DCLM Search the Scriptures 22 June 2025 || Adult STS
ADULT STS LESSON 166
TOPIC: THE TRUE VINE
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MEMORY VERSE: “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” (John 15:5).
TEXT: John 15:1-27
DCLM Search the Scriptures 22 June 2025 || Adult STS
The believers’ relationship with Christ is central and pivotal to their fruitfulness and security. Life
ceases to flourish when it is detached and isolated from its source. Christ’s continuous use of the
words I, me, you, ye, my words, my Father, my friends’ in this direct address to His disciples then
and now inspires us to learn more from Him. Our text draws attention to the centre-point of the
relationship between believers and Christ, our Lord. In the Old Covenant, God had established a
similar relationship with Israel but they failed to bear good fruits. Whereas they were planted “a
noble vine, wholly a right seed”, they “turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine” because of
their sins. As a result, they were rejected (Jeremiah 2:21; Isaiah 5:1-7). For this reason, the Gentiles
were grafted in to the stock. It is therefore necessary, that believers be wary of the mistake of the
Jews in their relationship with the Husbandman who would not hesitate to hew the faithless down.
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but
fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee” (Romans
11:20,21). This truth renders as unscriptural the doctrine of eternal and unconditional security.
Believers must be alerted to the peril of straying away from Christ. The pathway to recovery from the
grave consequences of spiritual detachment from Christ is repentance and re-union with Him
through faith and implicit obedience to God.
CHRIST, THE TRUE VINE AND CHRISTIANS AS BRANCHES (John 15:1-5; 14:6; Galatians 5:22,23;
Ephesians 5:8-11; Philippians 1:8-11; 4:8; Colossians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:2-10; 2 Peter 1:5-8)
“I am the true vine…” A vine is a fruit-bearing plant. Here, Christ introduces Himself as the true vine
to distinguish Himself from others and as the real or genuine One. As the vine is sought after for its
pleasant fruit, so is Christ for His saving grace and life transforming virtues. As a vine yields
sustenance and nourishment to all the branches, whether they are large or small, so is Christ. And
as the nourishment of each branch passes through the main stalk, so Jesus is the source of all real
strength and grace to His disciples. He imparts unto them grace and strength to bear the fruits of
righteousness and holiness. He desires all believers to bear fruits and live fulfilling and satisfying
lives as branches in the true Vine. Christ added that His “Father is the husbandman”. He engrafts
and implants all the branches into this Vine. As the Vinedresser, He cares, nurtures and defends the
vine in the vineyard.
A Bible scholar says, “the plants of righteousness are of His own planting: He
takes notice what store of fruit every branch doth bring forth: and it is His daily care to dress and
dung, to purge and prune, to support and shelter His vineyard, that it may bring forth fruit
abundantly”. While He was on earth, Christ maintained an unbroken fellowship with the Father
through unceasing prayer life, unquestionable obedience, loyalty and selfless service. His entire life
reflected a consistent pattern of submission and obedience to God (Matthew 3:17; John 8:29). Our
lives, as believers, ought to be as pleasing to God if we follow in the footsteps of Christ, living in
obedience and faith. While Christ is the Vine and the Father is the Husbandman, believers are the
branches.
Branches in a tree bear the fruits. Those who profess relationship with Christ must show
it by their lifestyle, which must reflect the character of Christ (1 John 2:6). As the gardener cuts off
the unfruitful branches of the vine, so does the Father sever unfruitful branches from His Son. But
the “branch that beareth fruit, he” prunes and dresses so that they may be more healthy and
fruitful. In the same way, the Father purges, cleanses, purifies, frees from sin, and removes
everything that might hinder believers’ increase in fruitfulness. A Bible scholar puts it this way: “The
Husbandman’s hand manages the pruning knife of affliction [for] His people’s improvement in
grace and holiness: He had rather see his vine bleed, than see it barren”. Those who are fruitful to
the glory of God will have the hindrances taken away from them so they can remain fruitful.
Three categories of Christians stand out in the text. One, fruitless branches: these are barren believers.
This category of Christians can be regarded as mere professors of faith in Christ without
corresponding good works and fruit of the Spirit. “They profess that they know God; but in works
they deny him…” (Titus 1:16). They are people whose religion does not go beyond outward show.
They have no personal heart commitment to Christ and His word. Since they are unprofitable
branches, they will be justly removed. Believers should rise up and press forward to higher grounds.
Two, fruitful branches: these are true believers who not only have fruit-bearing capacity, but also
actually bring forth fruits. Being fruitful is an indication that a believer is under the influence of
Christ, and that His life produces appropriate effects in Him. Just as a vineyard is worthless except
it is fruitful and provides subsistence to the farmer, so the Christian would be worthless except
he/she produces spiritual fruits of righteousness and godly character to the glory and praise of God.
