John 15:1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
All other vines were but types and shadows; Christ is the substance; God's ideal vine; «the true vine.» Israel was a vine; the figure is a common one throughout the Old Testament; but it was a false vine, and it bore bitter grapes.
John 15:2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
The true description of a real saint is that he is in Christ, that he abides in Christ, and that he bears fruit unto Christ. Where there are not these three things, there is no real saintship, and so the man is taken away. Whatever he seemeth to be, and seemeth to have, he is taken away. Oh, the sad loss of many professors in being taken away! What a terrible doom, to have had a name to live, and then to be taken away!
John 15:2. And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The vine is very apt to become unclean and unhealthy; there are all sorts of creatures that love to suck its juices, so that even the most fruitful bough needs to be cleansed. Besides, the vine has a great tendency to run to wood, so the pruning-knife must be used very sharply. It will be used upon all who are really in Christ, and who are abiding in Christ.
John 15:3. Now ye are clean
Those to whom the Saviour spoke: «Now ye are clean»
John 15:3. Through the word which I have spoken unto you.
That is the great purger. Affliction is used, but it is rather the handle of the knife than the knife itself.
John 15:4. Abide in me,
«Now that ye are clean, do not imagine that you can do without me: Abide in me,»
John 15:4. And I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
It is not a transient faith, it is not saying, «I was converted so many years ago;» but it is a living faith, an abiding faith, a constant vital union with Christ that marks the true heir of heaven.
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
«Severed from me, ye can bear no fruit whatever. Not only can ye not do much, but ye can do nothing apart from me.»
John 15:6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
As I have already reminded you, it is only an abiding faith that is a real faith, the faith that remains fixed in Christ the vital union with Christ maintained day by day.
John 15:6-11. And men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciple. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
If you are Christ's disciples now, you are to keep on being his disciples,
and to grow more and more so as the years advance.