15:4

"A key word in this verse is the word remain (abide) which appears no fewer than eleven times in the passage. It seems to suggest an effortless resting in the Lord, confident in the promised union between the vine and the true branches. Furthermore John uses the word remain forty times in his Gospel and 27 more times in his epistles. In the context of this passage, it seems to emphasize an ongoing faith and loving obedience to the Father and the Son that results in fruit.

This is a new covenant thinking. The disciples and all believers since them must give up the idea that true Christianity emphasizes memberships and associations rather than life in Christ though the Spirit. "

John by Kenneth O. Gangel p 283

The Right Stuff

Five points of resemblance between the vine and believers.

1. The Right Stock - Jesus said I am the true vine - The first essential in planting a vineyard is having the right stock. A nurseryman who sells stock guarantees the plant he sells is true to type. Jesus is the true stock, the one true vine, He is the one and only original from which all others must come from.

2. The Right Expert - My father is the husbandman - Great vineyards are taken care of by experts. An expert who knows when to prune as well as how much to prune and when to fertilize as well as how much to fertilize. He knows how to produce a maximum crop. This spiritual vineyard is taken care of by God himself the foremost expert on training and developing the maturity of man.

3. The Right Culture - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit - to keep the culture pure pruning must take place.

4. The Right Contact - Abide in me, and I in you -

5. The Right Fruitage - the same beareth much fruit - the expert keeps the right stock with the right culture connected to the right contact bearing the right fruit.

The Gospel of Belief, Merrill C. Tenney p 227