Jesus was sure, without me you can do nothing

JESUS WAS SURE, WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
John 15:5 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If
you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Apart From Christ
John 15:5
J.R. Thomson
Our Lord does not say, "Apart from my doctrine ye cando nothing;"
important though it is that Christian people should apprehend and receive his
truth. Nor does he say, "Apart from my Church ye cando nothing;" though,
if we understand the term "Church" aright, this would be manifestly true.
But he says, "Apart from me." Christ is, then, himself everything to his
people. He is the Power, the Wisdom, the Salvation, of God, and consequently,
could we be sundered from him, we should be rendered poor and powerless.
I. TO BEAR FRUIT, IS THE END OF TRUE RELIGION, AND THE
RESULT AND PROOF OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. When substituted for faith,
"doing" is bad; but when it is the effectof faith, it is goodand precious.
Where do we look for evidence of the goodnessofthe tree? Is it not soughtin
fruit, goodfruit, much fruit? The doing, or fruit-bearing, here commended by

the Lord Jesus, is the performance of the will of God, is the imitation of the
Master's ownexample, is the fulfillment of the behests of an enlightened
conscience. It comprises personalholiness and active usefulness.
II. SEVERANCE FROM CHRIST RENDERSMEN POWERLESSFOR
GOOD WORKS. The conduct and service which are distinctively Christian
are only possible through personalunion with the Savior.
1. This assertionplaces in a clearlight the unequalled dignity of the Lord
Jesus. This is a declarationwhich none but he could make. Yet, being the Son
of God and the Source of spiritual life to men, he could justly advance a claim
so vast. The disciple is nothing without his master, the servant nothing
without his lord, the soldiernothing without his commander, the hand nothing
without the head, the Christian nothing without Christ.
2. This assertionbrings out into clearlight the absolute dependence of
Christians. Without our Lord's teaching and example, we, should have no
conceptionof the highestmoral excellence.Without his love, we should not
feel the mightiest motive that can influence the soulto consecrationand
service. Without his mediation, we should not enjoy the favor of God, our
Ruler and Judge. Without his Spirit, we should be strangers to the spiritual
powerwhich alone can enable feeble man to do the will of God. Without his
promises, we should lack the encouragementand inspiration we need to cheer
us amidst the difficulties, perplexities, and trials from which no earthly life is
ever exempt. Without him, there would be no deliverance from the bondage of
sin, and no prospectof what is truly the eternallife. "Neither," says Peter, "is
there salvationin any other."
III. UNION WITH CHRIST IS THEREFORE UNSPEAKABLY PRECIOUS,
AND FOR THE CHRISTIAN ABSOLUTELY NEEDFUL. As to the nature of

this connection, there should be no misunderstanding. External privileges and
professions are all insufficient. A spiritual and vital union is necessary, suchas
in the vegetable kingdomjoins the branch to the vine-stock, suchas in
architecture unites the temple to its foundation. This union is effectedon the
human side by a believing reception of the gospelof Christ; on the Divine side
by the impartation of the quickening Spirit of God. Such union is capable of
increase in degree;a closerspiritual fellowship with the Divine Redeemeris
the means of increasedfitness for holy and acceptable service. The experience
of the Apostle Paul was an illustration of this principle. He could say, "I can
do all things through Christ who strengthenethme." He who would work
more diligently, and wait more patiently, must come nearer to Christ, and so
obtain the spiritual power he needs.
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
1. If this union with the living Vine be not formed, let it be formed at once.
2. If it be suspended or enfeebled, let it be renewed.
3. If it be existing and vitally active and energetic, let it be prized and
cultivated. - T.
Nothing without Christ
W. Forsyth, M. A.
I. AS TO THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. There is much in the Bible which all
must understand and admire; but as to its moral spirit and purpose what can
be done without Christ? How slow of heart to believe were the disciples till

