John 15:5, commentary and pictures

Christ is the vine and his followers are the branches, and whoever abides in him with him abiding in that person brings forth much fruit, for apart from him nothing can be done. The branches depend wholly on the vine for support, nourishment, life, strength and power to bear fruit, while the vine does not depend on the branches. That abiding is a mutual, living and continuing union day by day and hour by hour through faith, love and obedience, with Christ dwelling within by the Holy Spirit, not casual or merely outward profession. Its fruit is heavenly character wrought by the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, humility and self-control seen in a transformed life — and active unselfish service in blessing others and winning souls. Without Christ no good, spiritual or lasting work can be done and no sin overcome by human strength, while the Father as husbandman prunes every fruitful branch to bear more and casts forth the disconnected fruitless branch to wither and be burned.

Vine Image and Setting

Christ is the vine and his followers are the branches, and the one who remains in him with him living in that person brings forth much fruit, for apart from him nothing can be done. Only those united to him by faith can bear much fruit, because all spiritual life, strength, nourishment and power to live holily, resist temptation, and grow in grace come by drawing life from him as a branch draws from the vine and a grafted shoot draws from its stock. Being a branch by name is not enough; there must be remaining in him, his words remaining within, his life giving strength, and his nature shared so that the repentant sinner is changed to partake of the divine nature, loving what he loves, hating what he hates, and having desires harmonized with God's will. Fruit unlike his, like that of a thorn-bush, shows the person is not truly joined to the Living Vine, and to abandon him as Head is to be left without sustaining power and open to Satan's control. Apart from him efforts to live rightly fail, wither, and become fruitless, while united to him as personal Saviour believers receive grace, bear fruit that proves their nourishment from him, and have their petitions accepted through him.

The figure belongs to the plainly outlined will in John 13-17, Christ's final lessons, comfort, courage and counsel given in the upper chamber and on the way to Gethsemane, where he pointed to a flourishing grapevine, shortly before his agony, suffering and cruel death to strengthen the disciples for coming trials. It was left as a mirror held up before the hearers so that the relation of Christ to his people and their relation to him would be understood with no excuse for misunderstanding. It is to be believed exactly as spoken, studied, memorized, understood in the fifteenth chapter of John, lived out before others, revealed in daily life, and remembered as encouragement in trial, with spiritual strength drawn from the Word and light given to discern what hinders doing his will. Those who minister in word and doctrine and know present truth are called by it to be converted and to understand genuine missionary work, including labor to warn and help others prepare for judgment.

He is the true vine, the parent stock, root and life of the soul, given in place of Israel formerly pictured as a vine. The Jews prized the vine as most noble, and the golden vine at the temple represented Israel, but connection with Israel gives no life. Rightly interpreted nature is the mirror of divinity, so the figure was so plain that looking upon a vine would call the lesson to remembrance. As sap flows to nourish the branch and enable it to bear fruit of his character, continual dependence on the vital current from Christ gives spiritual life, and the graft is knit to the stock fiber by fiber and vein by vein in a profound yet simple union that gives life and strength to every soul and stands in right relation to God where the devil cannot rob needed grace. Each servant is a distinct branch drawing all sustenance from him alone, given his own work yet joined as workers together with God in unity and love to bear the best quality of fruit to God's glory, and this right relation is needed now in the very last stage of earth's history.

The vine does not depend on the branches; the branches depend wholly on the vine for support, nourishment, life, strength, upholding and fruit-bearing power. The church does not support Christ, but Christ supports the church, and separated branches are helpless and have no strength. Those who remain in him bear much fruit, even patience, forbearance and hope under affliction and disappointment that show the world he sustains them, and by such faithful abiding they prove to be chosen by him. The Word of God is like the branches of the true vine in John 15:1-5, one in its divine source while containing diversity, with a perfect, superhuman, mysterious unity.

Nature of Abiding Union

Union with Christ is mutual and living: the believer abides in Him through faith, love and obedience, and He abides in the believer through the Holy Spirit as the source of spiritual life. His life renews the soul, His words remain within, and grace received is constantly imparted again, so that only those united to Him by faith as personal Saviour bear much fruit and have their petitions accepted. As branches draw nourishment, support and strength from one source, the living branch answers the mind and will of God, is quickened and sanctified by the Spirit, becomes an active worker revealing Christ in character, and displays the graces of the Spirit and light to the world.

