St. John Lutheran Church

John 15:1-8

“The True Vine”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For many it seems that life would just be a whole lot easier if there was no Christ; no Jesus; no God. For many a Christian this is a temptation. For many former Christians and non-believers this is how they live their life. Life without Christ. Why would someone want to live without Christ and what would it look like?

People imagine that a world without God would be a wonderful utopia. It would be a world without sin because nothing would be a sin. You would be able to eat what you wanted, drink what you wanted, smoke what you wanted, have sex as often as you want with whomever you want. You would be friends with everyone because you don’t look down on their lifestyle, race, or beliefs. You wouldn’t feel guilty because there is no God to please or worry about punishing you. When bad things happen they just happen and you fix what the problem was that caused it. People imagine that it is a world where people can finally think for themselves and be able to do what is in their own best interest. I even heard an atheist that said that marriages are better without worrying about God in the middle of it, that good works are really good works because they aren’t done to please a god, and god isn’t used as an excuse.

In many ways this pretend world without a god seems really nice; maybe even wonderful. This utopia sounds great…you can do whatever you want whenever you want and nobody gets mad at you, judges you, and you don’t have to worry about sinning or going to hell. Free thinking and free will shall reign supreme. Where do you sign up?

   “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:1-8)

Unfortunately there is a problem with the atheist utopia. We live in a world of sin. No matter what you believe or how you try to explain it…there is no explaining away of sin in this world. Sin leads us away from God. Sin leads us to want a world without Christ. Sin leads us to live as if there was no Father, Son, or Holy Spirit. But sin doesn’t make life better or easier…sin destroys.

Life without Christ is a life where there is no mercy, there is no one to help shoulder the burden, no forgiveness, no hope, and no love. I am reminded about a story that one of my Seminary professors told my class. Back in the late sixties and seventies during the sexual revolution there were some seminary students at an ELCA seminary in Ohio that wanted to test the theory that spouse swapping helped strengthen the marriage. The students would swap their wives and write a paper with the results. What happened was that the infidelity within the marriage became worse, there was no trust in either marriage, the seminary students dropped out, and became divorced. It seems there is something to keeping Christ center in the marriage and not giving into adultery.

A world without Christ is no world at all…it is hell. Without Christ and God we would not love because we wouldn’t know love for “God is love!” (1 John 4:8) Without Christ the Father would not have mercy on us for we would still be held accountable for our sins. Without God we would not know mercy. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5) Without Christ there would be no hope in this life or the life to come. “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”(Ephesians 2:11-13) Without Christ there is no forgiveness for Christ won forgiveness for us on the cross.

We are in danger of living as if there was no Christ. We have committed adultery even if it is “only” in our hearts. We have lied to friends and loved ones. We have been dishonest, cheated, and stolen from others. We covet what others have and gossip about those we are jealous of, angry at, or don’t know the truth about. Each one of us breaks God’s commands. Each time we live as if there is no Christ. Each time we are in danger of abandoning our faith. How often we are tempted by sex, drugs, alcohol, pornography, and other pleasures of the world…and attempt to fill our hearts that are lacking with something other than Christ.

My brothers and sisters in Christ stop living as if there is no Christ; repent and believe. Remain in Christ and He will remain in you. Take comfort because there is a Christ in this world! Through the death of Christ God has mercy upon you, forgives your sins, and remembers them no more. In Christ we have someone that helps carry our burdens and will never give more than we can handle. In Christ we have hope because He lives and we shall live also. In Christ we have been loved and we love others. That great love of sacrifice, of forgiveness, of hope should be clear to us this day for Jesus has risen from the dead.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) It’s been said that the family that prays together stays together. Truly…the family that prays together, eats together, goes to Church together…stays together. How wonderful it is that Christ Jesus our Vine feeds us, strengthens us, and forgives us through His body and blood. What stronger bond is there than the family that comes to the Lord’s House together, worships together, and receives forgiveness together! Through Jesus’ body and blood…Christ remains in you and you in him! Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.