Christ openedtheir understandings (Luke 24:48). Of the Old Testament
Christ said, "They are they which testify of Me." The first words of the New
are, "The Book of the Generations of Jesus Christ;" and its last, "The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ," etc. He is the Alpha and Omega, and of the whole
Bible John 20:31 may be said.
II. AS TO RECONCILIATION WITHGOD. That man needs this is not to be
questioned; but how is it to be effected? Godcannot change;His laws cannot
be set aside. Sin is eternal separationfrom God. How, then, canman be
reconciled? Only through Christ (Romans 3:19-25;Colossians 1:21;2
Corinthians 5:19: Romans 5:11).
III. AS TO PROGRESSIN THE DIVINE LIFE. From first to lastthe
Christian is dependent on Christ. His life is derived from, developedby,
devoted to Christ.
IV. AS TO SUCCESS IN EVANGELISTIC WORK.
(W. Forsyth, M. A.)
None but Christ indispensable
A. K. H. Boyd, D. D.
In this world no man is necessary. There are many men who, if they were
takenaway, would be missed. But there is no man but what we may sayof
him, that useful and valuable as he may be, we might come to do without him.
It is a truth this which we do not like to admit. We like to fancy that things
would not go on exactlythe same without us as with us. But this world has
never seenmore than one Being who could say that it was absolutely
impossible to go on when separatedfrom Him. The little child fancied, when
its mother died, that without her it could "do nothing;" but the grownup,

busy man, hardly seems everto remember at all her whom the heart-broken
child missed so sorely. And the mother, when her little one is calledto go, may
fancy that without that little one she "cando nothing;" but time brings its
wonderful easing, and, though not forgetting, she gets on much as before. And
it is the same way in every earthly relation. The husband comes to do without
his dead wife; and the wife to do without the departed husband. The
congregationthat missed their minister for a while, come at length to gather
Sunday after Sunday with little thought of the voice it once was pleasantfor
them to hear. The state comes to do without its lost political chief, and the
country without its departed hero: and we learn in a hundred ways, that no
human being is absolutely necessaryto any other human being. We may
indeed fancy so for a while, but at length we shall find that we were mistaken;
we may indeed miss our absentfriends sadly and long; but we shall come at
last to do without them.
(A. K. H. Boyd, D. D.)
Man's greatestneed
Homiletic Monthly.
No man lives a true and useful life who lives without Christ. The goodman
feels his need of Him, and of all of Him always.
1. His eye to guide him.
2. His hand to uphold him.
3. His arm to shield him.
4. His bosom to lean upon.

5. His blood to cleanse him.
6. His Spirit to make him holy and meet for heaven.Christis the one only
Saviour who canmake a sinner a saint, and secure to him eternal life.
Usefulness is suspended upon holiness, and we are made holy by Christ's
cleansing blood, and in no other way.
(Homiletic Monthly.)
The union betweenChrist and His people
J. R. Owen.
Apart from Christ —
I. THERE IS NO MERIT FOR OUR ACCEPTANCE WITHGOD. "There is
none righteous, no, not one." "Bythe deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in His sight." But in Christ there is all-sufficient merit. Believing in
Him, we are justified and accepted. Notthrough His merit togetherwith what
we ourselves cando. Dr. Chalmers', when awakenedto his condition as a
sinner, for a time "repairedto the atonement to eke out his deficiencies,and
as the ground of assurance thatGod would look upon him with a propitious
eye." But the conviction was at length "wroughtin him that he had been
attempting an impossibility...that it must be either on his ownmerits wholly,
or on Christ's merits wholly, that he must lean; and that, by introducing his
own righteousness into the ground of his meritorious acceptancewith God, 'he
had been inserting a flaw, he had been importing a falsehoodinto the very
principle of his justification.'"
II. WE CAN DO NOTHING TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF
INDWELLING SIN. The evil propensities within us are not the same in each
one; it may be the love of money or the lust of power in one, vanity or pride,

