In this 12-week series, “IN CHRIST V1.” Michelle teaches how to operate and live from our position IN CHRIST! When a person is saved, God does more than simply remodeling that person! We are born again with God’s life and nature!
Follow along to the audio of “The Vine and His Branches” with these study notes. Then, utilize the questions to help you internalize the truth you have learned.
We have been engrafted into Christ. He is the Vine, and we are the branches.
John 15:1-5
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every 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.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide 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.
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.
This is a living connection. We are disconnected from the previous spiritual source and connected to the life of Jesus like a branch is connected to the vine.
Our life, the life of the branch, is actually the life of the Vine (Jesus) flowing through us.
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
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John 1:4
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
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1 John 5:11-12
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in the Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
This life is the very life and nature of God.
A vine without branches can bear no fruit. We are the fruit-bearing part of Jesus Christ.
John 15:7-8
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Answered prayer is one of the results of this connection. Joy, peace, prosperity, safety, a long life, and a blessed marriage are all things that are produced (fruits) from our life in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Jesus considers His Word in us to be the same as Him abiding in us.
Jesus said in John 14:21, “He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me….”
Many Christians are born-again and in Christ, but God’s Word is not abiding in them. This will cause spiritual things to not work for them or function in their lives.
The Word abides in me in the measure that I practice or obey it.
When God’s Word is in me, I ask or pray in line with the Word or the will of God.
Abiding keeps my heart aware of His leading and His will so that, in any situation, my prayer can be specific and accurate.
Abiding in Jesus secures the full access to His name in prayer. In Him, I don’t have to use the name like I have borrowed it. The Father wants to see us living in Him, praying in Him, and speaking as Him.
Remember that in John 15:8, Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified…”
John 15:8 (WET)
8 In this my Father is glorified, namely, that you are bearing much fruit. So shall you become my disciples.
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1 Corinthians 1:30
30 But of Him are ye in Christ who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
The key to fruit-bearing is abiding. The objective of fruit-bearing is to glorify the Father.
The water and nutrition that the vine collects from the soil is for a supply to the branches. Constantly abiding is the key to fully receiving this supply.
The glory comes from the Father (the Source) to the Vine, then to the branches.
John 17:22
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
The leaves on the branch soak in energy and nutrition from the light to help perfect the fruit.
The fruit of our life in Christ is something we can use to bless others. The purpose of having fruit is to distribute it. We enter the calling of the Vine, which is to give our lives for others.
The Father is the husbandman. Jesus supplies the branches so that the branches can bear much fruit to give joy to the Husbandman.
One way to recognize the purpose of our fruitfulness is found in the blessing. The purpose of the blessing of Abraham is that we are blessed to be a blessing. We are distributors of His goodness!
Acts 10:38
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
We are ambassadors for Christ, revealing the liberty and salvation available in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Learn more by watching The Vine and His Branches!
Find out more about who you are in Christ with Redeemed and Righteous by Nature and the companion study guide.