Abiding is continuing, daily and hourly, not casual, occasional, merely outward association, profession, church membership or gifts. It requires remaining, clinging, dwelling and habitually adhering to Him, resting the soul on the Saviour in complete submission, refusing to be blended with the world or molded by it or drawn away into temptation. The channel must be kept open by constantly receiving His Spirit and daily deriving nourishment and the vital current from Him, learning constantly of Him as safeguard, assurance, happiness, peace and joy, and resting in His power to save to the uttermost and grow to the full stature of a man in Christ. Failure to abide leaves a person as a withered, fruitless branch, unable to overcome, to resist temptation, to grow in grace and holiness, or to live rightly by self-effort, and finally cast forth to be gathered and burned with prayers unheard.

This abiding comes through feeding daily on the Word as flesh and blood, studying and obeying the instruction Christ has given by which believers are made clean, beholding Him to be changed into His image, and earnest persevering prayer in secret and amid labor. His words abiding within cleanse through obedience, prompt pure holy desires, and make petitions in harmony with His will so they are received with no other conditions. The first and highest duty is to know that one is abiding, seeking what the Lord says, yielding life to His guidance while He does the work, and finding time for spiritual things despite weariness and cares, for when He abides within everything takes on a changed aspect and gives rest and peace. Neglect brings spiritual starvation, dryness and fruitlessness, especially when temporal cares absorb attention and draw the mind from eternal realities, and trying to rise above the simplicity of Christ by doing some great thing to work the works of God is useless.

Abiding means depending by living faith, yoked with Him in humble step-by-step obedience, keeping His commandments and continuing in His love as He kept His Father's, loving one another as He loved, doing His will and works, with self dead, emptied, crucified and hid with Christ in God. That living connection lived out daily joins His power with human effort so people accomplish the work God gives, grow into a faithful witness and guide who works as Christ worked, with strong faith, complete consecration, self-denial, cross-bearing, prompt vigorous action, tempered character, single eye to glorify God not self, and love for souls. Those who have Him dwelling in the heart by faith cooperate with Him, obey His commands, use their powers to win others, reflect His character in words and actions to awaken interest in truth, and represent Christ and the Father, for humanity must unite with divinity through daily reliance on the Redeemer.

Sinners dead in sin are grafted as dry lifeless shoots into the living vine through repentance, faith, self-renunciation and obedience. Weakness is joined to strength, the nature is changed, and through the Holy Spirit they partake of the divine nature, receive Christ's mind, love what He loves, hate what He hates, bring desires into harmony with God's will, and are accepted in the Beloved. Genuine repentance and true conversion are proved not by words or profession but by fruits, which are forsaking sins and obedience to the commandments, and no one can bear this fruit of himself.

Allowing Christ to abide within fits character to dwell with Him eternally and to live with Him in the heavenly courts. In this probationary time it is shown when praise comes from the lips instead of complaining and finding fault, calls for gratitude and much praise especially from teachers, requires individual work and whole conversion rather than being half converted, and keeps a vital connection that fits people to enjoy heaven and dwell forever with the Lord by turning from the decaying earth, honoring God's love and power, lifting up Jesus as perfect example, and attaining a pure elevated ideal no exalting of science can give. True faith expressed in obedience brings abundant reward in this life and eternal life and fruit unto eternal life, seen in kind words and deeds, holiness, self-denial, meekness, patience, love, joy, peace, goodness and service that helps save others and gives grounds for full assurance in approaching God. Those not united cannot bear fruit or enter heaven without working together with Christ, and souls are not safe unless closely united to Him in harmony as they prepare for reunion in the heavenly church.

Faith in God's Word brings a living witness that one's ways please God, including evidence that He hears and answers prayer, in lives sanctified by the Spirit seen in prayer, truthfulness, circumspect conduct and works done through strength drawn daily from Christ. Those who surrender body, mind and spirit to God's control and let Him guide will see His salvation and do successfully the work He requires, for no one can work for God by human power alone and Christ must dwell in the heart. To abide, the illumination of the Spirit must be received, with self put aside, working in harmony with Christ, following His way of working, and making Him evident in work and character.

In union with Christ believers' sins are laid on Him and His righteousness is credited to them, giving access to God and acceptance in Christ. This union is formed through personal faith marked by supreme loyalty, complete trust, consecration and surrender of will, brings grace and spiritual strength and righteous fruit that blesses others and glorifies God, while the Father prunes living branches to bear more and severs lifeless ones to be burned. Salvation does not rest on human works of righteousness but on God's mercy and love, for people cannot earn favor or make satisfaction for sin by merits, Christ's blood alone atones, His righteousness is received by living faith, and God is the believer's wisdom, righteousness and sanctification. The verse shows the way back to loyalty to God through Christ standing as humanity's substitute and surety, taking human nature and faithfully meeting the temptations that led to Adam's fall, linking finite man with the infinite God, redeeming from iniquity, turning the sinner back to loyalty to law, purifying a peculiar people zealous of good works, and fulfilling righteousness in supreme love to God and neighbor.