malice or guile, in another. Does not the Christian have frequent experience
that the corruption of his heart is too strong for him? He made good
resolutions, and broke them; after repeatedfailures he is driven almost to
despair, and is ready to ask, "Canmy corruptions ever be conquered, or must
I become more and more their slave?" Butif we be brought by Divine grace to
cleave in faith to the Saviour, we shall have His Spirit to dwell in us, and in
His strength we shall prevail. In ancient fable we read that one of the great
labours imposed upon Hercules was to cleanse the foul Augean Stable. This
mighty task he accomplishedby turning the river Alpheus through it, thus
performing with ease whatbefore had appearedimpossible. That stable is a
true picture of the heart defiled by countless sins. The streams of that fountain
opened in the house of David, turned by a living faith to flow into it, alone can
cleanse it.
III. WE CAN DO NOTHING TO BUILD UP A CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
In a building there is not only a foundation, but also a superstructure. Apart
from Christ we cannot build aright. Christian charactermay be likened unto
a tree growing. "Giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue," etc. Here is a
noble, well-developedgrowth; But these spiritual graces willnot appearif we
do not abide in constantcommunion with Christ.
IV. WE CAN DO NOTHING TO PROMOTE THE TRUE INTERESTSOF
OTHERS. Whatare all the provisions for the alleviating and removing of the
wants and sufferings of men — the hospitals, orphanages, almshouses,and
other philanthropic institutions — but the results of Christian effort, the
products of the Christian spirit! All noble enduring, legislative acts also, such
as that for the emancipation of the slaves, have been brought about by men
under the influence of the religion of Christ. Who likewise have filled Wales
and other countries with the gospel? Is it not men with the love of Christ as a
holy fire burning Within them?

(J. R. Owen.)
The necessityofsupernatural grace in order to a Christian life
Archbishop Tillotson.
I. WHAT WE MEAN BY THE SUPERNATURALGRACE AND
ASSISTANCE OF CHRIST. Whatevernatural powerwe have to do anything
is from God, but God, considering the lapsedcondition of mankind, sent His
Son to recoverus out of that condition, but we, being without strength, our
Saviour hath in His Gospelofferedan extraordinary assistanceofHis Holy
Spirit, to supply the defects of our natural strength. And this supernatural
grace ofChrist is that alone which canenable us to perform what He requires
of us. And this, according to the severaluses and occasions ofit, is calledby
severalnames. As it puts goodmotions into us, it is called preventing grace;
because it prevents any motion or desire on our parts; as it assists and
strengthens us in the doing of anything that is good, it is calledassisting grace;
as it keeps us constantin a goodcourse, it is calledpersevering grace.
II. TO THIS GRACE THE SCRIPTURE DOTHCONSTANTLY
ATTRIBUTE OUR REGENERATION, SANCTIFICATION,AND
PERSEVERANCE IN HOLINESS.
III. THERE IS GREAT REASON TO ASSERT THE NECESSITYOF THIS
GRACE AND ASSISTANCE TO THESE PURPOSES. If we consider —
1. The corruption and impotency of human nature. When the Scripture
speaks ofthe redemption of Christ, it represents our condition not only as
miserable, but helpless (Romans 5:6).
2. The strange power of evil habits and customs. The other is a natural, and
this is a contractedimpotency. The habits of sin being added to our natural

