EGW WritingsJohn 15
Ellen G. White · Page 1 of 9
Read John 15 in the BibleJohn 15:1-2
Our High Calling
Fruit-bearing Branches, May 18
OHC 144.1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1, 2.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Ms 73, 1910
25LtMs, Ms 73, 1910, par. 7
Christ said, “I am the true vine, my Father is the husbandman; every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.] How is that possible? How is it possible that He purgeth it? It is just as possible as it was for Christ to endure what He endured in coming into the world, to make it possible for you to endure suffering. How? By perfecting a Christian character—not to detract from it, but to perfect it, because you show the Christlikeness. If they abuse you, you will not retaliate. God wants every soul of us to come into right relation to Him. Without being exalted and bolstered up, He wants us to know Him, and to show by a living example what we will do to be partakers with Christ in His sufferings. Our work is before us.25LtMs, Ms 73, 1910, par. 10
I was sitting in my chair just before starting on a long journey, and I lost myself, and I will tell you what was presented to me. “I am the true vine. ...” [Verse 1.] Whatever your disposition, whatever your temperament, unless you are molded and fashioned after Christ’s likeness you will never meet Him in peace. “I am the vine,” was presented in such clearness. Those that promise to bear fruit, to work to the glory of God, He pruneth, that they may bring forth more fruit. Now do not consider your trials are an abuse to you. They are to bring you into living connection with God. They are to teach you to resist the devil, and to cling to Jesus Christ. You want to get rid of your old hereditary tendencies and passionate disposition, and learn of Jesus to be meek and lowly. Why? Because there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun. You cannot afford to miss obtaining victories. May God put His Holy Spirit upon you and me, that we may fight the battles of the Lord and come off victorious.25LtMs, Ms 73, 1910, par. 15
“I am the true vine ... beareth not fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.] They do not see that there is a world to be saved. The pruning hurts, but if you will endure it, you will understand that it is to perfect a Christian character. It is to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. We have a heaven to win, and may God help us that we shall not miss the opportunity when we have it. In the world there is every possible invention to keep up an excitement and to divert the mind and to call people to one pleasure after another. That is just preparing for the coming of the Lord. He will come with power. He will come to put these things to an end. But it will be too late for you to work on the side of Christ then. You will have finished your period that God has given you to bear fruit. We want to bear fruit to His glory now. Every one of us wants to stand in right relation to God.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Ms 79, 1910
25LtMs, Ms 79, 1910, par. 31
Our dear Saviour says again, “I am the true vine. ... Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Ms 79a, 1910
25LtMs, Ms 79a, 1910, par. 40
Our dear Saviour says again, “I am the true vine and ye are the branches and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth not fruit he taketh it away.” [John 15:1, 2.] Now we want to know what fruit we are bearing. We want our fruits shall be right before the world in the ministry of Christ on the earth, and they can be if we will. We have all these advantages and how thankful we should be. The Lord brought this place right into our hands. What advantages we have in this very place! But there are other places where they need help, and let everyone who can, take his Bible in his hand and see what missionary work he can do; carry with him some of the little books that we have published, and if the people do not want to buy, leave the books with them, and tell them to read them whether they want to buy or not; and if any of you want to give some away, just do that. There is a chance to let our light shine and we want to do so. Now Satan has the advantage in many things. He can quote those glories that he had in the heavenly sanctuary just as though they belonged to him, and he will quote these things. He is working upon human minds and he will bring in all the sophistries that he can bring in, and mix it in with some of his wonderful learning and agency that he had in the heavenly courts. The world will certainly think that he is excellent. We want all that excellency and power, but we shall have the light of truth which is to shine. But Satan will present that light that he had in the heavenly courts, and many will think that it must be the truth, and they are intelligent men and good women, and he leads them right along to perdition.Reflecting Christ
God’s Grace Sweetens Every Affliction, December 7
RC 355.1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1, 2.The Upward Look
Christ Purges for a Reason, August 26
UL 252.1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1, 2.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 2 (1869 - 1875)
Lt 16, 1875
2LtMs, Lt 16, 1875, par. 10
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1, 2. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews 12:6.John 15:1-3
Manuscript Releases, vol. 2 [Nos. 97-161]
Excerpts from the E. G. White Diary
2MR 129.1
The 30th of May was a holy day, the second day of Pentecost, so no work in the factories was done on this day. Colors were flying from buildings and the people were pouring out in crowds to services. At five we met in Sister Doerner’s house. The room was not large and was full. I spoke from John 15:1-3. Brother Conradi interpreted for me. I had considerable freedom. I had special help from the Lord, else I could not have stood on my feet. I bore a very plain testimony. This was an intelligent company to speak to. Brother Conradi mentioned a request from the afflicted brother for the prayers of the children of God. We prayed for the sick and dying brother. Brother Conradi talked for some time to those assembled.The Review and Herald
October 11, 1887
RH October 11, 1887, par. 12
At 5 P. M., I spoke to those assembled, from St. John 15:1-3. Bro. Conradi interpreted in German. The truth was to me a reality, and I felt that God indeed gave me special strength and imparted to me of his Holy Spirit while speaking. I saw before me an intelligent company, who had had but few privileges and little labor from the ministering brethren. We hope and pray that this meeting may prove a blessing to those who were present. Bro. Conradi mentioned a request that had been made for the afflicted brother, for the prayers in his behalf of those assembled who had faith. We sent up our humble petitions for the sick and afflicted one, who was losing his hold on this life. As we presented this case before the Lord, we felt the assurance of the love of God even in this affliction. We felt that God loved him, and that he would do that which would be for the best good of the suffering one and his afflicted family, and for his own name’s glory. We could only leave the case in the hands of God; for he loves his suffering children, and apportions his grace to every trial.John 15:1-4
Testimony Treasures, vol. 1
Grafted Into Christ
1TT 512.1
Christ, in teaching His disciples, said: “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it [pruneth it], that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1, 2. He who is united to Christ, partaking of the sap and nourishment of the Vine, will work the works of Christ. The love of Christ must be in him or he cannot be in the Vine. Supreme love to God, and love to your neighbor equal to that which you bear to yourself, is the basis of true religion.1TT 514.1
As the branch must abide in the vine to obtain the vital sap which causes it to flourish, so those who love God and keep all His sayings must abide in His love. Without Christ we cannot subdue a single sin or overcome the smallest temptation. Many need the Spirit of Christ and His power to enlighten their understanding, as much as blind Bartimaeus needed his natural sight. “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” Verse 4. All who are really in Christ will experience the benefit of this union. The Father accepts them in the Beloved, and they become objects of His solicitude and tender, loving care. This connection with Christ will result in the purification of the heart and in a circumspect life and faultless character. The fruit borne upon the Christian tree is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Galatians 5:22, 23.John 15:1-5
That I May Know Him
Genuine Fruit Bearing, May 7
TMK 133.1
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.TMK 133.2
Said Christ, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1, 5, 2). That unpruned branch may have looked good to human eyes but the eye of One who never slumbers nor sleeps leaves it not alone to die of discouragement. The Husbandman pruneth it, that it may produce fruit unto life eternal....Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)
Lt 31, 1891
7LtMs, Lt 31, 1891, par. 32
The eating of Christ is represented by the ingrafting of the branches on the vine. Jesus said, “I am the vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me.” “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 15:1-5.]7LtMs, Lt 31, 1891, par. 34
Many of you know that you are not standing in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, and should you be cut down as unfaithful trees, you would lose heaven and the life that measures with the life of God. You are not ready to close up your account here. You need to take heed to yourselves, to watch and pray, to educate your thoughts to think on heavenly things, to educate your lips to speak on heavenly themes, to become familiar with inhaling the heavenly atmosphere, and be able to teach others that which you have learned of Jesus. Let the mind and soul be drawn to the great center of attraction, ever realizing the truth of Christ’s words, “without me ye can do nothing.” [John 15:5.] Then will you have more humble views of yourself than you have ever had before.John 15:1-6
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1
Chapter 61—Philosophy and Vain Deceit
1T 300.3
Vain philosophy. The members of the body are controlled by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head and believe that all the members of the body must act themselves and that fixed laws will lead them on in a state of progression to perfection without a head. John 15:1, 2, 4-6: “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”Testimony Treasures, vol. 1
Our Only Safety
1TT 98.3
Vain philosophy. The members of the body are controlled by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head and believe that all the members of the body must act themselves and that fixed laws will lead them on in a state of progression to perfection without a head. (John 15:1, 2, 4-6): “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4b
Philosophy and Vain Deceit
4bSG 90.3
“Vain philosophy.” The members of the body are controlled by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head, and every member of the body they believe must act themselves, and fixed laws will lead them on in a state of progression to perfection without a head. John 15:1-6. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”The Review and Herald
February 18, 1862
RH February 18, 1862, Art. A, par. 4
“By their fruits ye shall know them.” All of Christ’s followers bear fruit to his glory. Their lives testify that a good work has been wrought in them by the Spirit of God, and their life is unto holiness. It is elevated and pure. Those who bear no fruit, have no experience in the things of God. They are not in the vine. Read John 15:4, 5: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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.”RH February 18, 1862, par. 18
“Vain philosophy.” The members of the body are controlled by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head, and every member of the body they believe must act themselves, and fixed laws will lead them on in a state of progression to perfection without a head. John 15:1-6: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”Testimony for the Church — No. 7
“Philosophy and Vain Deceit”
T07 61.2
“Vain philosophy.” The members of the body are controled [controlled] by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head, and every member of the body they believe must act themselves, and fixed laws will lead them on in a state of progression to perfection without a head. John 15:1-6. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Ms 240, 1902
17LtMs, Ms 240, 1902, par. 17
The dividing of the conference was well, but some men in responsible positions acted like blind men, and the light given was that sufficient capabilities and talent were not in sight to carry the responsibilities and meet the crisis which would come in many places, especially at the heart of the work. The publishing plant was not to carry so much work, because they were not humble men who made God first and last and best in everything. There is no lack of efficiency with God or His Son Jesus Christ, but the great deficiency was in the managing ability of the men. They swelled to large proportions in themselves, to display themselves to themselves. This is very offensive to God. God calls for humble witnesses who can hear, and hear daily, to take in the full significance of Christ’s lesson in John 15:1-5. Mark these words: “For without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered.” [Verses 5, 6.] How true this is, and so many times [is it] revealed! But how hard [it is] for a man who has not been transformed in character to feel that he is not a perfect whole.John 15:1-7
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)
Ms 73, 1899
14LtMs, Ms 73, 1899, par. 1
The parable of the vine and the branches was given by Christ in explanation of genuine sanctification, and by it the mystery of the Christian life is made known. “I am the true vine,” Christ said, “and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [John 15:1-7.]14LtMs, Ms 73, 1899, par. 2