Spiritual life comes from abiding in Christ the living vine rather than depending on other people or deriving life from them. When affections are centered in Jesus and life is drawn from Him, a person can do good, help and support others, faithfully carry responsibilities, remain spiritually independent amid worldly confusion and temptation without seeking human applause or living by others' opinions, and bear much fruit by pleasing God not by boasting, as the Spirit takes possession of the heart and shapes character like Christ beyond what preaching and human effort can do. When troubled, believers should turn to God's Word rather than depend on others to lift them up or cast them down, knowing Christ abides in them as they follow duty and labor to save souls with heaven's light upon them. Life without Christ is fearful and cannot be afforded, while abiding with Christ abiding in the believer and self crucified brings praise and honor, and God loves the person bound up with Jesus, hidden with Christ in God, drawing daily nourishment to overcome evil, withstand temptation, grow firmly in grace, flourish and bear much fruit to God's glory in Christlike character.

True life is exercised in harmony with the Creator's will, sustained by the same divine power that sustains nature, so that to transgress physical, mental or moral law is to fall out of harmony and bring discord and ruin. Those purchased by His blood are kept by His constant intercession at the Father's right hand, as necessary as redemption by blood, for if He let go His hold for one moment Satan stands ready to destroy. Being kept requires abiding by personal choice with Christ living in the person, putting the soul into God's keeping, placing the will on the side of God's will, feeling dependence and trusting One able to keep, for God never separates the soul from Himself and separation is always the person's own act, and no one who does not put the soul into God's keeping will be kept, while the soul that depends on and trusts Christ will not perish. Lack of living union leaves failure to understand His plain words with true faith and spiritual discernment, causing stumbling over His teaching and turning away, as shown by the disciples' difficulty understanding.

Fruit Borne by Branches

The fruit borne by the one who abides is heavenly, pure and holy character wrought by the Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance and self-control, with patience, forbearance, hope under affliction and disappointment, kindness, humility, compassion, truthfulness and circumspect conduct, seen in spirit, words, conversation, deeds and a transformed life that represents Christ's character, proves the person chosen, glorifies the Father and marks true discipleship. Like a branch joined to a living vine, those who draw nourishment from Christ answer the mind and will of God, are quickened and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, become active workers revealing Jesus in character, bear rich clusters of the same kind as the living Vine, and though different in character show by their fruit the character of their lives and the evidence of God's work in the heart. Only true and flourishing branches bear this best fruit, in contrast to the fruit of branches not in the true Vine, and where this abiding continues there are building up in most holy faith instead of biting and devouring, differences swallowed up in overcoming defects and fighting sin instead of vainglory, provoking and envying, with harmony, love, unselfish working, and the peace and power of God manifested.

Fruit is also active unselfish service, prayer for neighbors, kind words and deeds, self-denial and sacrifice to bless others, warning the world, winning souls, revealing Christ and sharing received grace with eternity and judgment in view, for mere profession, excitement or selfish temporal work is not Christ's life. Those nourished by Christ share grace with others and thereby reveal their union, and abiding calls for response to His sacrifice by giving of self so others are blessed, strengthened and helped to grow in Him. Only those united by living faith bear this much fruit that glorifies the Father and marks true disciples, while mere belonging, church membership, outward profession, gifts or claimed union without vital connection bears no fruit of the right kind, has no warrant and does not prove discipleship, and fruit like a thorn-bush's shows the person is not truly connected to the Living Vine. Remaining united makes a fruitful life possible, and without His special help the work He gives cannot be done.

Abiding brings assured peace, rest for burdened souls, unbroken communion, fullness of joy, and answered prayer, for those in whom His words abide and cleanse through obedience ask only what is in harmony with Christ's will without selfish motives, have right to expect the Holy Spirit to work with power resting upon them to impress minds when they speak truth, receive companionship as a priceless treasure, and manifest sanctified lives in prayer, truthfulness, circumspect conduct and daily-drawn strength as living witness that their ways please God and He hears prayer. Abiding means seeking to understand and do His will, advancing step by step in obedience, living in His light rather than moral darkness, growing in grace and knowledge to full stature, and thereby receiving clearer light and power to discern spiritual truth, discern what hinders the relationship, and discern the enemy's deceptions, which is encouragement amid trials and the final comforts given before great suffering. This abiding supplies faith and power, so that there is no excuse for being without faith and without power.

