Jesus stated another truth that many of His children either don’t understand or ignore.
John 15:5 NLT
[5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
“Apart from me, you can do nothing,”… a categorical statement that has no conditions, no “ifs” and “buts”.
Why is this statement true?
Unlike any other religious system in the world, including Judaism, being a believer in Jesus is far more than adhering to a belief system. Being a Christian is not and can never be a religion as compared with other religions, which are, at best, self-help efforts to gain acceptance with a deity invented by human imagination.
Being a Christian involves a dynamic partnership between Jesus, the Son of God, and me. When I took the step of believing the truth about Him, that He is Lord, and that He rose from the dead, a miraculous change happened to and in me.
Romans 10:9-10 NLT
[9] “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
I was saved from myself and joined to Jesus in a faith-union, brought about by the Holy Spirit who came to live in me, that radically changed many things.
- I was spiritually dead because of sin, but the Holy Spirit made me spiritually alive to God.
Ephesians 2:1, 4-6 NLT
[1] “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins….
[4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) [6] For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”
- I was supernaturally born into God’s kingdom and now live under His rule.
John 3:3, 5 NLT
[3] “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”…
[5] Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.”
1 Peter 1:23 NLT
[23] “For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”
- I was transferred from Satan’s dominion to God’s kingdom where I am free from Satan’s power to influence me or to keep me in slavery.
Colossians 1:13-14 NLT
[13]”For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, [14] who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
- I died to sin when I was identified with Jesus in His death on the cross and rose with Him to a new life.
Romans 6:1-4 NLT
[1]”Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? [2] Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? [3] Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? [4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
- I was given a new nature, God’s nature, so that I can live a new life of holiness, separated from sin to God.
2 Peter 1:4 NLT
[4]”And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
- The Spirit of Jesus lives in me to teach and guide me in my new life in Christ.
John 16:13-14 NLT
[13] “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. [14] He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”
1 John 2:27 NLT
[27] “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
- I have been delivered from the fear of death and I anticipate a perfect life in God’s presence forever.
Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT
[14]”Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. [15] Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”
- My destiny was eternal separation from God and all that God is… but God changed my direction, towards Him and eternal life.
John 3:16-17 NLT
[16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
- Jesus changed my life from a meaningless and purposeless existence to an abundant life.
John 10:10 NLT
[10]”The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
And so much more…
Can you now understand why we can do nothing without Jesus? Apart from all that Jesus has done for us through His life, death, and resurrection, our union with Him as branches in a vine, provides all the nourishment and strength we need to bear the fruit of His life in us. He provides the truth of His Word that sets us free and grows His character in us as we stay joined to Him by faith.
God’s goal for all His children is that we become replicas of His Son. Only as we protect and foster our union with Jesus in our everyday lives through the Holy Spirit in us, can we become who He has created us to be.
Romans 8:29 NLT
[29] “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
So, Jesus said,
John 15:4-5 NIV
[4] “Remain in me, as I also 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. [5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”