There are many who get above the simplicity of Jesus Christ, supposing that they must do some great thing in order to work the works of God. Things of a temporal nature absorb the attention of others, and they have little time or thought for eternal realities. Wearied out with cares that draw their minds from spiritual things, they cannot find time for communion with God. Constantly they ask themselves the question, How can I find time to study and practice the Word of God? Christ is acquainted with the difficulties that try every soul, and He says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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.” [Verses 4, 5.]14LtMs, Ms 73, 1899, par. 9
The words of Christ, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,” should have weight with each one of us. [John 15:7.] The privilege is granted us of eating Christ’s words, taking them into the very soul. The Saviour declared, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” [John 6:54-57.]14LtMs, Ms 73, 1899, par. 13
“Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you,” Christ said. [John 15:3.] In receiving and obeying His word, the disciples were cleansed and purified. Praying to His Father Christ said, “I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” [John 17:14-17.]14LtMs, Ms 73, 1899, par. 18
The true union with Christ is represented by the words, “Abide in me.” [John 15:4.] Christ has provided means whereby your whole life may be an unbroken communion with Himself. He invites you, “Come unto me ... and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] How full of compassion is the invitation. This sense of Christ’s abiding presence can only come through living faith, through connection with the vine. There must be a personal consecration to Him. Self must be hid with Christ in God, and Christ declares, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” [John 15:5.] The grace received will be constantly imparted, as a gratitude offering to God.John 15:1-8
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)
Lt 34, 1894
9LtMs, Lt 34, 1894, par. 13
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” [Matthew 5:9.] Can you claim the blessing in your home life? Do you obey the injunction of God, “Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering [and a] sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor?” [Ephesians 5:2.] No Christian lives for himself. He is to be as a branch of the living Vine, deriving his nourishment and life-giving properties from the Vine. The Great Teacher says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” [John 15:4.]9LtMs, Lt 34, 1894, par. 14
The follower of Christ testifies by his daily life in his home, in the church, and in his business, the relation he sustains to his professed Lord. He who is a fruit-bearing branch of the true Vine will bear fruit after the same quality as the Vine. If the fruit is not after the order of the Vine, it will be apparent to the world, to angels, and to men that the branch is not grafted into the true vine. Christ says, “I am the true vine.” [Verse 1.] But because there is a true vine there will also be a counterfeit vine, and the only way in which to distinguish the true from the counterfeit is by the quality of fruit borne by the branches. “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.” [Verse 5.] The words, the deportment, the actions will reveal the kind of fruit borne upon the branch. True love in the heart is a fruit of the Spirit of God, received only from Jesus Christ. Love is a property that is divine; it does not center the thoughts about self but is diffusive in its character, leading its possessor to seek the happiness and prosperity of others. Envy and evil surmising will not be dealt in by those who possess the element of love; for love “seeketh not her own.” [1 Corinthians 13:5.] God’s love is expressed in language that cannot be misinterpreted. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.]9LtMs, Lt 34, 1894, par. 15
In the fullness of God’s love He gave the obedient, the sinless, for the salvation of the disobedient and sinful. He made this infinite sacrifice because He desired to make sure the happiness of the human family. Christ says to His followers, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” [John 15:7, 8.] The fruit borne in the life is the only sign to the world, to angels, and to men as to whether the human agent has a vital connection with Christ or not. It is sure evidence that we are branches of the living vine if we manifest in life and character the attributes of Christ.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Ms 67, 1897
12LtMs, Ms 67, 1897, par. 4
The vine had often been used as a symbol of Israel; and now Christ sought to impress this lesson upon their minds, that this vine which they so much appreciated would be to them a lesson book. As they passed along the streets, and saw the climbing vine, the lesson of Christ would be repeated: “I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman.” [John 15:1.] They were to bear in mind that the Father Himself stood in exactly the same relation to His disciples as the husbandman to the vine. Though individually separate, the branches were united in the parent stalk, drawing nourishment from it. Thus there was unity in their diversity, vine stock and branches co-operating together in bearing fruit.12LtMs, Ms 67, 1897, par. 5
“Every branch in me that beareth no fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [Verse 2.] Every branch connected with the living Vine receives its nourishment from the parent stock. Such branches will bear much fruit. But the fruitless branch will reveal itself to be worthless. It bears no fruit, and will be cut away from the vine.12LtMs, Ms 67, 1897, par. 11
“Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” [Verse 4.] This is no casual touch, no off and on connection; but an abiding in Christ, and Christ abiding in the believing receiving agent. Thus he becomes one with Christ.12LtMs, Ms 67, 1897, par. 12
“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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch; and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will (in accordance with that word), and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” [Verses 5-8.] Here is seen the sure result to every human being who receives Christ and believes in him. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” [John 1:12.]12LtMs, Ms 67, 1897, par. 27
Here we have an explanation of the statement made in (John 15:6): “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” Christ had come to the time when the truth must be spoken decidedly, that the disciples who were indeed in the Vine might be distinguished from those who had no vital connection with Christ. And here was a branch who apparently was one with the vine; but after living with the disciples, and listening to the words of Christ, he gave evidence that he was not abiding in the Vine. “Have not I chosen you twelve,” said Christ, “and one of you is a devil?” [John 6:70.]12LtMs, Ms 67, 1897, par. 51
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] Every provision has been made in behalf of humanity. Christ came to teach that, through living faith in Him, we may become one with Him. His promise is, “Whosoever cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out” as branches that are withered and bear no fruit. [John 6:37; 15:6.] As the representative of the human family He came to save whoever would make application, with prayer and supplication, to God in His name.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)
Ms 56, 1890
6LtMs, Ms 56, 1890, par. 1
I have been thinking of the lesson that Christ gave to His disciples just prior to His entering the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing it would be His last opportunity to instruct His disciples before His crucifixion. He says to them, as He points to a vine—and the vine is something that the Jews greatly prized and respected and considered very beautiful—“I am the true vine; my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit shall be taken away.” [John 15:1, 2.] Now, here is something for us to study. “Taken away.” We have our opportunities now to bear fruit; we have our opportunities now that we can reveal that we are fruit-bearing branches of the vine. And if we go on now in a careless and indifferent manner, then what will be our position? He tells us He will take us away, for we cannot do anything without Christ; and if we are as a dead branch and do not draw any sap and nourishment from the living Vine, we shall become withered branches. [Verses 4-6.] He says every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it (pruneth it), that it may bring forth more fruit. [Verse 2.] Then He tells them that “It is My Father’s good pleasure that ye bring forth much fruit.” [Verse 8.] Are we the branches of the living Vine? Now, if we are, we are distinct; we are not all blended together; there are a number of branches, but we have one parent stock. If we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, will not our conversation, our words—everything we say—our deportment—everything we do—will it not have reference to Jesus Christ?Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)
Ms 62, 1896
11LtMs, Ms 62, 1896, par. 45
Said Christ, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:1, 5, 2. That unpruned branch may have looked good to human eyes, but the eye of One who never slumbers nor sleeps leaves it not alone to die of discouragement. The Husbandman pruneth it, that it may produce fruit unto life eternal, revealing a faith that works by love to God and purifies the soul.11LtMs, Ms 62, 1896, par. 62
I was unable to sleep past two a.m. My heart is oft times oppressed. I long for the wisdom which God alone can give me. I feel deeply the responsibilities resting upon me. Oh for physical and mental strength to do my whole duty and yet not be presumptuous! “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” John 15:8.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)
Ms 7, 1900
15LtMs, Ms 7, 1900, par. 8
We need to consider the parable of the vine, which Christ gave to His disciples. When the Father is spoken of as the Husbandman, there is implied the thought of ownership as well as of cultivation. Christ says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” [John 15:1, 2, 8.] The Lord Jesus is the root, and His believing people are the branches. If there was ever a place where the branches should bear much fruit, it is at our camp meetings. At these meetings the words, the actions, the spirit of the believers is marked, and their influence is as far-reaching as eternity.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 11 (1896)
Lt 64, 1896
11LtMs, Lt 64, 1896, par. 4
Before my husband’s death this matter in regard to the publishing house at Battle Creek and the publishing house at Oakland was presented to me under the figure of the vine, and since that time it has been presented to me under the same figure. The Lord has shown me that these two institutions are to be kept as separate as two branches which, though distinct, both center in the parent vine. They are not to be merged into one, but are to be kept distinct, yet each is to derive its nourishment from the same source. Said Christ, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” “I am the true vine, ye are the branches.” “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit ... he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” [John 15:1-5.]11LtMs, Lt 64, 1896, par. 5
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [Verse 6.] “And now also the axe is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree which bringest forth not good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” [Matthew 3:10.] “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” [Matthew 7:16-20.] “Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples.” [John 15:8.]Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
The Sabbath Meetings
HS 182.4
Sabbath morning I still felt the effects of the evening’s chill. For two weeks I had been suffering much from some teeth that had been improperly treated by the dentist, and the cold that I had taken not only affected my lungs and throat, but rendered the pain in my teeth almost unendurable. I felt unable to speak to the people; but my earnest prayer went up to heaven for needed strength. Again I ventured to the hall, and found it well filled with interested hearers. I spoke from John 15:1-8, on the subject of the True Vine. I was strengthened and blessed; my infirmities were forgotten in the interest I felt for precious souls. The dear Saviour seemed very near, and the Holy Spirit rested upon the assembly.Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887
Faithful Seed Sowing
EGWE 97.1
Sabbath morning she spoke again, from John 15:1-8,“Brother Matteson acting as interpreter.” As she preached about the true vine and its branches she “was strengthened and blessed; my infirmities were forgotten in the interest I felt for precious souls. The dear Saviour seemed very near, and the Holy Spirit rested upon the assembly” (Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 182).Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887
The Swiss Conference of 1887
EGWE 270.1
On Friday she preached from one of her favorite texts, John 15:1-8. Three meetings were assigned to her for the Sabbath day—morning, afternoon, and evening. Her subject at the evening service was drawn from Daniel, chapter one. Temperance was a theme God had represented to her as of great importance. She continued on Sunday morning to stress the broad place of temperance in the Christian’s life. This time her text was Romans 9:24-27.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Ms 8a, 1888
5LtMs, Ms 8a, 1888, par. 1
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth [it], that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” [John 15:1-8.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Ms 29, 1887
5LtMs, Ms 29, 1887, par. 24
I spoke to those assembled from John 15:1-8. The Lord helped me to give a very solemn discourse upon the necessity of being in Christ as the branch is in the vine in order to bear the right quality of fruit. The Spirit of the Lord helped my infirmities. I was blessed of God, indeed.John 15:1-9
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Ms 20, 1888
5LtMs, Ms 20, 1888, par. 1
John, the fifteenth chapter, commencing with the first verse: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” [Verses 1-3.]5LtMs, Ms 20, 1888, par. 2
That means pure. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” [Verse 4.] You will please mark that verse.5LtMs, Ms 20, 1888, par. 5