That union calls for gratitude and much praise, seen in learning to come to the Lord, plead until heavenly assurance comes and then praise Him, fitting character in probationary time to live with Him, and producing fruit of thanksgiving as living evidence of connection that places believers on vantage ground. Christ's presence in the heart brings qualities that preserve others from corruption and death, making followers a wholesome, saving influence whose fruitful life glorifies the Father and marks discipleship, for Christ is source of all power and every temporal and spiritual blessing, and what is received from Him is given through His instruments to help others. When He abides, character and life can save others from moral corruption, but unchristlike words and actions show no vital connection and even profession of godliness is worthless without Him. Abiding is daily, hourly living faith and connection, shown not by membership or high profession alone but by spirit, words, conduct and dealings with believers and unbelievers, taking hold of divine power to escape the world's corruption and produce the virtues of union with Christ.

Genuine repentance and true conversion are proved not by words but by fruits, namely forsaking sins and obedience to God's commandments, which no one can bear of himself but only by abiding in Christ with Christ in him, continuing in His love by keeping His commandments as He kept His Father's, with His words in the heart bringing fullness of joy and answered prayer, glorifying the Father, marking true disciples, while non-abiding is casting forth as withered to be gathered and burned. Those connected with sacred work bear fruit unlike the misleading fruit of past life and conduct, and the words of eternal life sown in the heart lead to humble obedience, doing His works and bringing forth much fruit unto righteousness without extreme or harmful conduct. The fruit borne proves whether a prophet is true or false, distinguishing sheep's clothing from inward ravening wolves, good trees bringing good fruit and corrupt trees evil fruit, mere profession and wonderful works without doing the Father's will showing He never knew the worker. Good fruit is Christ's work to preach good tidings, bind the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty and opening of prison rather than prison, exile and chains, comfort mourners and give beauty for ashes and joy and praise, in contrast to Satan's work, and a person's words, character, conduct and spirit reveal the tree, requiring the sinful nature to remain under the Spirit's control with will harmonized to His will and defects made clearer by closer unity. That connection is seen in home life and in spirit, words and actions shaped by meekness, humility and obedience, reflecting received light to others with commandment-keeping central.

Bearing much fruit is Christ's desire, the Father's good pleasure, and an expression of love and devotion in response to trusting Him with the whole heart, borne by branches depending on life flowing from Him and bearing fruit like His, connected with obeying His commandments and serving to save perishing souls, so that His joy remains in them. A person's thoughts, words, deeds and influence bring life or death according to whether they abide, reflecting what they are, while daily connection gives living concern for saving others. Abiding makes believers a continuing channel through which God gives His gracious Spirit and light to others, changing character by beholding Jesus to tender, merciful love and service like His, sharing what is received under the Spirit's influence to represent His goodness in spiritual and temporal matters, receiving daily in order to impart, increasing what is received only as it is used to bless others through faithful use and improvement of talents for which account must be rendered day by day. Those who abide put away self-importance, take no credit, think and talk of Christ, praise and magnify His name and lift Him up as crucified, overcome every sin least to greatest by the Spirit's power, labor together with God as material passive in the Master's hands, turn every trial and disappointment to good through humble trust, grow stronger and more careful by better self-knowledge and firmer trust, benefit others by increased carefulness, increase daily in power to succeed, learn from mistakes not to repeat them, and are conformed day by day to Christ's image as partakers of divine nature to bear abundantly as true, solid, trustworthy, experimental missionaries showing results higher, holier and more definite.

Abiding teaches what it means to be crucified with Him, dead to the world and alive to Christ as partaker of His resurrection-life so He is glorified, giving each a work for the Master no one else can do, leading to the crown of life with Christ formed within as hope of glory, and is itself life, peace and joy with Christ abiding in the heart, continuing in His love and experiencing the joys of salvation through faithfulness to given grace. Those joined to Him are never alone, for when they take His side and labor unitedly and heartily to overcome temptation, work for victory, work for heaven, work to enter the gates and see the King in beauty, He is on their side and reveals Himself, enabling work as He worked without excuse from hereditary tendencies for refusing to overcome or settling for imperfection. Life in the grafted branch means growth, with every provision for divine strength and power through obedience so as not to sink below brute level, producing increase in spiritual strength, wisdom and favor with God and man as seen in John the Baptist and in Jesus and repeatable in every child and youth who resists temptation, knows entire dependence and cooperates in restoring God's moral image. Abiding interweaves His mind, spirit, love and beneficence into character to enable much for God's cause, producing much fruit in self-denying generosity, satisfaction in plain dress, and putting saved money into God's treasury to supply missions and answer prayed-for needs just in time, with God trusting such faithful stewards as Daniel, pouring in means as they let it out little by little instead of bestowing it on self, making them richer by hundreds and thousands and millions and sparing many worldly losses.

