I AM THE TRUE VINE

The Corrupt Vine

The Lord described Israel as a corrupt vine in the Old Testament.

Wild grapes= stink fruit or poison berries

See Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:8-19...

Jeremiah 2:21 “Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?”

The True Vine

The Old Testament prophesied of the Messiah who would be the true vine.

See Jeremiah 23:5-6, Isaiah 11:1-5, Isaiah 53:1-3...

Jeremiah 33:15 “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

Jesus is the Branch of David and the Root of Jesse.

Isaiah 11:10 “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.”

Romans 15:12 “And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.””

The Father is the Vinedresser

See Isaiah 27:2-6...

The Unfruitful Branches

This is not the only place in the New Testament that uses this kind of language.

See Romans 11:11-24...

This refers to those who do not truly belong to Christ. (Verses 2 and 6)

See Matthew 7:19-23, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, James 2:17-20...

John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Those who don’t bear good fruit or abandon Christ prove that they weren’t Christians to begin with.

1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

Hebrews 3:14 “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

The Fruitful Branches

This refers to true believers. (Verse 2)

The Lord disciplines and works in us to make us more fruitful.

See Hebrews 12:5-11...

See Ezekiel 36:25–27...

Philippians 2:12–13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Those who belong to Christ will bear fruit. (Verses 4-5)

See Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23...

Our good fruit proves that we are true disciples of Christ. (Verses 8-17)

John 8:31 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

John 14:15 ““If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”