Self must not become prominent. The eye must be kept single aiming to glorify God, not self, and then love will abound yet more and more, and we will approve things that are excellent and be filled with the fruits of righteousness. “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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.” [Verses 4-5.]5LtMs, Ms 20, 1888, par. 16
I will read farther. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [John 15:7.] This promise is in the Word of God.5LtMs, Ms 20, 1888, par. 39
There is a power at work that is stirring the very elements of society. There are trying times just before us when men’s faith will be tested. We want to be prepared for this emergency. We want to be ready and we want our children ready, and what are we going to do about it? Why, we want Christ in our hearts. We want to be abiding in the true Vine, we want to honor God and keep His commandments. We must have Christ at every step. We cannot afford to be without Him a moment. Not a moment. Brethren, Christ says, “As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you.” [John 15:9.] Wonderful love!John 15:1-11
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 8 (1893)
Ms 63, 1893
8LtMs, Ms 63, 1893, par. 1
Elder Starr spoke to the people in the forenoon. I spoke to them in the afternoon at three o’clock, from John 15:1-11. The Lord gave me freedom. There were quite a number of outsiders present to hear and quite a number outside the tent. There are some things objectionable: the drain sends forth a polluting, disagreeable odor and it is quite close beside several back yard conveniences [?]. This is a serious matter for me, for in speaking I inhale a large amount of air, and if it is loaded with impurities, it is dangerous to me.Manuscript Releases, vol. 18 [Nos. 1301-1359]
MR No. 1313—Thoughts About the Pre-Flood World, Christ’s Love for Man, Fruit-Bearing, Peace, and Surrender to God’s Will
18MR 96.1
Christ declared, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” [John 15:1, 2, 8-11].Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)
Ms 85, 1901
16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 1
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away.” [John 15:1, 2.]16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 3
“Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [Verse 2.] Our fruit-bearing testifies whether we are really abiding in Christ.16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 6
“Now ye are clean through the word [through obedience to the word] which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” [John 15:3, 4.] Consider this. We are to abide in Christ. We make a mere profession of faith in Christ, if we keep the world and its affections in our hearts and in our minds. O, what power the enemy has to strengthen our thoughts of vanity and of self, even in our childhood years, so that when we bear responsibilities in the church there are serious defects in our character and a disagreeableness in our words, because we have not learned of Christ. If we were in Christ, learning His lessons, we should be meek and lowly of heart.16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 16
Take hold of the arm of God, and say, “I am nothing and Thou art everything. Thou hast said, ‘Without me ye can do nothing.’ [John 15:5.] Now, Lord, I must have Thee abiding in me, that I may abide in Thee.” Then advance step by step, by living faith abiding in Jesus Christ. This is wearing His yoke, the yoke of obedience.16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 28
“I am the vine,” Jesus said; “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.] Let the fruit be manifest in your prayers. Learn how to pray. Learn how to come to the Lord, and to plead with Him until the heavenly assurance comes. And then praise Him.16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 31
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered.” God has made you children of His covenant, and if your wills are submitted to His will, you are as children that have an abiding Christ, and you will not be cast off. If men abide not in Christ, they will be as the branches of which He says, “And men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [John 15:6.]16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 32
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [Verses 3, 7.] Do you believe this? Have you practical faith? Do you practice the truth of God? He says, “It shall be done unto you.” In giving your testimony, do you say you are not all in a transport of joy and feeling? What has feeling to do with faith? It is just as distinct from faith as is the East from the West.16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 34
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” [Verse 8.] What will be the fruit of such a meeting as we are holding here? It costs something to provide it for you. It has cost a great deal to the Son of God. He gave His life for you. Where the grace of God is concerned, there should be no trifling with His precious time. You are on trial for your life. You are on test, to see what you are going to make of all these opportunities and privileges, all this light which shines upon your pathway. Will you come forth from this trial and test purified? “I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” [Isaiah 13:12.] Who believes it? Open now a new chapter in your experience of faith. Open a chapter of purification of everything that interposes between the soul and God. Lay hold upon the promises of God which are “yea” and “amen” in Christ Jesus—not outside of Christ. [2 Corinthians 1:20.]16LtMs, Ms 85, 1901, par. 36
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.” Think of this! As the Father has loved His Son, Christ loves you. “Continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [John 15:9-11.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Ms 72, 1902
17LtMs, Ms 72, 1902, par. 20
Christ declared, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ... Herewith is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [John 15:1, 2, 8-11.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)
Ms 1, 1891
7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 1
John 15:1-6. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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.”7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 2
Now if we would only take that to heart and believe it, oh what a change would be revealed in our religious life. “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” [Verse 5.] But abiding in Christ, receiving that sustenance and that power which Christ possesses, we will be like the fruitful branch that is grafted into the living vine. It will not be a limited supply of fruit that we shall bear, but it will be much fruit. And why should not this be the result if we are indeed abiding in Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily? There is every encouragement given us that we may have a strong hold from above. Everything has been done for man that a God can do to bring us in right relation to Himself. None need be in the position of uncertainty where they now stand. None need to be occupying a neutral position in this work. Why should we not be Christlike in every respect? Why should we not be in a position as branches representing the True Vine, bearing rich clusters of the graces of the Spirit, to reflect light to the world?7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 3
He says, “He pruneth every branch.” [Verse 2.] What for? That it may bring forth more fruit. Where there is a limited supply the pruning takes place so there will be a larger amount of fruit from that branch. When we have a right hold upon God we will do the works of God. The work of God in our world is one masterpiece of infinite wisdom. In the branches of the living vine are represented diversities which, co-existing in the one parent stock, present a matchless unity in fruit-bearing branches.7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 12
He says, “I and my Father are one.” [John 10:30.] This is what God is to us—a tender, compassionate, heavenly Father. He says, “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.” “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [John 15:5, 7.]7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 16
Christ came into our world to sway back the powers of darkness and dispel the powers of the enemy. There he comes pretending to be an angel of light, and he says, If You will fall down and worship me I will give You all the kingdoms of the earth. Just you accept something besides the truth! Shall we do it? Or shall we have the truth as it is in Jesus? He says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. ... As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” [John 15:8, 9.] Now I read something which refers to the same here in the 17th chapter of John. He says, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” [John 17:19, 20.] That means us, doesn’t it? “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” [Verse 21.] Now this is that oneness and unity that we want; and why the devil is so earnest and diligent is so that we shall not be united in the truth. There is no unity in error except for the one purpose to tear down the truth. Now Christ wants us to be one in the truth.7LtMs, Ms 1, 1891, par. 34
But the precious plant of love must be cultivated and nourished and cherished, for Satan will blast them if he can. But how, says one, am I to do it? Think of Christ, talk of Christ, and then He will be in us and His glory will be there. And what is His glory? It is His character. Then the world can look on you and say, They have been with Jesus and learned of Him. They judge you by your words. Then let us praise God with open voices. We have everything to praise Him for; then let the glory roll back to its Source. Let us rejoice in the Lord. Here Christ says, “These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [John 15:11.] Why, if Christ’s joy is in us, our joy will be full. We will have no taste then for theaters and all these amusements, for we will have Christ enthroned in the home, and He is everything to us. We want more of Jesus and a great deal less of self.John 15:1-12
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)
Ms 118, 1904
19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 1
Christ had been giving His disciples the instruction contained in the fourteenth chapter of John. Then He led them from the upper chamber out through the city to the Mount of Olives. On their way they passed a beautiful vine; and the disciples, charmed with its loveliness, called the Saviour’s attention to it. As they looked upon it, Christ said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.]19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 3
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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.” [Verses 4, 5.]19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 4
“Abide in Me, and I in you.” [Verse 4.] How are we to abide in Christ? By a daily, hourly faith. We are not safe in any other position. A man may have his name on the church books, and make a high profession, but this avails nothing unless he has a living connection with Christ, unless his spirit, his words, his deportment, his business transactions with believers and unbelievers reveal the virtues that come from such a union. A man who is thus united with Christ has a living faith, which takes hold upon divine power; and he is enabled to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 5
“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [Verses 6, 7.]19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 7
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” [Verse 8.] What is the fruit that ye are to bear?—The fruit of the Spirit—“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” [Galatians 5:22, 23.]19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 8
“As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” [John 15:9, 10.] He keeps us in connection with Him as He is in connection with the Father. What possibilities, what strength there is in that promise! Why do we not believe it? If there are hindrances in our way, and if we meet with difficulties, let us not give up in despair, but keep fast hold of the promises.19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 9
“These things have I spoken unto you”—that you may be sad and discouraged, refusing to believe that you can live the Christian life? No! “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verse 11.]19LtMs, Ms 118, 1904, par. 24
“This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” [John 15:12.] My dear friends, for Christ’s sake take your stand on higher ground. Every feature of our faith is to be tested in the way that is the most trying. The pillars of our faith are to be tested. Sophistry will be brought in as it was to Adam and Eve. You will be strongly tempted; and unless you have firm faith in the principles of the truth for this time, you will be led astray. Look to Christ as your helper. Take Him into your heart as an abiding friend. As you do this, His blessing will rest upon you in large measure. You will be kept by the power of God. The enemy will not be able to lead you to swerve from your allegiance.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
Ms 79, 1909
24LtMs, Ms 79, 1909, par. 1
“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.]24LtMs, Ms 79, 1909, par. 10
“Now ye are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you,” the Saviour said. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” [John 15:3, 4.]24LtMs, Ms 79, 1909, par. 11
“Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you.” [Verse 3.] If you will take that word and carry it out in its fulness, you will find that you have a strength you have not realized before. You may be isolated from your fellow men, but you will have a strong arm to lean upon. God has given Jesus that you might break the power of the enemy. By every deceivable device Satan worked to hinder the Saviour from carrying out the work that God designed should be accomplished through Him; but in the strength of a Thus saith the Lord, the Son of God withstood the temptations of the fallen angel. By the same word and in the same strength you also are to overcome.24LtMs, Ms 79, 1909, par. 18
“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. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and I in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” [Verses 5-8.]24LtMs, Ms 79, 1909, par. 20