Pruning and Cutting Off

The Father as husbandman takes away every branch that bears no fruit and prunes every fruitful branch so that it brings forth more fruit, even fruit that remains unto eternal life. This pruning comes at times through trials, insults, injuries and difficulties met with a gentle spirit, serving as training that develops Christian character and gives victory over self. In the fruitful it develops faith working through love and purifies the soul, while the Spirit's inward work becomes visible in a character and life rich in good works. Only through constant union can believers bear much fruit, for separated from Christ they can do nothing, and merely belonging to the vine without bearing fruit is not enough. Bearing much fruit is the plain condition of discipleship, and herein the Father is glorified.

Whoever does not abide is cast forth as a withered branch that received nothing, to be gathered and burned. A branch that bears no fruit is not of the vine, and if it continues fruitless, lifeless and disconnected it becomes withered and has no place in the vine. Such fruitlessness faces final separation, ruin and condemnation, with prayers unheard and with light bringing condemnation rather than salvation. The branch's fruit shows whether it truly belongs to the vine, so church membership or profession alone does not make someone a child of God.

The fruitless Jewish nation is described as a branch separated from Christ, to be gathered and burned, with Jerusalem destroyed forty years later. The Gentiles are grafted into the living vine and, like the disciples, must remain in him and be pruned to become fruitful. Jews and Gentiles once cut off may be grafted in again on repentance through a changed nature partaking of the divine nature. Churches and institutions separated from Christ likewise become powerless and fruitless, unable to do their appointed work or produce good fruit, with worldliness accumulating more worldliness.

Fruit unlike Christ shows disconnection, like the fruit of a thorn-bush proving the branch is not truly joined to the living vine. Evil fruit, harshness, pride, envy, strife and worldliness, and pure profession or excitement without inward life, bear no fruit to God's glory and show separation from him. Abandoning Christ as head leaves people as members without a head, without his sustaining power, vulnerable to Satan's control, as with spiritualists and all who reject his headship. In this probationary time allowing Christ to abide within fits character to live with him, forming habits and character ready for heaven. Where abiding continues there are harmony, love, unselfish working, and the peace and power of God, but where the spirit of love has departed and a destroying, biting and devouring spirit prevails, God cannot bestow his grace.

Helplessness Apart from Christ

Without Christ no good, spiritual, or truly valuable work can be done, no acceptable service rendered, and no lasting or eternal fruit produced, for all power to do good depends on abiding union with him. Apart from him disciples cannot produce spiritual fruit or accomplish anything spiritual by dependence on self, just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself apart from the vine. That union is mutual, with believers abiding in him through faith, love and obedience and he abiding in them through the Holy Spirit as the source of spiritual life, cleansed and made fruitful through studying and obeying the instruction given in his Word. Abiding means resting the soul on the Saviour in complete submission, refusing to blend with the world or be molded by it or drawn into temptation, learning constantly of him as safeguard, assurance, happiness, peace and joy, resting in his power to save to the uttermost, giving diligent heed to his words as spirit and light and life, and growing in grace and love to the full stature of a man in Christ. That living daily connection by faith brings right relation with God, joining his power with human effort so that what God gives to be done can be accomplished, with constant growth into faithful witness, strong faith, complete consecration, self-denial, cross-bearing, prompt vigorous action, tempered character, a single eye to God's glory, love for souls, abounding love, approving excellent things, and fullness of the fruits of righteousness. Failure to abide leaves a person as a withered branch cast forth to be gathered and burned, whose fruit shows a life not drawing from him and gives no evidence of God's work in the heart.