Three, more fruitful branches: these are believers who manifest great capacity for spiritual growth
and fruitfulness as a result of pruning. Their spiritual growth and fruitfulness are products of intense
devotion to Christ and His word. Though the highway into this experience is open to every pilgrim,
regrettably, only very few desire, aspire and perspire to travel it.
To join this triumphant throng, there must be intense desire and longing for intimacy with Christ; ardent craving for deeper experience of God’s grace and power. It also requires decision of faith, devotion of heart, discipline and determination to get there. Once a believer’s mind is made up to be fruitful in righteousness, soulwinning and good works, there must also be a readiness for continual purging for further fruitfulness and usefulness in the Kingdom. More faithfulness leads to more fruitfulness.
CONSEQUENCES OF DETACHMENT FROM CHRIST (John 15:6-10; 2 John 9; Acts 27:31; John 5:38;
Psalm 91:1; Hebrews 10:35-39; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 2:1-5; 3:14-19)
The measure of a believer’s fruitfulness is the index of his or her consistent, continual abiding in
Christ. “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather
them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6). Believers derive grace, strength
and power from Christ and can only be sustained by abiding in Him always. The detachment of any
believer from Christ will spell doom, disaster and eternal death. As severing a branch from its
sustaining stem means death and cessation of life, the severed member will not only cease to bear
fruits but will be rendered irrelevant. To be separated from Christ and by extension His presence,
power, preservation, provision, purpose and partnership is a dreadful thing beyond description. The
following are some of the implications of a severed relationship with Christ.
One, there will be personal limitations (John 15:4,5; Acts 27:28; Luke 5:4-7; Colossians 2:10). The believer’s capacity
to bear fruit is derived and not intrinsic. When believers abide in Christ, the power and potency to
bear fruits come naturally. Two, absence of the indwelling Christ will lead to lack of triumphant
living or loss of and a bulwark of defence in warfare (John 15:5; Romans 8:37). Three, the believers’
life will cease to flourish with meaning and sense of purpose. There will be gross darkness, misery,
poverty and withdrawal of the privilege of answered prayer (John 15:7,16). Every severed, fruitless
soul will not only be “cast off”, but will also get “withered” for lack of nourishment; it will even lead
to a situation where “men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned”. The only
security against being severed from Christ is to abide in Him and allow His word abide in us (verse
7). Genuine repentance, restitution and faith in His atonement can re-unite those who are already
severed from Christ.
CONTINUITY IN LOVE AND COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 15:10-14,18-27; 13:34,35;
Matthew 22:38,39; Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; John 16:33; Matthew 10:22; James 4:4)
“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” (John 15:10). Continuing in Christ’s love is a priority for all
believers. In love, He died for our sins in order to make us part of the children of His Father and
deliver us from eternal damnation. It becomes our duty, therefore, to love one another as He has
loved us. This love is practical and sacrificial. It may just be to give a listening ear to a lone member
of the body of Christ, to encourage a discouraged brother or sister, to render help to a helpless
person, to visit a bereaved one or orphan or to give money or material things. Lessons abound for
believers in the declaration of the Lord Jesus Christ. First, we learn that He has given full and ample
demonstration of His great and wonderful love to His church.
Second, it is the duty of every believer to continue in that love and dutifully preserve the sweet sense of it in our hearts. The most potent and powerful way to be a witness in a world of hatred is to demonstrate Christ’s love. His charge to
continue in His love in spite of hostilities in the world is a challenge which believers must daily
strive to overcome. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John
15:18). If the world hates God and Christ, there is no way they will not hate true believers also. One
of the proofs of our union with Christ is our willingness to suffer persecution as a result of our
identification with Him. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the
Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John
15:26). All believers can enjoy the comfort and fellowship of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Besides the
encouragement we derive from one another, the Holy Spirit strengthens us to endure the
unreasonable hatred and hostility the world has towards Christ and Christians.
The comfort of the Holy Spirit comes in handy and helpful especially “When the days are dreary and the long night
weary”. He comes with His counsel when we are confused, comforts when we are disheartened,
and fellowships with us when we feel lonely. The illumination, inspiration, unction and power of the
Holy Spirit are indispensable for a dynamic, resourceful and fruitful soul-winning. We must
determine to abide in Christ, constantly living in His presence, obeying His word and sharing His
love with others. Then, we can be sure that our lives will be fruitful.
Questions for review:
1. Why did Christ say He is the true Vine?
2. What can we learn from Christ’s unbroken and vibrant relationship with the Father?
3. As branches in the Vine, what kind of fruits are believers expected to bear?
4. From our text, state three categories of Christians and describe each of them.
5. What does it mean to get detached from Christ?
6. What are the steps to restoration for a severed branch?
7. How can we witness effectively in a hostile world?
DCLM Search the Scriptures 22 June 2025 || Adult STS