impotency, are like so many diseasessuperinduced upon a constitution
naturally weak, which do all help to increase the man's infirmity. Evil habits
in Scripture are compared to fetters, which do as effectually hinder a man
from motion, as if he were quite lame, hand and foot. By passing from one
degree of sin to another, men became hardened in their wickedness,and
insensibly bring themselves into that state, out of which they are utterly
unable to recoverthemselves.
3. The inconstancy and fickleness ofhuman resolution.
4. The malice and activity of the devil.
IV. THIS SUPERNATURAL GRACE AND ASSISTANCE DOES NOT
EXCLUDE, BUT SUPPOSESTHE CONCURRENCEOF OUR
ENDEAVOURS. The grace ofGod strengthens and assists us. Our Saviour
implies that by the assistanceofgrace we may perform all the duties of the
Christian life; we may bear fruit, and bring forth much fruit. When the
Apostle says, "I cando all things through Christ strengthening me," he does
not think it a disparagementto the grace ofChrist to say, he could do all
things by the assistanceofit (Philippians 2:12, 13).
V. THIS GRACE IS DERIVED TO US FROM OUR UNION WITH
CHRIST. Inferences:
1. If the grace of God be so necessaryto all the ends of holiness, obedience,
and perseverance,then there is greatreasonwhy we should continually
depend upon God, and every day earnestly pray to Him for the aids of His
grace.

2. We should thankfully acknowledgeand ascribe all the good that is in us,
and all that we do, to the grace of God.
3. Let us take heed that we resistnot the Spirit of God, and receive not the
grace ofGod in vain.
4. The considerationof our own impotency is no excuse to our sloth and
negligence, ifso be the grace ofGod be ready to assistus.
5. The considerationof our own impotency is no just ground of
discouragementto our endeavours, considering the promise of Divine grace
and assistance.
(Archbishop Tillotson.)
STUDYLIGHTRESOURCES
Adam Clarke Commentary
Without me ye can do nothing - Χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν -
Separatedfrom me, ye can do nothing at all. God can do without man, but
man cannot do without God. Following the metaphor of our Lord, it would be
just as possible to do any goodwithout him, as for a branch to live, thrive, and
bring forth fruit, while cut off from that tree from which it not only derives its
juices, but its very existence also.

Nearly similar to this saying of our Lord, is that of Creeshna (the incarnate
God of the Hindoos) to his disciple Arjoon: "Godis the gift of charity; God is
the offering: God is the fire of the altar; by God the sacrifice is performed;
and God is to be obtained by him who maketh Godalone the object of his
works." And again: "I am the sacrifice;I am the worship; I am the spices;I
am the invocation; I am the fire; and I am the victim. I am the Father and
Mother of this world, and the Preserver. I am the Holy One, worthy to be
known; the mystic figure Om; (see on John 1:14; (note)) I am the journey of
the good;the Comforter; the Creator;the Witness;the resting-place;the
asylum, and the Friend. I am the place of all things; and the inexhaustible
seedof nature; I am sunshine, and I am rain; I now draw in, and now let
forth." See BhagvatGeeta, pp. 54 and 80. Could such sentiments as these ever
come from any other source than Divine revelation? There is a saying in
Theophilus very similar to one of those above:Θεος ου χωρειται, αλλα αυτος
εστι τοπος των ὁλων . - God is not comprehended, but he is the place of all
things.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on John 15:5". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/john-
15.html. 1832.
Return to Jump List return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
I am the vine - John 15:1.

Without me ye can do nothing - The expression“without me” denotes the
same as separate from me. As the branches, if separatedfrom the parent
stock, couldproduce no fruit, but would immediately wither and die, so
Christians, if separate from Christ, could do nothing. The expressionis one,
therefore, strongly implying dependence. The Son of God was the original
source of life, John 1:4. He also, by his work as Mediator, gives life to the
world John 6:33, and it is by the same grace and agencythat it is continued in
the Christian. We see hence:
1.that to him is due all the praise for all the goodworks the Christian
performs.
2.that they will perform good works just in proportion as they feel their
dependence on him and look to him. And,
3.that the reasonwhy others fail of being holy is because they are unwilling to
look to him, and seek grace andstrength from him who alone is able to give it.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon John 15:5". "Barnes'Notes onthe Whole
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/john-15.html.
1870.