By themselves people cannot overcome sin, temptation and evil, nor attain holiness, loyalty, perfection or salvation, but united to Christ they can do all things, share the divine nature, become more than conquerors, and reach the highest elevation in their sphere. Apart from him there is no spiritual life or power and efforts to live rightly alone fail and wither into fruitlessness, while abiding in him and drawing life from him makes a holy life, resistance to temptation, and growth in grace and holiness possible. Only those remaining united to him by living faith as personal Saviour bear fruit that glorifies God, which distinguishes real union from merely claimed union or religious profession without vital connection. That dependence is genuine sanctification, for joined to Christ with his grace working through human effort, believers live with his patience and meekness, reflect his character, represent Christ and the Father, receive his healing and shaping of character, help others see heaven's glory, and have their petitions accepted through him. Without him they miss the life that measures with the life of God.

Human ability, intellect, learning, talent, wisdom and methods, however great, are insufficient apart from Christ. No one can work successfully for God by personal power alone, the outcome rests in God's hands, and the work God requires can be done successfully only through Christ's abiding presence held to with steady persevering confidence. Moving forward without earnest seeking of wisdom from God brings failure, for Christ himself is efficiency, and asking the Father for a larger portion of the Holy Spirit with the mind stayed upon Christ gives strength in his strength and the power of his might to succeed. Education pursued without true religion, prayer and cultivation of spiritual life harms the soul rather than benefits it, and learning and ambition cannot replace dependence on him. Those who surrender body, mind and spirit to God's control and let him guide will see his salvation and depend on him for effective service.

No ministry, soul-saving, teaching or institutional work succeeds in its own strength, and dependence wholly on Christ is the first lesson workers in Christian institutions must learn and accept for success in any work. Without his special help his given work cannot be done, for a living connection joins divine power to human effort to enable warning the world, while self-sufficiency leads to pride and corruption. Those truly united draw nourishment from him and bear the same kind of fruit as the living vine. Apart from him there is no success in working for salvation of souls and no converting power on hearts, only disappointment and failure, so the only safe course is to take Christ along and refuse to go unless he goes, giving God all glory. Building on Christ, yoking with him, and receiving the Spirit makes workers trustworthy with difficult and perilous responsibilities to bring the light of truth in clear bright rays.

Missing Christ is missing the life that measures with the life of God, which comes only through daily reliance uniting humanity with divinity. Growth in that life requires continual help from Jesus together with resolute effort, watchfulness and prayer, for merely belonging to the vine is not enough without bearing fruit, and fruit unlike Christ shows the branch is not drawing life from him. Growth in grace, joy, usefulness, power and spiritual fruitfulness depends on union maintained through daily continual communion, constant faith and a life that bears fruit, since Christ is the beginning, sustainer and completion of faith. Knowing the truth and claiming union while hardened in disobedience and self-confidence, trusting personal qualities, reputation, wealth, piety or church standing, leaves hopes delusive and work that God does not regard or accept, facing rejection. Helplessness is therefore to be confessed in humble prayer for more faith and divine enlightenment, opening the Bible, standing on its promises, covenanting to meet God's requirements, believing the naked promise, and working with zeal and determination, for God as a reservoir of power works with such efforts while blessings are limited by weak faith and without earnest work Satan leaves souls in unbelief and darkness.

Apart from Christ no good thing can be done, which leaves no room for self-exaltation or selfishness, calls everyone to repentance and to be wholly converted, and assures that those harshly judged by others may yet be justified before God with the sympathy of Christ and the angels. People have no goodness of their own to claim and can do good only through power God gives, so good deeds give no basis for boasting or taking credit and the glory belongs to God. Those who praise their own ability and wisdom may lose the blessings that enabled wise action and then fail as conspicuously as they once succeeded. Ability used for self-praise is exercised apart from Christ and cannot produce work that truly serves God, for fruitful work depends on working in Christ, not living for self or worldly purposes but giving body, soul, mind and spirit to God to be used in saving souls as those bought with the lifeblood of his only begotten Son, finding fullest satisfaction in his service, a work to be done quickly because time is short.

Unity in Diversity

Branches draw life and strength from one source, and through that common life they are joined to Christ and to one another in fellowship, love, harmony and mutual dependence as one harmonious body and family, like members of a body working together while differing in thoughts, words, actions, character and experience. Only by constant union with Christ can much fruit be borne that is of value to God and that shows the character of the life and gives evidence of God's work in the heart, for apart from Him nothing can be done. This oneness withstands Satan and testifies that God sent His Son, with Christ in God and believers in Christ so that the varied parts of the work depend on Christ as their source.

Each branch remains distinct and does not blend into another or become identical, preserving individuality without requiring uniformity in everything, for usefulness lies in diversity joined with unity. Every branch has its own place, work, character and fruit, yet shares one parent stock with Christ as center, and together the separate branches bearing each its own fruit form a complete whole. Distinct branches may remain separate while drawing nourishment from the same vine, and abiding in Christ brings much fruit seen in words, conversation, conduct and deeds, while a branch receiving nothing withers.

