The Vine And Its Branches
By Gerry Watts
We shall now consider the final parable of this book, which is a fitting end to all that's gone before. Jesus spoke about the Grapevine and its branches during His last Passover meal with His disciples, on the night He was betrayed. It is recorded in John 15:1-17.
It was also during this 'Last Supper' that Jesus said that He wouldn't drink the fruit of the vine again until it found fulfillment in the kingdom of God, when He would drink it anew with His disciples (see Matthew 26:27-29; Mark 14:23-25; Luke 22:14-18). This red wine symbolised Christ's blood, the true blood of the New Covenant, as He became the great Passover Lamb Sacrifice. His death and resurrection fulfilled the spiritual and typological meaning of the Feast of Passover.
In this sense, it found fulfillment in the kingdom of God, and the spiritual kingdom of the heavens came at Pentecost that same year when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples. After His resurrection, the scriptures state that Jesus ate and drank with His disciples, so it is likely that He also drank the fruit of the vine anew with His disciples during this time, before He ascended. Nevertheless, there is a greater manifestation of the kingdom yet to come at Christ's return, when the wedding supper of the Lamb will take place in the glory of a New Creation. Then we shall all drink of the fruit of the vine in a cup of overflowing abundance.
There appears to be a double meaning here in relation to the fruit of the vine, for not only does the wine symbolise Christ's blood, but it can also represent the spiritual joy and blessings of the Kingdom of God, which, of course, is a consequence of Christ's blood sacrifice. Jesus' first miracle of changing pots of water into fine tasting wine at the wedding in Cana perfectly symbolises His glory and the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven (see John 2:1-11). The water of the Spirit, which is refreshing in itself, especially when one is thirsty, is transformed into the sweet wine of the grape, which symbolises the joy and happiness of the wedding feast of the spiritual Kingdom of God. Jesus was referring to the same spiritual blessings of the New Covenant when He spoke of New Wine being poured into New Wineskins (Luke 5:37-39).
Anyhow, let us begin to consider the allegory of the Vine and its Branches.
Israel Was The Vine
Firstly, we need to realise that this figure of Vines and Vineyards was not something new. There are many instances in the Old Testament where the nation of Israel was viewed as being the Vine planted in the Vineyard of the promised land, with Jerusalem itself as the centre of the Vineyard. Therefore the Vineyard ultimately represents the Kingdom of God, and the Vine represents the people of God who are to bear good fruit. (For further information on this, see the Parable of the Vineyard Farmers in this book).
Here are a few key examples.
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.It sent out its boughs to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?Boars from the forest ravage it
and the creatures of the field feed on it.Return to us, O God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted,
the son (or branch) you have raised up for yourself.Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.(Psalm 80:8-18 NIV)
This Psalm gives hints of the Messianic kingdom of the greater Son of David, the Branch, who would arise amongst the people of Israel. The Vine of Israel is seen as being initially blessed in the land of Canaan, within the boundaries originally promised to Abraham, yet they are ultimately judged by God for their sins, burned with fire and destroyed. The only hope is repentance and faith in the Messiah, the Son at the right hand of God.
The prophet Isaiah also spoke of these things, and the judgments of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, ultimately looking ahead to the era of the Messiah and the ultimate judgment upon Jerusalem by the Romans.
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel...
...I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit."Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.
I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it."
The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
(Isaiah 4:2 & 5:1-7 NIV)
The sad indictment is that the vineyard of Israel produced only bad fruit, that of murder and all manner of unrighteousness. Therefore judgment was inevitable. Hosea also used this analogy.
Israel was a spreading vine;
he brought forth fruit for himself.
As his fruit increased,
he built more altars;
as his land prospered,
he adorned his sacred stones.Their heart is deceitful,
and now they must bear their guilt.
The LORD will demolish their altars
and destroy their sacred stones...... Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the LORD,
until he comes
and showers righteousness on you.But you have planted wickedness,
you have reaped evil,
you have eaten the fruit of deception.
Because you have depended on your own strength
and on your many warriors,the roar of battle will rise against your people,
so that all your fortresses will be devastated—
as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,
when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.(Hosea 10:1-2, 12-14 NIV)
Some time later, Jeremiah and Ezekiel echoed the same words.
I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine?(Jeremiah 2:21 NIV)
"Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will set my face against them. Although they have come out of the fire, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD. I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD."