The Saviour continued: “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” [Verses 9-12.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Ms 35, 1897
12LtMs, Ms 35, 1897, par. 25
Christ knows that if we allowed our minds to become engrossed with earthly things, we would forget Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered, that we would lose the life-giving power, the peace and joy, which the Lord wishes us to receive and retain. And He said, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” [John 15:10-12.]12LtMs, Ms 35, 1897, par. 32
Christ has declared, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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 15:1-5.]John 15:1-13
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
Ms 130, 1909
24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 13
Verses 24-31. Well now then, this the next lesson, Chapter 15:1. Now He is explaining, trying to make it so clear that you can understand that the Father and himself are working in co-partnership.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 14
Verse 2. “Every branch in Me.” Now bear in mind the conditions. “That beareth not fruit.”24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 15
Verse 3. Now here is our work. “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away.” What does it mean? It means that you should work out His teachings in truth and righteousness to the world. It is not enough to have your name on the church book. It is enough to go down into the water and be baptized, to come up out of the water with a solemn pledge that you are dead to the world. Now, do you keep that pledge or imitate the fashions and habits of the world? Confess Him to the world. I have seen sights since I have been on this journey, and my heart is stirred to its depths. I said to myself, What can I do, what shall I do to make people understand that there are souls round about them to be saved? They are to work to deny self, to make sacrifices on the right and on the left. Here is Christ as an example. What an example has He given us!24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 16
“Every branch that beareth not fruit should be taken away.” [Verse 2.] Do you want to be taken away? What part do you bear? What evidence have you that you belong to Jesus Christ? What evidence do you bear to the world around you? What sacrifice did you make to save the shillings and the dollars? It will all be counted just as it is. I want everyone to understand it. Christ will make no mistake in this matter. The heavenly angels, Christ, and the Father are perfectly united. They that will not create a second rebellion in heaven will be there.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 19
It is truth that sanctifies the soul. The truth that purifies the soul, you know, belongs with God. Sit right down and study the Word with your companions. Do not exalt yourself. Study it together. Everyone can be helpers together, helpers together with God. “Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bear more fruit.” [Verse 2.] They will seek the Lord in their perplexity and tell Christ all about it. You must pray in humility with your family, and you tell your family when in perplexity not to complain, not to tell it outside the family, but work in your household before God. “Now are ye clean through the Word that I have spoken unto you.” [Verse 3.]24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 20
“Abide in me and I in you.” Verse 4. Now just look at that. Verse 5. Will we unite with consecrated, devoted workers for Christ, for it is only a little while to save souls that are ready to perish. We cannot afford to take a haphazard course; we cannot afford it. There are souls to be lost or saved through our influence.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 21
Verse 4. Now, we want at this meeting, if it is possible to understand what true conversion is. It is simply taking God at His word and it is following out the teachings of Jesus Christ, lest you should make a mistake, to follow His Word, study it with your family, study it with your children, lest some of your children shall not understand it. Then never speak a cross word because that is of the devil. You want to deal with them just as Christ deals with them. Verse 4. Now consider this. Verse 5. Will you bear that in mind? Verse 6. Well now, that means if you are not connected with Christ, why, you will act just as the world acts; you will fall into temptation and you will do just as the world does. But you cannot afford to do so. It is the living religion you must have way down here in the last end of time. We want to bind off our experience with the likeness of Jesus Christ.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 22
Now let us see the result. Verse 7. Because you will ask nothing amiss—if you abide in Christ. Christ came from the heavenly courts to help and strengthen, to bring to you, in the form of humanity divinity, the divine Son of God. He came from the heavenly courts, that you might be a partaker of the divine nature having overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust, and you never can do it unless you take right hold of the divinity of Christ by prayer and then claim the promise. You must have a soul-saving experience. We must be a people that thinks more of saving souls that of putting money into dress and into various worldly enterprises to make money. One soul saved is worth a world. You just consider it. I feel it to the very intensity of my being or you would never see me here, nearly eighty-two years old, and yet I feel such an intensity I cannot give up the work.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 23
Verse 7. You want to study the words. It shall be done unto you because your humanity—the simplicity of a living faith—grasps the promises of God and those promises are laying hold of the divinity of Jesus Christ.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 24
Verses 8-10. Now you find out these commandments are: “Ye shall abide in my love.” Verse 10. Now the commandments declare that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. If we accept the man-made sabbath we teach other people error. Now we have found out what is the true Sabbath; now we are seeking to get that before those who do not know it. Verse 10. Now you see the representation. He represents your life in connection with Him and His life in connection with the Father. You just see the sacrifice represented. Verses 11-12. Be sure and bear that in mind. Verse 13. And that is what Christ was doing, that He might bring every soul who was in that position so that they can save their souls through obedience to the Word.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 25
Now in a family the example of the father and mother in respect to the Word runs through that family. The Word of God is to be our counsellor. That Word brings into that family a kind spirit and works for their salvation. That is what we want to do, “Do these things if ye keep my commandments.” Verse 11. Yes, it will be without an exception; it will be without a blot.24LtMs, Ms 130, 1909, par. 26
Are we preparing for the grand review that will take place? We cannot tell just when, but it is very nigh. We want to ask you, Are you preparing for that review? Verse 13. Now I want to say to everyone here: Take this whole chapter—I will not read the remainder of it—but you take it and you take these two chapters that I have dwelt upon and when there is any special conflict that any one expects is going to come up in the church, you just take these two chapters and you read these two chapters, and you will see that they will do in that church if it is a church with humility and the fear of God before them. They will understand that it is no place for them to be in contention in the church. It is not right at all.John 15:1-14
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)
Ms 170, 1907
22LtMs, Ms 170, 1907, par. 22
“As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye continue in My Father’s commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” [John 15:1, 2, 4-14.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Ms 87, 1902
17LtMs, Ms 87, 1902, par. 1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth (pruneth) it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through (obedience to) the Word that I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [John 15:1-6.]17LtMs, Ms 87, 1902, par. 2
“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [Verse 7.] This promise is given with no conditions excepting those which Christ has made. Whosoever abides in Him asks for the things that are in harmony with His will and always receives an answer to his petitions.17LtMs, Ms 87, 1902, par. 3
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” The bearing of good fruit is the proof of true discipleship. Those who abide in Christ have the mind of Christ, and of such He declares, “So shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.” [Verses 8, 9.]17LtMs, Ms 87, 1902, par. 4
The privilege of abiding in Christ is given on the condition of obedience to His Word. He says, “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” [Verse 10.] This is a wonderful statement. When I take into consideration all the words that Christ has given us in regard to the things essential for our salvation, I often wonder what excuse we could render to God for our neglect of His Word and our failure to obey its teachings. Those who prayerfully study the Word are eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. And Christ declares that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood have eternal life.17LtMs, Ms 87, 1902, par. 5
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” [Verses 10-14.]Manuscript Releases, vol. 1 [Nos. 19-96]
MR No. 88—Materials For A Youth’s Instructor Article
1MR 376.2
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me... that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.... Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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.... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:1-8). Can you, my brother, claim the right of discipleship? Are your fruits unto holiness?1MR 376.3
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:10-14).1MR 376.4
Will you thoughtfully and prayerfully not merely read but study these words? They mean much to you—yes, everything to you and to me and to Homer. Every word spoken by Christ should be graven upon the tablets of the soul. From the lips of Jesus are the words spoken, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8). Here is the evidence of your discipleship. “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).1MR 377.2
This is My commandment, That ye love one another”(John 15:12). What quality is this love? A love just such as Christ revealed in His life. “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). A love for the soul that would part with selfish gratifications and practice stern self-denial in order to elevate, ennoble, and sanctify those with whom we associate.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)
Lt 10, 1890
6LtMs, Lt 10, 1890, par. 10
“I am the true vine, my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me ... that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit ... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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 ... Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so ye shall be my disciples.” [John 15:1-8.]6LtMs, Lt 10, 1890, par. 11
Can you, my brother, claim the right of discipleship? Are your fruits unto holiness? “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are [my] friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” [Verses 10-14.]6LtMs, Lt 10, 1890, par. 12
Will you thoughtfully and prayerfully not merely read but study these words? They mean much to you—yes, everything to you and to me and to Homer. Every word spoken by Christ should be graven upon the tablets of the soul. From the lips of Jesus are the words spoken, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” [Verse 8.] Here is the evidence of your discipleship. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” [Matthew 7:20.]6LtMs, Lt 10, 1890, par. 14
Remember, if “ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be My disciples.” [John 15:8.] Without this evidence ye are not Christ’s, neither is Christ yours. You have no right to the Christian name. “Yet is not a man crowned, except he strive lawfully.” [2 Timothy 2:5.] Your striving for grace and perfection of Christian character must be according to the will and ways of God. If you abide in Christ, the fruits you bear will be unto eternal life. I tell you frankly, you bear no such fruits and Christ is not abiding in your heart by faith. You love just such amusements as the world loves and you are not abiding in Christ and the love of God is not revealed in your works.6LtMs, Lt 10, 1890, par. 15
“This is my commandment that you love one another.” What quality is this love? A love just as Christ revealed in His life? “Love one another as I have loved you.” [John 15:12.] A love for the soul that would part with selfish gratifications and practice stern self-denial, to elevate, ennoble, sanctify those with whom we associate. “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.” [John 17:19.]John 15:1-15
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 5 (1887-1888)
Ms 32, 1887
5LtMs, Ms 32, 1887, par. 21
The 30th of May was a holy day, the second day of Pentecost, so no work in the factories was done on this day. Colors were flying from buildings, and the people were pouring out in crowds to services. At five we met in Sister Doerner’s house. The room was not large and was full. I spoke from John fifteen, verses one to three. Brother Conradi interpreted for me. I had considerable freedom. I had special help from the Lord, else I could not have stood on my feet. I bore a very plain testimony. This was an intelligent company to speak to. Brother Conradi mentioned a request from the afflicted brother for the prayers of the children of God. We prayed for the sick and dying brother. Brother Conradi talked for some time to those assembled.John 15:1-17
Ellen White: Woman of Vision
Ministry In The Washington Churches
WV 447.4
