied types of good works that will manifest in your life. This is the secret of successful Christian living. Its simplicity means that it’s not really a secret at all.
Dewayne Dunaway
