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. (John 15:5). As a further connotation of the container-content relationship, the believer is presented as a branch, with Christ as the vine. The branch can produce nothing without the life of the vine. John is very explicit that those who abide in Christ will bring forth much fruit, but it is not their fruit, it is the fruit of the vine, Christ. But Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house are we (Hebrews 3:6). This is the last reference to Christ ruling over the believers house, which is Christs body. In order to understand the message of the New Testament, we must come to know that believers are nothing without Christ in them. If I as a believer try to make myself the vine, the husband, the master, I will not function as a Christ-person. Even though born again, I will be in violation of the container-content relationship and will never be the person the Father intended. Believers must come to the knowledge that they are one with the indwelling Christ operating through their container--their vessel--to the glory of God. One of the most important scriptures to the understanding of the Christ-life is Galatians 2:20: 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. Believers no longer live for themselves, as independent selves. When Christ died, they died in Him, and the life they now live is the life of Christ being lived through them as unique expressers of their Lord. The believer and Christ are now one in union. Rivers of Living Water Beryl Woledge Christ-Life Daily Devotions January 12.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 10:05:18 +0000
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