Ellen White was immediately drawn into services in the Washington Adventist churches. On her first Sabbath there, the last day of April, she spoke in J. S. Washburn’s Capital Memorial church (Manuscript 106, 1904). She spoke again a week later at the rededication of this church. She had planned to speak on the Sermon on the Mount, but writing of the experience, observed, “This was taken from me,” and John 15:1-17, “I am the true vine,” was impressed upon her mind (Manuscript 142, 1904).Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years: 1900-1905 (vol. 5)
Ministry in the Washington Churches
5BIO 326.4
Ellen White was immediately drawn into services in the Washington Adventist churches. On the first Sabbath there, the last day of April, she spoke in Elder J. S. Washburn’s Memorial church (Manuscript 106, 1904). She spoke again a week later at the rededication of this church. She had planned to speak on the Sermon on the Mount, but writing of the experience, observed, “This was taken from me,” and John 15:1-17,“I am the true vine,” was impressed upon her mind (Manuscript 142, 1904).Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)
Ms 142, 1904
19LtMs, Ms 142, 1904, par. 4
I thank the Lord that I can look to Him in faith and in hope and courage. I only desire that the name of the Lord shall be magnified. The Lord is my helper. In Him will I trust. Sabbath the Lord did give me words to speak to the people. I had thought to speak from (Matthew 5)—Christ’s Sermon on the Mount—but this was taken from me, and the 15th chapter of John, verses 1-17, impressed my mind. “I am the true vine and My Father is the husbandman.” [Verse 1.] My discourse was reported.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Ms 17, 1912
25LtMs, Ms 17, 1912, par. 1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 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. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [John 15:1-6.]25LtMs, Ms 17, 1912, par. 4
What are all the riches in the world in comparison with the fulfilment to you of Christ’s promise: “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”? [Verse 7.] When we realize the fulness of blessing that is thus brought within our reach, we shall begin to comprehend something of what eternal life will mean to us. And we need to realize what great blessings in this life are assured to those who comply with the conditions that Christ enjoins. If we believed the promise as we should, there would not be so little zeal, so little love, so little fruit revealed in the lives of God’s professed people.25LtMs, Ms 17, 1912, par. 5
“Herein is My Father glorified,” the Saviour continued, “that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that ye love one another; as I have loved you.” [Verses 8-12.]25LtMs, Ms 17, 1912, par. 7
“Greater love hath no man than this,” Christ declares, “that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He may give it you.” [Verses 13-16.]25LtMs, Ms 17, 1912, par. 9
To every believer in Christ the words are spoken, “These things I command you, That ye love one another.” [Verse 17.] My brethren and sisters, study the truths of this chapter, and try to comprehend their height, their depth, their spirituality, their power to bring to pass the very thing that Christ came to earth to accomplish. To those who will walk in faith, and in obedience to the will of God, who will yield the life to His control, salvation is assured. They will stand within the city of our God, to go no more out forever. Again I say: Take your Bibles, and study these words at your homes; and may the Lord give you understanding as you seek to know His will and to be guided by His Spirit.John 15:1-18
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Ms 57, 1910
25LtMs, Ms 57, 1910, par. 9
This responsibility cannot be shifted upon any other person. The Lord is soon to come, and the truly converted father will express his love for his children and teach them. As they work in the vineyard, he may repeat the Scripture, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it (pruneth it), that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through (obedience to) the word I have spoken unto you.” [John 15:1-3.] Through the instruction essential for them to understand, they may save the souls of their children.25LtMs, Ms 57, 1910, par. 15
Now I have this message written out before I can sleep. The world is to be warned. A spirit of frivolity and of boasting quenches the Holy Spirit. There is a work to be done all through Lodi that has not been done. Self retained will so blind man’s perception that he will not see the need of conversion. Said Christ, “Without me ye can do nothing.” [Verse 5.] The endowment of the Holy Spirit is what you need. Pray for this; believe for this.25LtMs, Ms 57, 1910, par. 20
We have a most solemn work before us. Our probationary time is too brief to be spent in useless talk, for “by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:37. “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15:10.25LtMs, Ms 57, 1910, par. 23
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. ... As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.” John 15:8, 9. Here is where the failure comes in. Men who are teachers have not learned the simplicity of the teachings of Christ. They swell too much in their high estimate of their advantages. They need to commence the climbing of the ladder of knowledge from the lowest round as in Christ’s education of His disciples.25LtMs, Ms 57, 1910, par. 24
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.” Verses 10-18.John 15:1-20
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)
Ms 154, 1904
19LtMs, Ms 154, 1904, par. 1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch is Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” [John 15:1-4.]19LtMs, Ms 154, 1904, par. 3
“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [Verses 6, 7.]19LtMs, Ms 154, 1904, par. 5
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love: even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verses 8-11.]19LtMs, Ms 154, 1904, par. 9
“This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heart of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that he should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” [Verses 12-16.]19LtMs, Ms 154, 1904, par. 11
“These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.” [John 15:17-20.]John 15:1-22
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
Ms 19, 1909
24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 1
“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.]24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 3
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” [Verses 3, 4.] It is for our present and eternal interest that we understand these words. Do we let our petitions come up before God daily? Do we realize that we must have an abiding Christ if we would represent Christ to the world in our speech, in our characters, and in all our dealings with our fellow men? When this is our experience, we shall not be found fruitless.24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 4
“I am the Vine,” the Saviour continues, “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. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” [Verses 5, 6.]24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 5
How important it is that we so relate ourselves to our Creator and to our Redeemer that the influence we exert shall represent Christ and represent the Father. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that those who abide in Christ might become the sons of God. Everything is at stake here. What will you do about it, my brethren and sisters? Are you going to let worldly ideas, worldly customs and practices, come into your lives and characters? Are you going to study what this one or that one will say? Or are you looking to the One who so loved the world that He did not withhold from us His only begotten Son. God gave Christ to the world to reveal to men that humanity united with divinity could overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. This union we must experience. We must be living branches of the True Vine, daily laying hold of our Redeemer, that we may bear the fruits of a Christian character. Christ is our only hope. “I am the Vine,” He declares, “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.” [Verse 5.]24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 11
“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you,” the Saviour said, “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.” [John 15:7-9.] There is peace to be found in continuing in Christ’s love, and in daily carrying out the conditions upon which our salvation depends.24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 14
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be My disciples.” [Verse 8.] It is fruit that Christ wants. When we are willing to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice, as Christ practiced it in His life, we shall bear fruit to God’s glory. Often after a day of toil, although tired and worm with labor, while His disciples were sleeping, His voice could be heard all through the night, pleading with the Father that He would clear the highway, that the words of the living God might reach the multitudes, and that they might lay hold of the truth. Such labor as this costs something. It does not mean the making of a little sacrifice. It costs much to be men and women of God.24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 19
The Saviour declares, “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” [Verse 10.] He compares Himself and His work and experience of abiding with the Father with the experience and work to which He has ordained us, because He represents humanity and divinity combined. It is our privilege to lay hold of the divine nature and say, “Lord, you promised it. We ask Thee to give us a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Help us to understand what it means to abide in Thee.”24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 21
“These things have I spoken unto you,” the Saviour said, “that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verse 11.] The work of overcoming is not a joyless work; no, indeed. It means communication with heaven. You can go to God in prayer; you can ask, and receive; you can believe, hanging your helpless soul on Christ. It means that humanity can work the will and ways of God. Humanity and divinity are combined for this very purpose. O what a different world we should have if every professed Christian would come to Christ just as he is, practice self-denial, permit the fruitless branches to be cut away, and the good branches to be improved. Such an experience of constantly abiding in Christ would result in souls being brought to a knowledge of the truth. Let the petition come up before God, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do today? Let Thy light shine upon me.” Terrible trials are to come upon our world, and the world is preparing itself for this. We too must be prepared, that we may have the protection of our heavenly Father. And if we lose our life in the conflict, let us have faith to believe that it will be restored to us again.24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 22
“This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ... Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.” [Verses 12, 13, 16, 17.]24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 24
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” [John 15:18, 19.] Why this hatred? Because by your consistent life you condemn the worldling’s course of action. He wants to act like the world, to serve the world; and you are serving God. Your life is a reproach to him, and therefore your influence is hated.24LtMs, Ms 19, 1909, par. 25
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.” [Verses 20-22.]John 15:1-27
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)
Ms 60, 1901
16LtMs, Ms 60, 1901, par. 8
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” [Matthew 13:44.] When Christ abides in us His life renews the soul as the blood in the physical body gives life to the whole being. He says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ... Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” [John 15:1, 4-8.]16LtMs, Ms 60, 1901, par. 9
Are we fruit-bearing branches of the true vine? Read and study the fifteenth chapter of John. Bring the life of Christ into your spiritual circulation. The food we eat at one meal does not satisfy us forever. We must daily partake of food. So we must daily eat the Word of God, that the life of the soul may be renewed. In those who feed constantly upon the Word, Christ is formed, the hope of glory. A neglect to read and study the Bible brings spiritual starvation.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 23 (1908)
Ms 45, 1908
23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 3
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” [Verses 3, 4.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 5
“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.” [Verse 5.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 7
“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” [Verses 6, 7.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 9
“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” [Verses 8-10.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 11
“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verse 11.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 15
“This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” [Verse 12.] Can you measure the love wherewith Christ has loved us? We only know that in manifesting that love He offered Himself to us as a living sacrifice, in His humiliation and suffering, paying the price of our salvation. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” [Verses 13-16.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 17
“These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.” [Verses 17-21.]23LtMs, Ms 45, 1908, par. 20
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.” [John 15:22-27.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
Ms 97, 1909
24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 1
“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [John 15:1, 2.]24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 3
