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How does one remain in The Vine?
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AP Photo/Eric Risberg
In the first 17 verses of John 15 (NIV Version) the words “remain in” is said eleven (11) times. Eleven times! “Remain”, Jesus says. He doesn’t say to “get into” or “move in” or “jump in”. He says to remain in the vine – which verse 1 says is Jesus himself. Verse 3 tells us that when we are in Christ, we have to choose to remain there.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “remain” as:
American Heritage Dictionary – Cite This Source
re·main (r-mn) Pronunciation Key intr.v. re·mained, re·main·ing, re·mains
1. To continue in the same state or condition:
2. To continue to be in the same place; stay or stay behind:
3. To be left after the removal, loss, passage, or destruction of others: Only a few trees remain. See Synonyms at stay1.
4. To be left as still to be dealt with: A cure remains to be found.
5. To endure or persist.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
What I find interesting is that remaining in the Vine it is our choice. Unlike a physical plant, such as a grapevine, on our world, we have the choice to stay plugged into Jesus and by staying plugged in we are choosing to bear fruit.
Notice, God never gives us an option of just hanging around on the vine without growth. God, the Master gardener clearly gives us ONLY 2 choices (verse 2). We choose to be pruned or we choose to be cut off. WHAT??? Read v2 again, “He [God] cuts off every branch in me [Jesus] that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (emphasis added). A branch either bears fruit or doesn’t bear fruit. THATS IT. We either get cut off (for not bearing fruit) or we get pruned (for bearing fruit). When this soaks in, this should shake us to the very core of our being. There is no other option. We will either bear fruit or be cut off. There is no choice to be set in the Vine and NOT bear fruit. We only bear fruit by remaining in Him.