The Biblical Illustrator
John 15:5
I am the Vine, ye are the branches
The true branches of the True Vine
No wise teacheris ever afraid of repeating himself.
The average mind requires the reiteration of truth before it can make that
truth its own. One coatof paint is not enough, it soonrubs off.
I. THE FRUITFULNESS OF UNION.
1. “I am the Vine” was a generaltruth, with no clearpersonalapplication.
“Ye are the branches” brought eachindividual listener into connectionwith
it. How many people there are that listen in a fitful sortof languid way,
interestedly, to the most glorious and solemn truths and never dream that
they have any bearing upon themselves!The one thing most needed is that
truth should be sharpened to a point and the convictiondriven into you, that
you have gotsomething to do with this greatmessage.“Ye are the branches”
is the one side of that sharpening and making definite of the truth in its
personalapplication, and the other side is “Thou art the man.” All religious
teaching is toothless generalities,utterly useless,unless we can force it through
the wallof indifference and vague assent.

2. Note next the greatpromise, “He that abideth in Me, and I in Him,” etc.
Abiding in Christ, and Christ’s abiding in us means a temper and tone of
mind very far remote from the noisy, bustling distractions too common in our
present Christianity. We want quiet, patient, waiting within the veil. The best
way to secure Christian conduct is to cultivate communion with Christ. Get
more of the sap into the branch, and there will be more fruit. We may grow
graces artificiallyand they will be of little worth. First of all be, and then do;
receive, and then give forth. That is the Christian way of mending men, not
tinkering at this, that, and the other individual excellence, but grasping the
secretof total excellencein communion with Him. Our Lord is here not
merely laying down a law, but giving a promise, and putting His veracity into
pawn for the fulfilment of it.
3. Notice that little word which now appears for the first time: “much.” We
are not to be content with a poor shrivelled bunch of grapes that are more like
marbles than grapes, here and there, upon the half-nourished stem. God
forbid that I should saythat there is no possibility of union with Christ and a
little fruit. A little union will have a little fruit; but the only two alternatives
here are, “no fruit,” and “much fruit.” And I would ask why it is that the
average Christianman of this generationbears only a berry or two here and
there, like such as are left upon the vines after the vintage, when the promise
is that if he will abide in Christ, he will bear much fruit.
4. This verse, setting forth the fruitfulness of union with Jesus, ends with the
brief solemn statementof the converse--the barrenness of separation. There is
the condemnationof all the busy life of men which is not lived in union with
Jesus Christ; it is a long row of figures which, like some other long rows of
figures added up, amount just to Zero. “Without Me, nothing.”

II. THE WITHERING AND DESTRUCTION OF SEPARATION FROM
HIM (John 15:6).
1. Separationis withering. Did you ever see a hawthorn bough that children
bring home from the woods, and stick in the grate;how in a day or two the
fresh greenleaves all shrivel up and the white blossoms become brownand
smell foul, and the only thing to be done with it is to fling it into the fire and
get rid of it? Separate from Christ, the individual shrivels, and the
possibilities of fair buds wither and set into no fruit. And no man is the man
he might have been unless he holds by Jesus Christ and lets His life come into
Him. And as for individuals, so for communities. The Church or the body of
professing Christians that is separate from Jesus Christ dies to all noble life,
to all high activity, to all Christlike conduct, and, being dead, rots.
2. Withering means destruction. Look at the mysteriousness of the language.
“Theygather them.” “They castthem into the fire.” Who have that tragic
task? The solemn factthat the withering of manhood by separationfrom
Jesus Christ requires, and ends in, the consuming of the withered, is all that
we have here. We have to speak of it pityingly, with reticence, with terror,
with tenderness, with awe lest it be our fate. Be on your guard againstthat
tendency of this generation, to paste a bit of blank paper over all the
threatenings of the Bible. One of two things must befall the branch, either it is
in the Vine or it gets into the fire. And if we would avoid the fire let us see to it
that we are in the Vine.
III. THE UNION WITH CHRIST AS THE CONDITION OF SATISFIED
DESIRES (John15:7). Our Lord insteadof saying, “I in you,” says “My
words in you.” He is speaking about prayers, consequently the variation is
natural. The abiding of His words in us is largely the means of His abiding in
us.