The shared life produces fellowship and love for one another, with sincere love, mutual respect, sympathy, tenderness, and obedience to loving one another as He loved, drawing near to others to join His work of saving souls. That love binds together white and black and varied workers and institutions in one stock, producing purity and holiness and a wholesome, saving influence whose fruit glorifies the Father and marks true disciples. Envy, jealousy, strife and division deny Christ and scatter, whereas abiding in Christ and keeping His commandments removes pride, envy, jealousy and strife and leads to humble views of self.

Remaining joined to Christ means remaining joined to the organized body of God's commandment-keeping people, which is the model for the church in every age, and drawing apart from that body to weigh and judge the church proves God is not leading. As a branch cannot be complete apart from its connection to the vine, so no part of gospel work can be a perfect whole when separated from the others. Health reform is therefore an integral part of the gospel work and must not be separated from the wider work as a separate work.

Service and Daily Living

Ministers, elders and teachers can do nothing without Jesus, for apart from him no good work for God is possible and dependence on him wholly is the first lesson to be learned by workers in Christian institutions, and accepting it is necessary for success in any work. The plain will laid out in John 13-17 calls those who minister in word and doctrine and know present truth to be converted, to understand genuine missionary work, to believe that God means exactly what he says in every verse, and to live it out before fellow ministers. A living connection with Christ joins divine power to human effort so that people can take part in warning the world, while self-sufficiency leads to pride and corruption, and workers must therefore build on Christ and seek the power God provides, knowing all efficiency and power come from God while responsibility for carrying out the work rests with them. Christ is the source of strength and victory, and working with him as personal Saviour is essential. For the teacher this means daily receiving instruction from Christ and laboring under his guidance, being much with God in prayer in order rightly to understand and perform his work, combining divine aid with earnest self-denying effort in order to work wisely and well, humbling the heart before God and realizing the need of prayer lest the very essence of education be lost, knowing how to pray and what language to use in prayer, and coming to the Lord and pleading until assurance comes that petitions are heard.

Those who teach sacred things must decrease self and let Christ mold them, humbling the heart, avoiding frivolous joking and flippant anecdotes in the sacred desk, or they will be dry, Christless and unprepared. Parents must abide in Christ to train children in righteous principles so they can serve God and educate others, using every human power and ability entrusted by God in cooperation with him to bless others and serve according to his law, for only by abiding is much fruit borne and true faith expressed in obedience brings abundant reward in this life and eternal life. Joined to him as branches to the vine they bear fruit through lives of service, while apart from him they can accomplish nothing, and working in Christ's way means using every God-given ability to serve others and educating children in righteous principles so they too may bless and teach others. Abiding calls for prayer and purposeful conduct, including speaking patiently to children and helping remove faults from their characters, never scolding or losing temper but governing wisely and presenting a godly example, which parents can do as they remain in Christ. God blesses just and correct discipline, but heavenly beings cannot cooperate with parents who neglect this work and leave a child's mind open to Satan's influence against the Holy Spirit, and profession of conversion does not settle the matter but character reveals whether neglected training has been overruled for good. This connection is to shape family life so that children are taught submission to their parents, parents are submissive to God, and the whole household is devoted to God, with business and daily work done in God with strict integrity, putting Christ first, with talents used to bless others and educate children to serve.

Physicians, schools, conferences and institutions depend wholly on Christ as chief physician and counsellor, for each branch is distinct yet draws sustenance from the same vine, and the varied parts of the work depend on Christ as their source in unity in diversity, forming a complete whole. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself apart from the vine, believers cannot bear fruit apart from Christ, but those who abide bring forth much fruit by being filled with his life-giving sanctifying power, and this abiding supplies faith and power so churches have no excuse for being without faith and without power. In study and work health and learning must not crowd out continued learning from Christ, and truth and righteousness must be maintained in every circumstance, beginning with prayer, seeking heavenly direction, walking humbly, keeping spiritual devotion from being crowded out, and laboring in unity, or work becomes dry, fruitless and unfit. A physician's ability to bring relief and lead others to Christ depends on close continuing connection with God, for without Christ the physician can do nothing, Christ is the worker and the physician only an instrument who must not claim praise but point people to Christ, and Christ promises to stand by the faithful physician whose testimony that Christ died for sins unto everlasting life can impress hearts. This means putting entire trust in him and hanging the helpless soul on him, living in the presence of God in the sunshine of Christ's righteousness, keeping sacred trust without betrayal, working faithfully at post to the end, and being prepared to meet those labored for in judgment and give account of stewardship.