“And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” [Verse 2.] “He purgeth it.” Christ suffers trial to come upon His followers, that they may be led to seek the Lord more earnestly. Then when trials come, do not think that the Lord is your enemy. He purges for a reason. He does not want you to be discouraged; but He would prove you to see if you will be true to Him and will conduct yourselves circumspectly under every circumstance. He does not want to drive you away, but to drive you nearer to the Lord. In God is the Christian’s only hope in time of perplexity.24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 5
“Abide in Me,” Christ says, “and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” Christ would not tell us this if it were impossible for us to abide in Him. He shows us the possibility and the importance of a close relation with Himself. “He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.” [Verses 4, 5.]24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 7
“Without Me,” He says, “ye can do nothing.” [Verse 5.] Then let us press close to the bleeding side of Christ. In Him our humanity is provided for. In Him we may become partakers of the divine nature and overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust.24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 8
“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered: and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” [Verses 6-8.]24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 10
But if men abide not in Christ, “they are cast forth as a branch, and is withered.” [Verse 6.] Man may make great claims to piety; but if in his business transactions he does not reveal that the Holy Spirit of God is governing words and actions, he had far better make no profession. Christ’s life and death do not avail for him who chooses to do as he pleases, who follows his own imaginations and carries out his own way and will.24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 11
“As the Father hath loved Me, even so have I loved you; continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” [Verses 9, 10.] Let us thank God that this is our privilege. Though we are sent out into the world, we can keep before us the example of the pattern Man and in His strength carry out the principles of overcoming. It is only the overcoming Christian who will reach the kingdom of heaven. May God help us in this matter, is my prayer. Let us see that we keep His commandments in all our dealings with one another. When we not only talk, but live our religion, we shall show that we are branches of the living Vine.24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 12
“These things have I spoken unto you,” the Saviour continued, “that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [Verse 11.] I think there was something said when the disciples heard that. Do you not think that if we had that full joy, we would do as we did when we first felt the sanctifying power of God upon our hearts? When we were looking for the coming of the Lord in the early days of this message, we would praise Him in our prayers and in our conversation. There was not one particle of fanaticism among those who truly loved the Lord and were seeking His glory.24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 13
True religion does not demand great bodily demonstrations such as some of you have had the misfortune to witness here. These are no evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God. In 1843 and 1844 we were called to meet just such fanaticism. Men would say, I have the Holy Spirit of God, and they would come into the meeting and roll just like a hoop; and because some would not receive this as evidence of the working of the Spirit of God, they were looked upon as wicked people. The Lord sent me into the midst of this fanaticism, though I was not more than sixteen years of age. Some would come to me and ask, Why do you not join with them? I said, I have another Leader than this, One who is meek and lowly in heart, One who made no such demonstrations as you are making here, or such boasts. These demonstrations are not of Christ, but of the devil. Every particle of selfishness is to be purged from the character. We are to show the difference between the lovers of pleasure and the world, and the lovers of Jesus. “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, That a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I have commanded you.” [Verses 12-14.]24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 14
All that was communicated to Him by His Father, Christ makes known to His followers. “Henceforth I call you not servants,” He says, “for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you.” [Verse 15.] How was this done? By words merely?—No; by character; by the daily life. It was thus that Christ represented His Father. My brethren and sisters, let us make it known that we are branches of the living Vine in that we represent the character of Christ. By a life of fruit bearing we are to make known the truth of the Word. You may profess a religion that is as high as the heavens; but unless you do the commandments of God, you are certainly not recommending the love of Christ to the world.24LtMs, Ms 97, 1909, par. 16
“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of Me: and ye shall bear witness because ye have been with Me from the beginning.” [Verses 18-27.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 24 (1909)
Ms 139, 1909
24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 1
John 15:1. “Taketh away.” Will we consider that? Fruit is expected of every one that is on the vine. “And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it.” [Verse 2.] He brings them through a process that will cut away words and spirit that are not in accordance with the mind and will of Christ, to make them fruit-bearing branches.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 2
“Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.” [Verse 2.] Now, when the purging comes, don’t consider that you are being separated from the vine. That is not so. He purgeth it that it may increase the quality of the fruit that you bear. So if you do not always feel just as you like to feel, and you wish you had a greater evidence that you were accepted of God, remember there is a way to get it, that is to seek it of Jesus. Go right to Him as a hungry child, to supply all your necessities, and give you just what you need that will make you a fruitful branch in the vine.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 3
Verses 3-5. You are in a very responsible position here. You are where young men and young women are connected with you in the work, and those who are older in experience and age are the very ones that are to be a help and a strength to the parties that may come in to take a position and that have been here in this office for some time. You are to consider that you are a branch of the vine. If you claim to be a child of God, you are to act like a child of God. You are seek counsel from the Lord. You are to be much with God in prayer, and the more that there are connected with this office the more important it is for every one to have an individual work. I will go through this now, and then I will refer to the work that should be done after I get through with the lesson here.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 4
I had a very singular experience in my home. I was writing on this subject to one of our people, and while I was writing, I lost all consciousness of anything around me. I was placed in that relation that I could understand what it means to be a branch of the true vine. And it was so wonderful, and yet so simple, that we could every one, be a branch of the true vine. This lesson in the fifteenth of John has been regarded by me with an intensity that I never regarded it before, and I will read it through now.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 5
Verse 4. “I in you.” If you abide in Christ, He abides in you. Then be careful how you speak. Don’t you let your tongue say one word that is improper for one that is abiding in Christ. You are to represent that you are a branch of the living vine. Verse 4. Will you consider that every morning, every noon, every night? Will you consider it while you are engaged in your labor?24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 6
Verses 5-7. Now the will of the man is placed as the will of the Son, as the will of Christ, and therefore nothing will transpire with them that shall attain this oneness. It is a wonderful position. I never saw it as I did on this special occasion.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 7
Verse 8. It rests on whether you bear the fruit that is in Christ Jesus, and act out His life and character. All the profession in the world will never save you unless you have a living connection with the Son of God.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 8
Verse 9. Now you just see the comparison. “Continue ye in my love.” Verses 10, 11. What would you do if your joy was full? Could you keep it to yourself? Should not your mind be constantly ascending to God to receive strength from Him to honor your profession? That is what He expects of us.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 9
Verse 12. Now He did not love us because we were so perfect, but because through Him we could be sanctified through the truth, and obey the truth. Verses 13-16. Why, this came upon me with such power, of the power that we are not grasping the grace that we might have. Now Christ tells things just as they are. We can be laborers together with Jesus Christ in God, to glorify God.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 10
Verses 17-19. The world will lay stumbling blocks in your way. You need not expect anything else from the world.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 11
Verses 20-25. They had no cause whatever to dislike Christ or to hate Him. But it was because His works were perfect with the Father.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 12
Verses 26, 27. Now here was His lesson to the people to be brought down to us, and we are to take every lesson in this chapter, every phase of it, and bring ourselves into right relation to God.24LtMs, Ms 139, 1909, par. 19
Now read this, verses 1, 2. Just as soon as we have the Holy Spirit of God that is resting upon us individually, let me tell you it will be known. Just as surely as the power of God is communicated with us, we shall communicate it to others. And when the communication shall come to souls, there will be a recognition of it, even by unbelievers. They will either get mad or they will leave, they won’t stay in that atmosphere where angels of God are in your midst. They will not stay there. And we want the light that is here to be felt all through wherever they may go, and carry the work that must be carried. There is a work for every soul of us to do.Christ Triumphant
When the Holy Spirit Comes as the Comforter, October 20
CTr 300.1
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. John 15:26.CTr 300.4
John 15:17-21 points to the opposition between Christ and the world, and to the persecution inflicted upon Christ and His followers.... We want to know Christ, whom to know aright is life eternal. In John 15 He points to trials, to conflicts. He asks if you can endure the conflict; then He points to eternal realities and shows you the thousands of angels sent to be ministers to those who are heirs of salvation. Though He shows the armies arrayed against you, yet He tells you that you need not be discouraged, for the Captain of the Lord’s host is with you, as with the Lord’s people in Joshua’s time.... What we want is to know how to fight the battle. The victory is not in the minister or the layperson, but in the Captain of the Lord’s host who fights the battle for us....The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials
Evangelism in Norwich and Lynn, Massachusetts; Concern for Those Who Unsettle Faith in the Testimonies and Misinterpret the Scriptures
1888 740.2
I slept last night about ten hours; praise the Lord, praise His holy name! I believe He will give me strength and grace. I am making my home with Sister Ellen Warfe, one of the number, a kind family. We have things here convenient and pleasant. I shall go to Danvers Wednesday. I have been so deeply interested in John, chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17, that I am writing on the subject. I have written twelve pages today upon John 14, for fear I should have the force of the subject wear away from my mind. This will come in Life of Christ. I have in all forty pages written.The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials
Diary—January 1891
1888 874.4
The schoolhouse was filled and some came from quite a distance. I spoke from John, chapter 15. I had much freedom in speaking and all listened with earnest interest. Elder E. J. Waggoner followed, speaking on baptism. Then there were teams prepared to take those who were to be baptized about three miles. E. J. Waggoner administered the sacred ordinance to nine willing souls who felt that it was their duty to be baptized, and they were received into the church. I did not go to the baptism, but the report of those who did go say it was a blessed season. The Spirit of the Lord was there. Ten minutes before four we were on our way to Battle Creek. E. J. Waggoner returned in our carriage.1888 888.3
I had a deep and solemn sense of the requirements of God, in speaking from John 15.Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
The Two Classes
TM 270.3
There are only two classes in our world: those who are obedient to Jesus Christ, who seek the Master to do His will, and work for the attainment of the salvation of their own souls and the soul of everyone who is associated with them who names the name of Christ; and the children of disobedience. There are but two classes in our world. Then listen to the words of One who knows: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1 John 4:4, 5. Souls are being deluded. The fear and love of God have not a controlling power. The world is their master, and they chase after its delusive, flattering mirage. Listen to One who gave His life for the world, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” He spake as never man spake. The whole of John 15 contains a most important lesson. Read it; obey it. Again, hear the voice of God, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”Sermons and Talks, vol. 2
Manuscript 27, 1891
2SAT 94.2
Jesus knew our danger. He tells us in John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” He ordains that you individually shall bear fruit.2SAT 96.4