(Ezekiel 15:6-8 NIV)
Here we see the figure of the vine being burned in the fire of God's wrath and vengeance due to sin and disobedience. This figure of God's judgment upon Israel and Jerusalem is also symbolised as grapes being crushed in the winepress of His wrath. The following scriptures were prophesying these things concerning Jerusalem's judgment, as well as including the judgment that would fall upon the nations who attacked Jerusalem, promising protection for the believing remnant of Israel who remained faithful to Yahweh.
Concerning ancient Israel, these things have had their horrific fulfillment primarily in the wars of the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Romans, covering their history from the 8th century BC to 70 AD, when the Old Covenant was officially terminated.
"Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!"
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
(Joel 3:12-16 NIV)
Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
(Revelation 14:17-20 NIV)
With this background information, let us now turn our attention to the parable in John 15.
The True Vine
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener (or farmer). He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes (literally 'cleans') so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
(John 15:1-4 NIV)
Jesus is now the true Vine, the true Israel, if you will. That is to say, the only ones who belong to the spiritual people of the Israel of God are those who are followers and believers in Jesus/Yeshua as the Messiah. Jesus is the true Vine and His followers are the branches in the Vineyard of the Kingdom of Heaven. God the Father is the Farmer or Gardener Who prunes and cultivates the branches so that they will bear more fruit.
All those who claim to be Jews or Christians, who claim to be in the Vine of the true Israel, but who bear no fruit, are cut off, that is, they are judged and condemned. Whereas those who do bear fruit are pruned, literally cleaned up, so that they will be even more fruitful. In the same way as dead branches are cut back to cause the tree to bear more fruit, so God prunes His people with discipline to get rid of the dead works of the flesh so that ultimately we will bear more spiritual fruit, the fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus stated that the true disciple is already clean because he has accepted the word of Christ, nevertheless, we are to remain in the Vine if we are to bear fruit to God. No one can bear fruit alone, of his own works, but we must remain in the source of all Life and fruitfulness, the Vine of Christ Jesus Himself.
Now you may be asking, 'What does all this mean in a practical sense?' Well, as we've already seen briefly from the OT, the fruit represents our deeds or works, and our character. The Good Fruit represents acts of obedience and faith and righteousness, whereas the Bad Fruit represents acts of disobedience and unrighteousness. These acts are expressed through our character and the way we live.
Jesus Himself is the ultimate example of One who bears Good Fruit, that is, One who obeys the commands and leading of the Father. In the same way, Jesus' followers, who are to remain in Him, that is, those true disciples who identify themselves with Christ's teaching and character, are to bear the same kind of fruit as sons of God. Bearing this kind of Good Fruit is what pleases God - but we have to remain in Christ and He in us. This is true discipleship and servant hood - but it's not religion or meaningless ritual! It's all a matter of Grace!
Let us take a look at some New Testament scriptures that tell us something about the fruit we're to bear.
Bearing Fruit
But when he (John the Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
(Matthew 3:7-10 NIV)
John the Baptist echoed the words of the earlier prophets by warning the religious leaders of Israel that the fiery wrath of God was soon to come upon Jerusalem and Palestine. He told them to produce the right fruit in keeping with repentance. He was telling them to not rely on their religious roots of tradition, and flesh and blood ancestry, but to live out the righteous acts of repentance and faith toward God in obedience to the spirit of His Law. True faith will always produce righteous acts in accordance with God's commands, because the Law is holy, righteous and just, and it reflects something of the character of God. Those who love Him will obey Him - even through acts of repentance due to sin.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
(Matthew 7:15-20 NIV)
Jesus warned the people of false prophets who would appear to be good, religious leaders, but inside, their heart motives and attitudes would be that of a wolf that attacks the sheep. So Jesus is talking about character here, and not necessarily doctrine. These false shepherds would really be thorns and thistles to the sheep, rather than being beneficial fruit for the people to feed from. They are likened to bad, rotten trees that can produce only bad, rotten fruit. As bad trees they are incapable of bearing good fruit!
So, Jesus says that we can tell a false prophet, or false shepherd/pastor, or false teacher, not so much by his doctrine, which may appear to be correct, but by his general character and spirit, and the way he lives his life. Does he live the life of His Master and Lord with the right heart attitude concerning righteousness, love and truth? This is described as the fruit one bears, and it is this fruit that reveals whether or not we're a bad tree or a good tree, that is, whether we're a true servant of God or not. A true son is one who bears the image and character of the Father.