The promise comforts believers in trials, poverty and the final conflict, giving courage, rest and peace, and its assurance comforts those who believe and encourages them to receive God's gracious blessings. It calls those for whom Christ gave his life to accept eternal life and live and labor for others, bearing good works of self-denial and self-sacrifice and efforts to bless others, and it must be carried out in daily life, for it is not fulfilled in those who remain indifferent, careless and self-serving. Christ's presence in the heart brings qualities that preserve others from corruption and death, and a fruitful life is evidence of discipleship and glorifies the Father. Trying to rise above the simplicity of Christ by doing some great thing to work the works of God is useless, especially when temporal cares absorb attention and draw the mind from eternal realities, for Christ knows the difficulties that try every soul. The first and highest duty is to know that one is abiding in Christ, seeking what the Lord says and yielding life to his guidance while Christ does the work, not merely coming to him but remaining in him, studying and practicing the word and finding time for spiritual things despite weariness and cares, seeking to understand and do his will, with humble step-by-step obedience and trust for strength even amid trials. When Christ abides within everything takes on a changed aspect, and the Saviour alone gives the rest and peace needed, so every invitation to seek the Lord is a call to abide in him, to be remembered during trials among the final comforts given before great suffering, giving light to discern what hinders the relationship.

Distinct illustrations preserve the lesson that a living connection is different from mere outward association or profession, for people may be close without genuine faith, but faith joins a person to him and receives his power. The woman's touch of faith illustrates this vital connection, for Christ recognized her faith and healed her by his power, showing that faith reaches him and receives his help. Whether Satan gains a place in the mind and whether a person gains a place in the new earth on Abraham's farm turns on remaining joined to Christ, and to stand under the banner of Prince Immanuel is to be bound by solemn vow to be a faithful soldier who does not run away from battle, which requires Christ's strength. Without his cooperation all work is hard and profitless, while success crowns obedience to him, as proved after his ascension when the wearied discouraged disciples fished all night and caught nothing until they obeyed the risen Saviour's direction to cast on the right side and drew a net so full they could not lift it, causing them to forget fruitless labor, to see Jesus as risen Saviour, and to believe in him. In the work in England and everywhere they depend on his help, presence and mighty power as they unite their efforts, and those who claim to belong to God are called to work in harmony with Christ, receive illumination of his Spirit, follow his way of working, put self aside, and make Christ evident in work and character. So Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar was broken despite grandeur, Daniel's wisdom came from connection, Solomon's loss came through self-sufficiency, Paul and Apollos were powerless without God, John clung as vine to pillar, the fishing net was filled on obedience, and the Laodicean rich cut off and Friday review against fig-tree profession warn alike.

No one can do work for God without Christ abiding in the heart by living faith, as a living connection lived out daily by faith bringing right relation with God and joining his power with human effort so people can accomplish the work given them in the world. In that union there is constant growth into a faithful witness and guide who works as Christ worked, with strong faith, complete consecration, self-denial, cross-bearing, prompt and vigorous action, tempered character, a single eye to glorify God and not self, and love for souls. The much fruit is abounding love, approving excellent things, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, and becoming workers together with God, and to abide is to cooperate with Jesus, to labor together with God, taking his yoke of meekness and lowliness instead of a yoke of human manufacture, walking in humility, denying self daily, lifting and carrying the cross and following him. The fruit of abiding is active self-sacrificing labor to carry saving truth to others in darkness and destitute regions rather than spending means and effort on self-enjoyment, giving tangible proof of love for God and love for neighbor, and teachers must keep learning from Christ and rely on him to shape character and help them work as he did. Apart from Christ there is no success in working for salvation of souls and no converting power on hearts, only disappointment and failure, so the only safe course is to take Christ along and refuse to go unless he goes.

This abiding is what makes men trustworthy before their brethren and enables the Lord to work with them, shown in unselfish labor and in avoiding injudicious movements as being controlled by the Spirit of an abiding Christ within, while failure to abide repeats past failure to bear the test and gives occasion for criticism. Those whom he can trust with difficult and perilous responsibilities to bring the light of truth to the world in clear bright rays are those grown into faithful guides working as he worked. Those entrusted with responsibility who lack the love of Jesus in their hearts and rely on their own wisdom are not bearing the fruit that comes from abiding in him, and can do nothing of lasting spiritual value apart from him.