John 15:17-21 points to the opposition between Christ and the world, and to the persecution inflicted upon Christ and His followers. The world does this because they know not the Father who sent Jesus into the world. We do not want to be so ignorant. We want to know Christ, whom to know aright is life eternal.2SAT 96.5
In John 15, He points you to trials, to conflicts. He asks if you can endure the conflict; then He points to eternal realities and shows you the thousands of angels sent to be ministers to those who are heirs of salvation. Though He shows the armies arrayed against you, yet He tells you that you need not be discouraged, for the Captain of the Lord’s host is with you as with the Lord’s people in Joshua’s time. There is the Captain of our salvation who is at work for everyone. What we want is to know how to fight the battle. The victory is not in the minister or the layman, but in the Captain of the Lord’s host who fights the battle for us. He dwells with him who is of a contrite spirit. We are to humble our hearts.Church and Sabbath School Bulletin
March 3, 1899
Bulletin March 3, 1899, par. 2
On the Sabbath, Elder Starr spoke in the forenoon. In the afternoon I spoke from John 15. I sought to impress upon the people the lesson of that wonderful parable of the vine and the branches. John 15:1-6. There are two kinds of connection between the branches and the vine; the one is deceptive, superficial. The crowd pressing upon Christ had no living union with him by genuine faith; but a poor woman, that had been many years a great sufferer, and had spent all her living upon physicians, but was made no better, but rather worse, thought if she could get within reach of him, -if she could only touch the hem of his garment, - she would be made whole. Christ understood all that was in her heart, and he placed himself where she could have the opportunity she desired. He would use that act to distinguish the touch of genuine faith from the casual contact of those who were crowding about him from mere curiosity. When the woman reached forth her hand, and touched the hem of his garment, she thought that this stealthy touch would not be known by any one; but Christ recognized that touch, and responded to her faith by his healing power. She realized in a moment that she was made whole, and the Lord Jesus would not let such faith pass unnoticed. He turned about him quickly, and said, “Who touched me?” “And the disciples were pressing close around him, and Peter said, The multitude throng thee and press thee, and askest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue hath gone out of me. When the woman saw that she was not hid, she came tremblingly, and cast herself at his feet,” telling the whole story. For eighteen years she had been afflicted; but as soon as her finger touched the hem of his garment, she was made whole. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace.” The mere touch of faith brought its reward, and how then can we doubt God?Ellen White: Woman of Vision
Chapter 36—The General Conference Session Of 1909
WV 508.4
On Sunday afternoon she addressed the congregation in the Black church pastored by M. C. Strachan, speaking on John 15. She tarried after the service to shake hands with the members. After dinner she left on the 2:05 p.m. train for Washington, D.C. By the time she reached Washington, she had spoken 14 times since leaving home.Ellen G. White: The Later Elmshaven Years: 1905-1915 (vol. 6)
Chapter 15—Attending the General Conference of 1909
6BIO 192.3
On Sunday afternoon she addressed the congregation in the black church pastored by Elder M. C. Strachen, speaking on John 15. She tarried after the service to shake hands with the members. After dinner, she left on the 2:05 P.M. train for Washington, D.C. By the time she reached Washington, she had spoken fourteen times since leaving home.Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887
Elevating the Standard of Piety
EGWE 104.6
She spoke on Friday evening, October 16, to a full hall on the True Vine of John 15. Matteson interpreted for her into Swedish, though he was more comfortable translating into Danish.Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887
Visiting the Church at Gladbach
EGWE 284.5
That afternoon she preached a touching sermon from John 15:1-3, Brother Conradi interpreting. She seemed to feel her subject intensely. “The truth was to me a reality,” she explained, “and I felt that God indeed gave me special strength and imparted to me of His Holy Spirit while speaking. I saw before me an intelligent company who had but few privileges and little labor from the ministering brethren. We hope and pray that this meeting may prove a blessing to those who were present.”—The Review and Herald, October 11, 1887. Often during her lifework did the Lord’s servant preach from John, chapters 14 and 15.The Review and Herald
February 9, 1892
RH February 9, 1892, par. 20
Let every professed Christian read frequently and carefully the John 14:1, 15th, 16th, and 17th chapters of John. Read with a heart determined to understand the teachings of Christ, and to be a doer of his word.From Heaven With Love
Chapter 73—“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”
HLv 445.1
Judas had left the upper chamber, and Christ was alone with the eleven. He was about to speak of His approaching separation from them; but before this He pointed to the great object of His mission. He kept ever before Him His joy that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father’s name. To this He first directed the thoughts of His disciples.HLv 445.2
Their Master and Lord, their beloved Teacher and Friend, was dearer to them than life. Now He was to leave them. Dark were the forebodings that filled their hearts.HLv 445.3
But the Saviour’s words were full of hope. He knew that Satan’s craft is most successful against those who are depressed by difficulties. Therefore He turned their thoughts to the heavenly home: “Let not your hearts be troubled... . In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” When I go away, I shall still work earnestly for you. I go to the Father to cooperate with Him in your behalf.HLv 445.4
Christ’s departure was the opposite of what the disciples feared—it did not mean a final separation. He was going to prepare a place for them, that He might receive them to Himself. While He was building mansions for them, they were to build characters after the divine similitude.HLv 446.1
Thomas, troubled by doubts, said, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.”HLv 446.2
There are not many ways to heaven. Each may not choose his own way. Christ was the way by which patriarchs and prophets were saved. He is the way by which alone we can have access to God.HLv 446.3
But not yet did the disciples understand. “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us,” exclaimed Philip. Christ asked with pained surprise, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?” Is it possible that you do not see the Father in the works He does through Me? “How sayest thou, Show us the Father?” “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” Christ had not ceased to be God when He became man; the Godhead was still His own. Christ’s work testified to His divinity. Through Him the Father had been revealed.HLv 446.4
If the disciples believed this vital connection between the Father and the Son, their faith would not forsake them when they saw Christ’s suffering and death. How perseveringly our Saviour sought to prepare His disciples for the storm of temptation soon to beat upon them. All present felt a sacred awe as they listened with rapt attention to His words. And as their hearts were drawn to Christ in greater love, they were drawn to one another. They felt that heaven was very near.HLv 446.5
The Saviour was anxious for His disciples to understand why His divinity was united to humanity. He came to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be uplifted by its restoring power. Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was.HLv 447.1
“Greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.” By this Christ meant that the disciples’ work would have greater extent under the working of the Holy Spirit. After the Lord’s ascension, the disciples realized the fulfillment of His promise. They knew that the divine Teacher was all that He had claimed to be. As they exalted the love of God, men’s hearts were subdued, and multitudes believed on Jesus.HLv 447.2
The Saviour explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents before the Father as His own desire in that soul’s behalf. Sincere prayer may not be fluently expressed, but it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers. He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, fragrant with the incense of His own perfection.HLv 447.3
The path of sincerity and integrity is not free from obstruction, but in every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name,” said Jesus, “that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.”HLv 447.4
In Christ’s name His followers are to stand before God. Because of the imputed righteousness of Christ they are accounted precious. The Lord does not see in them the vileness of the sinner. He recognizes in them the likeness of His Son, in whom they believe.HLv 447.5
The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate on themselves. God wanted them, else He would not have sent His Son on such an expensive errand to redeem them. He is well pleased when they make the very highest demands on Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect large things if they have faith in His promises.HLv 447.6
But to pray in Christ’s name means that we are to accept His character, manifest His spirit, and work His works. The Saviour saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those who love Him show their love by obedience.HLv 448.1
All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so blend our hearts and minds in conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will finds its highest delight in doing His service. Our life will be a life of continual obedience. Sin will become hateful to us.HLv 448.2
As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength. But we cannot depend for counsel on humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised.HLv 448.4
The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative, but divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. It was for their interest that He should go, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location. By the Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to all.HLv 449.1
Jesus read the future of His disciples. He saw one brought to the scaffold, one to the cross, one to exile among the lonely rocks of the sea, others to persecution and death. But in every trial He would be with them. When for the truth’s sake the believer stands at the bar of unrighteous tribunals, Christ stands by his side. The reproaches that fall on him, fall on Christ. When one is incarcerated in prison walls, Christ ravishes the heart with His love.HLv 449.2
At all times and in all places, when we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend, but no circumstance can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. He is always at our right hand to sustain and cheer.HLv 449.3
The disciples still failed to understand Christ’s words, and again He explained: By the Spirit He would manifest Himself to them. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things.” No more will you say, I cannot comprehend.HLv 449.4
Through the disciples Christ was to speak to all the people on the face of the earth. But in the death of Christ they were to suffer great disappointment. That after this experience their word might be accurate, Jesus promised that the Comforter should “bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” “When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.”HLv 450.1
Jesus’ disciples had been educated to accept the teaching of the rabbis as the voice of God, and it still held a power over their minds. Earthly ideas still had a large place in their thoughts. They did not understand the spiritual nature of Christ’s kingdom. Many of His lessons seemed almost lost on them. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit should recall these sayings to their minds.HLv 450.2
The Comforter is called “the Spirit of truth.” His work is to define and maintain truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. There is comfort in truth, but no real comfort in falsehood. Through false traditions Satan gains his power over the mind. False standards misshape the character. The Holy Spirit exposes error and expels it from the soul. By the Spirit of truth, working through the Word of God, Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.HLv 450.3
Jesus sought to inspire His disciples with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because the Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts He could solicit from His Father for His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come in the fullness of divine power. The Spirit makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. By the Spirit the heart is made pure. Christ has given His Spirit to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character on His church. The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His people.HLv 451.1
“When He [the Spirit of truth] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” The preaching of the Word will be of no avail without the presence of the Holy Spirit. Only when truth is accompanied to the heart by the Spirit will it quicken the conscience or transform the life. Unless the Holy Spirit sets home the truth, no souls will fall on the Rock and be broken. No advantages, however great, can make one a channel of light.HLv 451.2
Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions. Many who profess to claim the Lord’s promise talk about Christ and about the Holy Spirit, yet receive no benefit. They do not surrender the soul to be guided by the divine agencies. We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. But many want to manage themselves. Only to those who wait humbly upon God is the Spirit given. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train. Christ is ready to supply every soul according to the capacity to receive.HLv 451.3
Before leaving the upper chamber, the Saviour led His disciples in a song of praise. His voice was heard, not in the strains of some mournful lament, but in the joyful notes of the Passover hallel:O praise the Lord, all ye nations:
Praise Him, all ye people.
