March 10, 1887

Christ the True Vine

EGW

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 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.”ST March 10, 1887, par. 1

Our heavenly Father planted on earth a goodly vine, whose fruit should be to eternal life. But this precious plant appeared to human eyes as a root out of dry ground, having no form or comeliness. When the claim was put forth that it was of heavenly origin, the men of Nazareth became enraged, and cast it from them. The inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem took the vine of God's own planting, and bruised it, and trampled it under foot, hoping to utterly destroy it forever. But now the Husbandman removed this goodly vine, and planted it in his own garden, beyond the spoiler's reach. The stock and root were concealed from human sight, but still “the branches run over the wall.” Thus grafts can be united to the vine, and, partaking of its nourishment, become flourishing branches, and bring forth much fruit.ST March 10, 1887, par. 2

The figure of the vine is a perfect symbol. God sent his Son from the heavenly courts to a world seared and marred by the curse of sin. In Christ all fullness dwelt; in him was righteousness, peace, life,—everything necessary to man's happiness and well-being. But the world hated the Son of the most high God. The world saw nothing attractive in him. The best gift of Heaven was slighted and spurned. Christ was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;” yet “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.” He was hated by evil men because his character was spotless, his works righteous. He came as the Redeemer of the world; yet he was taken by cruel hands, and shamefully entreated and crucified. God raised him from the dead, and he ascended to Heaven to plead his blood as the propitiation for our sins.ST March 10, 1887, par. 3

Though invisible to mortal sight, Christ still lives as the Redeemer of the world, the representative of man in the heavenly courts, and the medium through whom all blessings flow to the fallen race. His love is without a parallel. We cannot estimate the value of his life of toil and sacrifice, the precious ransom paid for our redemption. Surely it is not too much to ask the heart's best and holiest affections in return for such wondrous love.ST March 10, 1887, par. 4

Said the Saviour to his disciples: “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” In this vine is all spiritual life. From the fullness of Christ alone can we obtain the nourishment that will enable us to bear fruit unto eternal life. The vine stock is unseen; but the branches, the members of his body, are visible. The branch that was apparently dry and leafless, by being connected with the living vine, becomes a part of it,—a partaker of its life and fatness. Fiber by fiber, and vein by vein, it adheres to the vine, till the life-giving sap causes it to bud, and blossom, and bear fruit.ST March 10, 1887, par. 5

The scion becomes a part of the vine by forming a perfect union with it. Thus it is with the sinner. The soul, dead in trespasses and sins, must experience a similar process in order to be reconciled to God, and to become a partaker of Christ's life and joy. As the graft receives life when united to the vine, so the sinner partakes of the divine nature when connected with Christ by repentance and faith. This connection joins soul with soul, the finite with the infinite. When thus united, the words of Christ abide in us, and we are not actuated by a spasmodic feeling, but by a living, abiding principle.ST March 10, 1887, par. 6

Every branch united to the true vine brings forth fruit, not of its own kind, but that of the vine of which it has become a part. The Spirit of Christ flowing into the hearts of all who are truly united with him, makes them partakers of the divine nature. They will walk in the footsteps of their self-sacrificing, self-denying Redeemer. His purity and love will appear in their characters and their daily lives, while meekness and truth will guide their way.ST March 10, 1887, par. 7

“I am the true vine,” says Christ, “and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me [everyone who claims connection with me] that beareth not fruit, he taketh away.” This is the solemn warning that is addressed to each disciple. The careless and indifferent will after a time be overcome of temptation, and at last wholly separated from Christ.ST March 10, 1887, par. 8

But “every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” Every fruitful branch is pruned; for even fruitful branches may display too much foliage, and appear what they really are not. Husbandmen clip off the surplus foliage of the vines, and the tendrils that are grasping the rubbish of earth, thus making them more fruitful. And when the Master sees that worldliness, self-indulgence, and pride are cropping out in the lives of his followers, he prunes them. These hindering causes must be removed, and the defective overgrowth cut away, to give room for the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness.ST March 10, 1887, par. 9

Said Christ: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.” The branch can maintain its connection with the living vine only on condition that it bear fruit. And the fruit borne on the Christian tree is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Rich clusters of this precious fruit will appear on every branch that is subjected to the pruning of the wise Husbandman. The result of union with Christ is purification of heart, a circumspect life, and a faultless character. Yet those who have attained to this degree of Christian perfection are the last to claim that they have any merits of their own. “Accepted in the Beloved,” objects of their heavenly Father's constant care and unfailing mercy, they feel unworthy of the divine favor, and have too vivid a sense of utter dependence upon God to boast of their exalted position.ST March 10, 1887, par. 10

It is a sad fact that many who profess to be branches of the true vine show by their lives that they have no connection with it. Their words and actions, destitute of grace and meekness, resemble the stinging branches of the noxious thorn-tree, rather than the lovely, fruit-laden boughs of the precious vine. Love to God and love to our neighbor is the sum and substance of true piety. Those who are destitute of this love, and yet claim that they have gained high attainments in spiritual things, may for a time deceive their fellowmen, but they cannot deceive God. Says the true Witness, “I know thy works.” And in the great day of final accounts, God “will render to every man according to his deeds.”ST March 10, 1887, par. 11

Many misunderstand the object for which they were created. They do not realize that they were placed here to bless humanity and glorify God, rather than to enjoy and glorify self. God is constantly pruning his people, cutting off profuse, spreading branches, that they may bear fruit to his glory, and not produce leaves only. Idols must be given up, the conscience must become more tender, the meditations of the heart must be spiritual, and the entire character must become symmetrical.ST March 10, 1887, par. 12

Some who claim to be followers of Christ are withered branches, that must erelong be separated from the living vine. The love of the world has paralyzed their spiritual life, and they are not awake to the precious theme of redemption. The impression made on the world by these professed Christians is unfavorable to the religion of Christ. They manifest ambition and zeal in the business of the world; but they have little interest in things of eternal importance. The voice of God through his messengers is a pleasant song; but its sacred warnings, reproofs, and encouragements are all unheeded. Eternal interests are placed on a level with common things. The Holy Spirit is grieved, and its influence is withdrawn. Fruitful Christians are connected with God, and hence they are able to place a right value on eternal things. They feast upon the words of life; and whenever they listen to the “message of glad tidings,” they can say, as did the disciples to whom Christ explained the prophecies on the way to Emmaus, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” It is the duty of every child of God to store his mind with divine truth; and the more he does this, the more strength and clearness of mind he will have to fathom the deep things of God. And his growth in grace will be more and more vigorous, as the principles of truth are carried out in his daily life.ST March 10, 1887, par. 13

He who is in harmony with God will constantly depend on him for strength. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” It should be our life-work to be constantly reaching forward to the perfection of Christian character, ever striving for conformity to the will of God. The efforts begun here will continue through eternity. The advancement made here will be sure when we enter upon the future life.ST March 10, 1887, par. 14

Those who are partakers of Christ's meekness, purity, and love, will be joyful in God, and will diffuse light and gladness around them. The thought that Christ died to obtain for us the gift of everlasting life is enough to call forth from our hearts the most sincere and fervent gratitude, and from our lips the most enthusiastic praise. God's promises are rich, and full, and free. Whoever will comply with the conditions may claim these promises, with all their wealth of blessing, as his own. And being thus abundantly supplied from the treasure-house of God, he may, in the journey of life, “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,” thus blessing his fellow-men, and honoring his Creator. While our Saviour would guard his followers from self-confidence by the reminder, “Without me, ye can do nothing,” he has coupled with it for our encouragement the gracious assurance, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”ST March 10, 1887, par. 15