The Branch Abides

In John 15, Jesus takes up a powerful metaphor – making the claim that HE is the true vine.  In this word picture, Jesus identifies Himself as the source of spiritual life and blessing.

He identifies His followers as the branches and gives us a command: To Abide in Him.

“Abide” translates the Greek word MENO and means: to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy…

While the idea of staying put seems passive in nature it is here an active command.  Believers are to be actively remaining or abiding, in Christ.  The most important thing in the life of any branch is clinging to the life-giving vine, so believers in Jesus Christ are to be actively clinging to Him as our continual source of spiritual life.

Abiding – not human effort – is the source of true spiritual growth and productivity – as Christ would say in verse 5:

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Ephesians 2:1-10
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

In Ephesians chapter 2 we see something critical about our salvation.  Verses 1-3 describe fallen humanity’s place before God as being: “Dead in Trespasses and sins.” 

We lived our lives according to three basic authorities:

 - the world system

 - The Power of the Devil,

 - And, The Sin Nature

This passage sums up our state saying: “we were by nature children of wrath.”

The words “But God” in verse 4 turn the corner.

         We learn about God’s possessions:  He has a wealth of mercy

         We learn His motivation: love

         Finally, We learn God’s method: He spiritually brought us “together with” Jesus Christ.

These three “together” statements are of special importance to every believer.

When Jesus was raised from the dead – So were you.

When Jesus was ascended to heaven - So were you.

And now that Jesus is seated in Heaven  - So are you.

We will spend all eternity growing in understanding and amazement of His grace and goodness towards us in Christ.  And that process doesn’t start later…it started the minute you trusted in Jesus.

Good Health!

In Titus 2:1 Paul is giving Titus instructions for establishing and encouraging churches.  He writes:

"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine…"

Titus is told to teach them verbally (Speak to them), and the content is to be what is proper for sound doctrine.  The word translated “sound” translates the Greek word:

ὑγιαίνω (hygiano)

and is where we get our English word Hygiene – which we use to talk about cleanliness.

Hugiano, however, means “to be in good health”.  What we believe, teach and say is very important.  Those things in keeping with the word of God will bring spiritual health and vitality to those who hear.  By contrast, those things which are not in keeping with the truth of God’s word will bring spiritual malady upon the one who receives it.  Put another way, our words can be healthy, delicious spiritual fruits and veggies or spiritual cyanide.

As we consider the things that we say today we might ask ourselves – “Will saying this encourage others to good health in Christ?”