1. What do we mean by this? Something a greatdeal more than the mere
intellectual acceptance. Something very different from reading a verse in a
morning, and forgetting all about it all the day long; something very different
from coming in contactwith Christian truth on a Sunday, when somebody
else preaches whathe has found in the Bible to us, and we take in a little of it.
It means the whole of the conscious nature of a man. His desires,
understanding, affections, will, all being steepedin those greattruths which
the Masterspoke. Puta little bit of colouring matter into the fountain at its
head and you will have the stream dyed down its course foreverso far. See
that Christ’s words be lodgedin your inmost selves, and all the life will be
glorified and flash into richness of colouring and beauty by their presence.
2. The main effectof such abiding of the Lord’s words with us is, that in such
a ease, my desire will be granted. If Christ’s words are the substratum of your
wishes, then your wishes will harmonize with His will, and so “Ye shall ask
what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”
IV. THIS UNION AND FRUITFULNESS LEAD TO THE NOBLE ENDS OF
GLORIFYING GOD AND INCREASING DISCIPLESHIP (John15:8).
1. Christ’s life was all for the glorifying of God. The lives, which are the life of
Christ in us, will have the same end and the same issue. We come there to a
very sharp test. How many of us are there on whom men, looking, think more
loftily of God. And yet we should all be mirrors of the Divine radiance, on
which some eyes, that are too dim and sore to bear the light as it streams from
the sun, may look, and, beholding the reflection, may learn to love.

2. And if thus we abide in Him and bear fruit we shall “become His disciples.”
The end of our discipleship is never reachedon earth; we never so much are,
as we are in the process ofbecoming, His true followers and servants. If we
bear fruit because we are knit to Him, the fruit itself will help us to get nearer
Him, and so be more His disciples and more fruitful. Characterproduces
conduct, but conduct reacts on characterand strengthens the impulses from
which it springs. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Growth from within
This growing is to be the growth of a branch: not by accretion, by adding to
the surface, but by strength and development from within. You may make a
molehill into a mountain by bringing a sufficiency of material to it, to swellthe
rising pile; but trees and branches expand from within: their growthis the
putting forth of a vital but unseenforce. The life powerin the stock, being also
in the bough, compels an outward exhibition of results in progressive keeping
with the vigour and strength of the supplies. So the believer “grows up” into
Christ into ever-increasing holiness, influence and grace through the Divine
afflatus which is at work within his soul, for it is thus that “Godworkethin
you” more and more “to will and to do of His goodpleasure.” Bythis inner
powerthe branches of a tree have a wonderful powerof assimilation.. They
take hold upon all surrounding forces and turn them to advantage. The dew
that falls, the gasesofthe atmosphere, the descending rain, the chemistry of
the sunlight, all are drawn into it; all are made a part of itself, are made to
serve its purpose and to nurse its health. The very storms that blow, the
alternations of weatherthat test and try it and ofttimes seemto work it
damage, are all made to consolidate its fibres, to quicken the actionof its sap,
and send new energythrough every vein, a strongerlife: thrill into every leaf.
So grows the righteous soul into higher, stronger, more mature religious life.
“All things are yours,” says the apostle Paul. That is to say, all events, all
experiences, allthe providences of God, all the circumstances oflife, as well as
all the riches of promised grace, are made by the goodnessand wisdom of God