For His merciful kindness is great toward us:
And the truth of the Lord endureth forever.
Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 117
HLv 451.4
After the hymn they made their way out of the city gate toward the Mount of Olives. Slowly they proceeded, each busy with his own thoughts. As they began to descend toward the mount, Jesus said, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad.” Matthew 26:31. In the upper chamber Jesus had said that one of the twelve would betray Him and that Peter would deny Him. But now His words include them all.HLv 452.1
Now Peter’s voice was heard, protesting, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Jesus had warned him that he would that very night deny his Saviour. Now He repeated the warning: “Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” But Peter only “spake the more vehemently, If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” Mark 14:29-31.HLv 452.2
When Peter said he would follow his Lord to prison and to death, he meant every word of it, but he did not know himself. Hidden in his heart were elements of evil that circumstances would fan into life. Unless he was made conscious of his danger, these would prove his eternal ruin. The Saviour saw in him a self-love that would overbear even his love for Christ. Peter needed to distrust himself and to have a deeper faith in Christ. When on the Sea of Galilee he was about to sink, he cried, “Lord, save me.” So now if he had cried, Save me from myself, he would have been kept. But Peter thought it cruel that he was distrusted, and he became more persistent in his self-confidence.HLv 452.3
Jesus could not save His disciples from the trial, but He did not leave them comfortless. Before the denial, they had the assurance of forgiveness. After His death and resurrection, they knew they were forgiven and were dear to the heart of Christ.HLv 452.4
Jesus and the disciples were on the way to Gethsemane, at the foot of Mount Olivet. The moon was shining brightly and revealed to Him a flourishing grapevine. Drawing the attention of His disciples to it, Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” The vine with its clinging tendrils represents Himself. The palm tree, the cedar, and the oak stand alone; they require no support. But the vine entwines about the trellis, and thus climbs heavenward. So Christ in His humanity was dependent upon divine power. “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30.HLv 453.1
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.” On the hills of Palestine our heavenly Father had planted this goodly Vine. Many were attracted by the beauty of this Vine, and declared its heavenly origin. But the leaders in Israel trampled the plant under their unholy feet. After men thought they had killed it, the heavenly Husbandman took it and replanted it on the other side of the wall. The vine stock was to be no longer visible. It was hidden from the rude assaults of men. But the branches of the Vine hung over the wall, and through them grafts might still be united to the Vine.HLv 453.2
The connection of the branch with the vine, Jesus said, represents the relation His followers are to sustain to Him. The scion is engrafted into the living vine, and fiber by fiber, vein by vein, it grows into the vine stock. So the soul receives life through connection with Christ. The sinner unites His weakness to Christ’s strength, his emptiness to Christ’s fullness. Then he has the mind of Christ. The humanity of Christ has touched our humanity, and our humanity has touched divinity.HLv 453.3
This union must be maintained. Christ said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” This is no off-and-on connection. The branch becomes a part of the living vine. The life you have received from Me, said Jesus, can be preserved only by continual communion. Without Me you cannot overcome sin or resist temptation. We are to cling to Jesus and receive from Him by faith the perfection of His own character.HLv 453.4
The root sends its nourishment through the branch to the outermost twig. “He that abideth in Me,” said Jesus, “and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing.HLv 454.1
“My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away.” There may be an apparent connection with Christ without a real union with Him by faith. A profession of religion places men in the church, but the character shows whether they are in connection with Christ. If they bear no fruit, they are false branches. “If a man abide not in Me,” said Christ, “he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”HLv 454.2
“And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth [pruneth] it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” From the Twelve who had followed Jesus, one as a withered branch was about to be taken away; the rest were to pass under the pruning knife of bitter trial. The pruning will cause pain, but it is the Father who applies the knife. He works with no wanton hand. Excessive foliage that draws away the life current from the fruit must be pruned off. Overgrowth must be cut out to give room for the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The husbandman prunes away the harmful growth, that the fruit may be more abundant.HLv 454.3
“Herein is My Father glorified,” said Jesus, “that ye bear much fruit.” God desires to manifest through you the holiness, benevolence, and compassion of His own character. Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit. He tells them to abide in Him. Through the Word Christ abides in His followers. The life of Christ in you produces the same fruits as in Him. Living in Christ, adhering to Christ, supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, you bear fruit after the similitude of Christ.HLv 454.4
Jesus’ very first injunction when alone with His disciples in the upper chamber was, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” To the disciples this commandment was new, for they had not loved one another as Christ had loved them. But through His life and death they were to receive a new conception of love. The command to love one another had a new meaning in the light of His self-sacrifice.HLv 455.1
When men are bound together, not by force or self-interest, but by love, they show the working of an influence that is above every human influence. It is evidence that the image of God is being restored in humanity. This love, manifested in the church, will surely stir the wrath of Satan. “If the world hate you,” He said, “ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will yours keep also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.” The gospel is to be carried forward in the midst of opposition, peril, loss, and suffering.HLv 455.2
As the world’s Redeemer, Christ was constantly confronted with apparent failure. He seemed to do little of the work He longed to do. Satanic influences were constantly working to oppose His way. But He would not be discouraged. Through Isaiah He declares, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely My judgment is with the Lord, and My work with My God.” Isaiah 49:4.HLv 455.3
Upon this word Jesus rested, and He gave Satan no advantage. When the deepest sorrow was closing about His soul, He said to His disciples, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” “The prince of this world is judged.” Now shall he be cast out. John 14:30; 16:11; 12:31.HLv 456.1
Christ knew that when He should exclaim, “It is finished,” all heaven would triumph. His ear caught the distant music and the shouts of victory in the heavenly courts. He knew that the name of Christ would be heralded from world to world throughout the universe. He knew that truth, armed with the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the contest with evil. He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter.HLv 456.2
Christ did not fail, neither was He discouraged, and His followers are to manifest a faith of the same enduring nature. They are to live as He lived and work as He worked. Instead of deploring difficulties, they are to surmount them, to despair of nothing.HLv 456.3
Christ designs that heaven’s order and divine harmony shall be represented in His church and on earth. Thus through His people He may receive a large revenue of glory. The church, endowed with the righteousness of Christ, is His depositary, in which the riches of His grace and love are to appear in full display. Christ looks on His people in their purity and perfection as the reward of His humiliation and the supplement of His glory.HLv 456.4
With strong, hopeful words the Saviour ended His instruction. He had finished the work given Him to do. He had manifested the Father’s name and gathered out those who were to continue His work among men.HLv 456.5
As a consecrated high priest Christ interceded for His people: “Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are.” “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; ... that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”HLv 456.6
Christ gave His elect church into the Father’s arms. For Him there waited the last battle with Satan, and He went forth to meet it.EGW Writings — Ellen G. White. Ellen G. White Estate · all rights reserved
John 15:1
Sons and Daughters of God
Christ Is the True Vine, October 7
SD 287.1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:1.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 25 (1910 - 1915)
Ms 75, 1910
25LtMs, Ms 75, 1910, par. 17
I am glad that Brother and Sister Haskell are here. Elder Haskell was with us working in new fields. We know how to press the battle to the gates, and we shall understand how to move on in humility and in the fear of God. I never question whether I am going to gain honor or not. I do not want it—<only that honor which I can reflect back upon God>. What I want is to point souls to Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to Him who said, “I am the true vine.” [John 15:1.] Every branch that bringeth forth fruit is pruned. Do not feel when the pruning is being done that you are cast aside and not appreciated. God has a place for you somewhere, and He wants you to stand the test.The Review and Herald
December 2, 1909
RH December 2, 1909, par. 14
Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. White again addressed the congregation assembled in the large tent. She read and commented upon the instruction found in the John 15:1, and made a strong appeal for individual efforts to be put forth in giving the message to friends and neighbors.From the Heart
The Vine and the Branches, April 17
FH 119.1
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. John 15:1.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 1 (1844 - 1868)
Ms 15, 1868
1LtMs, Ms 15, 1868, par. 25
My husband spoke upon the subject, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27. The Methodist minister and his wife came out to hear. They took dinner at Brother Root’s. We think it very doubtful whether they will ever take hold of the truth. We see in them spiritual pride, self-righteousness. In the afternoon my husband spoke again a short period. I then spoke upon the vine and the branches, in John. [15:1.] I had freedom and spoke quite at length, and we hope our labors through the day have not been in vain. We attended meeting in the evening to hear the lecture that Brother Kellogg gave, but I lay down on the hard seat and slept. We were too weary to sit up.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 3 (1876 - 1882)
Lt 20a, 1879
3LtMs, Lt 20a, 1879, par. 6
I wish Mary would join us at Emporia; and if she cannot come, have someone come who can help us in the cooking line. Cannot Willie and Mary take the trip from Emporia with us? If not, I shall be obliged to leave the train. I cannot go farther weak-handed as we are. We ought not to have this care. I had rather attend twenty camp meetings with all their wear, knowing I was doing good to souls, than to be here traveling through the country. The scenery is beautiful, the changes and variety enjoyable; but I have so many fears that I am not in the line of my duty. Oh, when will this fearful perplexity end? I am getting rested some, but I still feel very tired. Today, Sabbath, I spoke one hour to our small congregation under the tent. I had special freedom in speaking from these words: “I am the Vine, my Father is the Husbandman,” etc. [John 15:1.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)
Ms 78, 1898
13LtMs, Ms 78, 1898, par. 1
“I am the true vine,” Christ declared. [John 15:1.] He used the figure of the vine, that as we look upon it, we may call to remembrance of his precious lessons. Rightly interpreted, nature is the mirror of Divinity.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)
Ms 142, 1899
14LtMs, Ms 142, 1899, par. 10
Divine ministration is needed to give power and efficiency to the church in this world. God’s family on earth, subject to temptations and trials, is very near to His heart of love. He has ordained that communication be kept up between heavenly intelligences and His children on this earth. Angels from the courts above are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, those who as faithful warriors are partaking of Christ’s suffering. Christ is represented as dwelling in His people. They must be fed with meat in due season. Therefore, a connection has been established between them and the church above. God cares for His human creation as a husbandman cares for a vineyard. Christ declares, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” [John 15:1.] What a wonderful representation. God is not only the Keeper, but the Owner of the vineyard.