When we consider our union with Christ as believers, it should greatly encourage us. For starters, as we go through life in this broken world we are not alone. We are united to our beloved Lord and Savior. The New Testament uses different imagery to depict this union, like “a spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5). In John 15 the imagery is one of “the vine” and “the branches” (John 15:5). In keeping with this imagery believers are commanded to “abide in [Christ]” (v. 4). It will be helpful, then, to understand what this means. 

The True Vine

In the Old Testament the imagery of a vine or vineyard is used to refer to God’s people. For example, Asaph declares, “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it” (Ps. 80:8). However, because Israel sinned, the Lord broke “down its walls” (v. 12). Therefore, Asaph prays, “let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself” (v. 17). This son of man ultimately refers to Jesus, who declared, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). Israel “yielded wild grapes” (Isa. 5:2), but Jesus yielded wonderful ones. Israel committed “bloodshed,” but Jesus revealed “righteousness” (v. 7). Israel “bowed down like a whore” and “turned degenerate” (Jer. 2:20-21), but Jesus submitted to His Father and accomplished redemption for the people of God.

Two Kinds of Branches

Jesus teaches His disciples that there are two kinds of branches on this vine. First, there are branches that do “not bear fruit” and the Father “takes away” (John 15:2). These branches refer to “anyone” who “does not abide in [Christ]” and “is thrown away,” then “gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (v. 6). In John’s gospel the most obvious example of a fruitless branch is Judas Iscariot. Though he appeared to be a true disciple, “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot” to betray Jesus (John 13:2). Likewise, John wrote about “many antichrists” that “were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us” (1 John 2:18-19).

               The second kind of branches are those that “bear fruit” and God “prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). It is important to note that bearing fruit is not the foundation of one’s justification. The disciples are “already…clean” (v. 3). Believers are “justified by [God’s] grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:24-25). So “justification is an act of God’s free grace” (WSC A. 33).

               But “sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness” (WSC A. 35). This work of God’s free grace is why pruning is necessary. When God disciplines His children He reveals His fatherly love (Heb. 12:6) and “disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” and later yield “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (vv. 10-11). One of the instruments He uses to prune us is the word of God, which is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16; see also Heb. 4:12).

What It Means to Abide in Christ

Jesus makes it clear that only the person who “abides” in Christ “bears much fruit” because “apart” from Christ a person “can do nothing” (John 15:5). It is important, then, that we understand what it means to abide in Christ.

               First, it means to “know the truth” and the freedom it brings (John 8:31-32). We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and hearts to understand the truth. We also need to sit under the preaching of God’s Word at a gospel centered church on the Lord’s Day and read the Bible daily.

               Second, to abide in Christ means to “present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness” (Rom. 6:11-14; see also Col. 1:10, 23). By the power of the Spirit, we need to strive to say no to sin and yes to doing what is good and right.

               Third, it means to “keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3-6). The Bible is filled with imperatives based on indicatives. Because God has saved us, we are to obey His commands.

               Fourth, to abide in Christ means to be indwelt “by the Spirit whom he has given us” (1 John 3:24). The Spirit helps us in our weakness and upholds us so that we can walk in the ways of the Lord.

               Finally, the person who abides in Christ “confesses that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 4:15). We are worshipers of God first and foremost, but we are also witnesses. We want to tell others about Jesus, so they too might believe in Him and have eternal life.

*****

Be encouraged, dear believer. We are united to Christ by faith. He is the vine and we are the branches. Since we can do nothing apart from Him, let us remember to abide in Him by knowing the truth, presenting ourselves to God, obeying Him, walking by the Spirit, and witnessing of His great name and works.