Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 18B-The Life Giving Vine-my Greatest Treasure
To rest in God’s love, joy, and peace; we must first rest in the truth of our salvation by faith in Christ. That is what Christ was saying in the parable about the vine. Let’s look at those verses once more: ““1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, 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. 5I 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. 6If 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. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15)
At first glance, one might think this supports the idea of losing one’s salvation, since the branch can be taken away and burned; but that would be contrary to the rest of the Bible’s teaching and even the remainder of what Christ is saying here. If we look throughout the Bible historically the grape vine and the fig tree were at times representative of the spiritual standing of the people of God. Just as salvation in the New Testament is by faith, so was salvation in the Old Testament. Without faith, there is no hope of salvation for fallen man. The Jewish nation were chosen by God to be His people; yet, many branches (including the Pharisees and Sadducees who were too blinded by self-exalting pride to recognize Christ as the Messiah) would have to be removed from the vine. Meanwhile, salvation came to the Gentiles through faith and all we who accept Christ as our Savior are grafted into the true vine. So the first question is:
Do you know Christ as your Savior? Do you have the life-flowing sap in your branches? If so, then you will bring forth fruit. It may require a lot of pruning; but, you will. We can rest in that truth. Christ has said that He is the true vine, the sap—the energy flows through Him into the branches. No branch has any life without the life-giving power of the vine.
It is of no coincidence that Christ gave the illustration by talking about the grape vine. Each of the branches have smaller outshooting branches which must be guided, combed, and sometimes cut off so that the main branch is allowed to develop the fruit. The branch at times must be pinched so that it grows in the proper direction. Grapevines require intense labor to allow for fruit bearing branches. If left unattended, grapevines can become unruly, and fruiting will be poor. So it is necessary for God continually to be pruning the branch throughout its lifetime. He has to remove all those desires, actions, thoughts and fruitless side shoots which may develop.
He reminds them once more that they are cleansed by the “word”—the gospel. Our salvation did not come from our struggling to become more. We were not able to work our way into the vine of our own doing. We had to be grafted into the vine by God. It was not our labor that paid the price for our salvation. We are cleansed by the Word, that Word being Christ Himself. John 1: “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…12But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” My Salvation, my justification did not come of my own works; so, how is it that I now want to produce fruit from my own works. In order to rest in and abide in His Salvation, I must remember this. The only part in my Salvation that came from me was my faith to believe that He is God who is worthy of all my praise and to be Glorified for all eternity. Even that I could not have done had God not removed the veils from my eyes that I might glimpse at His Glory and desire it, seek it, cherish it as a treasure above all other treasures.
How do I learn to rest in that truth? That is the mystery of power-filled positive thinking. That kind of rest comes from a faith that is born out of many trials where my faith has been tested—that is a faith which rises from the ashes as the Holy Spirit wraps me in the loving arms of the Father. That is the hope and joy which comes from seeing glimpses of just enough Glory that I might desire and long for more. Ever so gently He has provided me with glimpses of His Joy and His Glory; knowing that the magnitude of His Wondrous Glory, Love and Joy are too great for this human heart to fully comprehend. Yet, I have felt His Joy just enough to know I want and desire it with all of my heart and soul. I have seen just enough of His Glory to know that I hunger and thirst after Him as the greatest treasure.
Listen to this beautiful hymn Alas and Did My Savior Bleed
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header is Ronald Barba. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects and to discuss pricing.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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