by Linda Jackson

Created on: August 25, 2008

John 15:1 (New King James Version Bible) says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." The Bible gives many examples of the wondrous working relationship of the God head. For example, Colossians 1:13-14, says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." 1 Peter 1:2 says that Christians are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . . ."

Colossians 1:15-16 describes God's ultimate power over His creation. Colossians 1:15-16 says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." This is also confirmed in the verses of John 1:3 and Revelation 4:11.

The parable of John 15:1-8 is an analogy of God's salvation and judgment on His creation. God the Father is the vinedresser. Jesus Christ is the vine. The vineyard represents the congregational church that has two types of disciples. The disciples are the branches. The branches that do not abide in the true vine Jesus Christ are cast out and gathered to be thrown into the fire for the judgment of the second death. These branches are dead because they lack life from Jesus Christ the true vine. Titus 3:5-6 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior." These dead branches trust in their dead work to save them instead of the work that Jesus Christ completed by dying on a cross and rising three days later paying the penalty due God the Father for the sins of God's chosen children. Jesus means "Savior". Those who trust in self rather than the Savior will experience Matthew 7:22-23 which says, "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

The branches that abide in Jesus Christ the true vine are pruned by the Father the vinedresser to produce more good fruit. The

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