This is not talking about sinlessness, for the child of God should always be growing, and we often make mistakes in our immaturity, sometimes without truly knowing it, but it does matter how we handle our mistakes. If we are truly seeking to walk in humble obedience to the Father, in love and truth, then we can rectify our mistakes through acts of repentance. The Spirit of Jesus cannot help but bear good fruit in our lives. Although it is the grace of God that saves us and sanctifies us through Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, nevertheless, we are expected to walk worthily of our calling in obedience to the commands of Christ and of God. This is what it means to be a true Christian, a true follower of Jesus. Be that as it may, the false leaders cannot hide their true identity for their wolf-like character will reveal itself in their everyday lives.
At this time of writing, in recent months, there have been a number of well known evangelical Christian Bible teachers and pastors here in the UK who have been exposed as deceptive wolves and religious hypocrites (to my perception anyhow). Many have been influenced by them, which has led to great damage being done to many of God's people. One was very outspoken about upholding traditional family values and the Christian walk, and he was often very arrogant and angry in his preaching and teaching, making a big deal over healings and miracles in his church - and yet it turned out that he was having an adulterous affair with a member of his church for many years! This guy is 'Bishop' Michael Reid.
Another guy, who's ministry I was greatly blessed by many years ago, a very intelligent, well-educated man, has become more and more arrogant and rude, resorting to slander, gossip and reviling of fellow believers, even against those who are clearly showing a more Christ-like spirit than he is, and this bad attitude and focus permeates his website. In fact, the only time I ever met him, when I greeted him with 'alright, then' and a smile, he just looked at me blankly and said nothing! That reaction had more of an impression on me than his subsequent teaching! But hey, peace and blessing to him, as he may have been having a bad day, like we all do sometime or another! Nevertheless, to me, this is where it matters - how we treat one another - even when we're feeling really ill or something. Without love and kindness, our faith and teaching can lose its meaning.
Yet sadly he just seems to be one of many these days who raise themselves up to 'defend the faith' with proverbial Tommy guns! He pretty much knocks down anyone who doesn't agree with him, and yet he is very popular among dispensational Christian Zionists. His name is Jacob Prasch of Moriel Ministries. His treatment of Rev. Steven Sizer is one such example.
Yet, in all honesty, I've known for a long time that things weren't right with these guys. I just knew it in my spirit, because they were not bearing the right fruit. It doesn't matter how intelligent or scholarly someone is, or how popular they are, but what matters most is the way they treat others, especially their own spiritual family!
Yet having said that, we must be careful that we don't judge anything before the appointed time, for some things remain somewhat hidden from view. And there can always be room for a change of heart and action. Grace is the key, for we all have a dark side! By God's grace, may the light of Christ shine out instead!
I'm not usually in the business of 'naming and shaming' but these guys have very public ministries, and they carry great influence. The things mentioned here are not just little mistakes committed in a quiet corner somewhere. For good reason, I am concerned for those who are greatly influenced by them. Hence, I have used them here as examples of obvious bad fruit, which has clearly tainted their ministries. Again, let us be reminded of Jesus' teaching on this.
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
(Matthew 12:33-37 NIV)
Here is what the apostle Paul had to say on the subject of bearing fruit.
The acts of the sinful nature (the flesh) are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(Galatians 5:19-26 NIV)
Here is a clear list of the acts of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh are just that - the works or actions of mortal flesh left to itself. This is the Old Man or Old Humanity. In this state, no one can please God or save themselves from sin and death. On the other hand, the character of the New Man or New Humanity is that which grows of the Spirit of God. This is totally a work of Grace.
Those who live in accordance with the acts of the Old Humanity in Adam will not inherit the kingdom of God - even if they claim to be Christians. Only those who are Overcomers in Christ, those who bear the spiritual fruit of the New Humanity, will inherit the kingdom of God in immortality and incorruption. And the principle fruit of the New Man is Love.
Here are some more scriptures that talk of the fruit of the Spirit.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
(Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV)
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
(Colossians 1:10 NIV)
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
(James 3:17-18 NIV)
In relation to the pruning or cleansing that the Father gives to His sons, so that we will bear more fruit, the fruit of righteousness and peace, the writer to the Hebrews had this to say.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:11 NIV)
We have a wall hanging in our living room that has a picture of a bunch of grapes on it, and it reads "Fruit is evidence of the Root" and below this it has the following quote from John 15 about the Vine and the Branches. This is always a good reminder to me of the true teaching of Jesus - we must bear the right fruit and live the life, but apart from Him we can do NOTHING that has any real lasting value toward God!
"Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing"
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
(John 15:5-8 NIV)
What it means to remain or abide in Christ is to be a true follower or disciple of Jesus, seeking to hear the voice of the Spirit and to obey the commands of God and of Christ. This 'abiding' will then result in much spiritual fruit and fruitful prayer, for God hears the prayers of the righteous ones. This cannot be done in the strength of our own flesh, because the flesh can only produce bad fruit because its roots are rotten. So good deeds by themselves cannot save us from sin and death, and they cannot make us right with God. This can only occur through the gracious acts of the Spirit of God and of Christ manifesting love through us by faith. Jesus is the true Vine and the sons of God are the branches. That is, the Body of Christ Ecclesia or Church is the true heavenly Israel of God.
We must be transferred into the New Humanity in Christ, which is represented elsewhere as the ultimate Tree of Life. Christ is the ultimate Fruit Tree full of Life, and His people, the sons of God, are the branches and leaves. A greater manifestation of these things awaits us in the near future when Christ shall return to restore all things in a New Creation.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever....
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."
(Revelation 22:1-5, 14 NIV)
It is the purpose of God that Christ's disciples bear much fruit for the Father's glory. This can only be done in and through Christ, for apart from Him we can do NOTHING that has any lasting value before God. All things of the flesh will be burnt up in the fires of God's righteous judgment in the age to come. That is, the dead withered branches that did not remain in the vine will be thrown into the fire of God's age abiding chastening. (These things have been considered in previous parables). Therefore, the grace of God is not a license for us to do what we want or to use our freedom to indulge in fleshly immoral acts. The Vine is NOT a rotten tree, but a sacred one, a Holy One. It's lifeblood is the very Kingdom of God.
Love One Another
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."
(John 15:9-17 NIV)
Jesus went on to talk to His disciples about love - the love of the Father for His Son, the love of the Son for His Father, and the love of the Son for His friends. This love is expressed through obeying the commands of God and His Son. This is how we remain in Christ's love. This, in turn, should lead us to love one another in accordance with Christ's simple command. This is not a slushy, sentimental love (though there is a place for romantic love, of course, between a man and a woman), but this kind of love is the strongest thing that there is in the whole universe. It is the kind of sacrificial love that causes one to lay down his life for his friends. This same love causes one to even love their enemies. Jesus lived this love out to the utmost. He is our example, a true Leader.
This love brings the fullness of the joy of Christ into our hearts. As we grow in the love and grace and knowledge of God, we are then termed 'friends' of Christ rather than mere servants. As friends, we get to know the Father's business, as Jesus reveals more of Himself to us, and this in turn leads to much spiritual fruit bearing. This place of blessing and rest in the Father's hands is not automatically given to each believer. It has to come through experience and growth, leading to spiritual maturity. Only then will we live fruitful lives, spiritually speaking, as we obey the commands of Christ and remain in His love. Only then will we pray in accord with God's will, and He will give us whatever we ask for in His Name.
The Sons of God are not saved and sanctified because they choose to be of their own accord, but it is Christ who chose us in accord with God's will. We were chosen for a purpose - to become firstborn sons of the living God; shepherds who will care for the lost; royal priests who will rule and guide the sons of men in righteousness, love and truth, with the justice of God, tempered with mercy. This is confirmed by the Apostle Paul.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:4-10 NIV)
We are to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, guiding us in all that we say and do, and we are to let the word of Christ dwell in our hearts richly through faith. Those who are the true sons of God will be led by the Spirit of God in accordance with the New Humanity in Christ Jesus. These words of Paul say it all. May we meditate on them often.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Colossians 3:1-17 NIV)
Those who are the true chosen ones of God are not the Jewish people or the state of Israel, as many believe. Earthly Israel after the flesh are no longer the chosen people of God, apart from those who belong to the spiritual remnant of grace in Messiah Jesus. Yet this Israel of God also includes all true Gentile Christians as well.
"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit."
(Matthew 21:43 NIV)
The Old Covenant has passed away, and all the promises of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants are fulfilled in, and through, the New Covenant in Christ and His people, the true Israel of God, the Vine and its branches. (This is dealt with a little more in the Appendix). Here are some scriptures that clearly confirm this truth.
By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear....
...For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant....
...But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
(Hebrews 8:13; 9:15; 12:22-24 NIV)
It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel...
...But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ...
...So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened...
...I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved...
(Romans 9:6; 10:16-17; 11:5-7, 25-26 NIV)
In the days just before Christ returns, there will be a great ingathering of Jews into the kingdom of God, as well as Gentiles. We are now living in those days of the latter rains of the Spirit. The great Harvest of the end of the age is nearly upon us - so keep running the Race of Faith, and remain in the Vine - and you will receive the wreath of Life when He comes.
Copyright © Gerry Watts 2009