to serve the Christian’s interests and help his soul to grow. The dew of the
Spirit, the sunshine of God, the aids of the sanctuary, the societyofthe good,
the exercise ofChristian toil, the business of life, the storms and tempests of
sorrow and toil--all things, by reasonof the subtle powerof the inner life, are
made to help the Christian, to deepen his piety, to strengthen his soul, to
beautify his character, to mature and ripen his graces, andto give him a
strongergrip upon his God. “All things work togetherfor goodto them that
love God.” Neither is there any limit to the attainments possible to the godly
soul. Under the influence of the Divine life it is placed amid an exhaustless
store of nourishment, it is graftedinto the Vine whose Rootis the Godhead
and whose resourcesare infinite and eternal. (J. J. Wray.)
Religionin diverse places
I saw a vine growing on the fertile plain of Damascus with “boughs like the
goodly cedars” (Psalms 80:10). One “bough” of that vine had appropriated a
large foresttree; it had climbed the giant trunk, it had wound itself round the
greatgnarled arms, it had, in fact, coveredevery branch of the tree with
garlands of its foliage, and bent down every twig with the weightof its fruit.
And I saw another branch of the same vine spread out along the ground, and
coverbushes and brambles with foliage as luxuriant and fruit as plentiful as
those on the lordly foresttree. So is it in the Church. Some branches of that
heaven-planted vine climb to the very pinnacles of human society. They
appropriate and sanctify the sceptre of the monarch, the dignity of the peer,
the powerof the statesman, the genius of the philosopher, and they shed a
lustre upon eachand all greaterand more enduring than canever be
conferredby gemmed coronetor laurel crown. While other branches of the
same vine find a congenialsphere in humbler walks, they penetrate city lanes,
they creepup wild mountain glens, they climb the gloomy stair to the garret
where the daughter of toil lies on her death bed, and they diffuse wherever
they go a peace and a joy and a halo of spiritual glory, such as rank and riches
cannot bestow, and such too as poverty and suffering cannot take away. Peer

and peasant, philosopherand working man, king and beggar, have equal
rights and rewards in the Church. They are united to the same Saviour on
earth, and they shall recline on the same bosom in heaven. (J. L. Porter, LL.
D.)
Variety of Christian growth
There may be a hundred branches in a vine; their place in reference to each
other may be far apart; they may seemto have but a very distant connection
with eachother; but having eacha living union with the centralstem, they are
all members of the same Vine, and every one of them therefore is a member
one of the other. Some of the branches are barely above the ground; some
peer higher than all the rest; some are weightedwith fruit, much fruit rich
and fine; some bear but little fruit and that only small and inferior; some
occupy important and central positions;some are seeminglyinsignificant, and
look as though they might readily be dispensed with; as though, indeed, the
tree would be healthier and more gracefulwithout them; some are old and
well grown, thoroughly strong and established;others are young, delicate, and
need development. But whatevervariety there may be among the branches in
size, circumstance, or state, they all form a part of one complete, harmonious
and like-natured whole. The vine stem is the common centre, and in it all
partake of a common life. (J. J. Wray.)
The Christian individuality
The discoveries ofvegetable physiologyhave shown that every branch is, in
fact, a tree perfectly distinct and complete in itself: a tree which, by means of
roots struck into the parent tree, derives its life, and sends out its leafage. The
common idea is, that every tree in the ground has in itself the same kind of
individual existence that a man has, and that, just as in the body limbs and

various organs are component parts of a man, so the bole, the boughs, and the
leaves are component parts of a tree. But the common idea is wrong; a tree is,
in truth, a colony of trees, one growing on another--an aggregate of
individuals--a body corporate, losing nothing, however, and merging nothing
of its ownindividuality. It is charming to study a scientificallywritten
biography of a tree, giving an accountof its cells and pores and hairs, telling
the isle of its evolution and its education; its infinite relations with all the
elements, and how it is affectedby the chemistries of nature; tracing it from
its first faint filament to its full wealth of foliage and its final sweepof
extension; thereby revealing through this miracle of the forestthe glory of
God. But, for the reasons suggestedby some of the thoughts just confessed,
interesting as is the story of a tree, a Christian will find the life tory of a mere
branch scarcelyless interesting, forit teaches him how to connectthe ideas of
total dependence and perfectindividuality. I am a branch, yet I am a true
tree--a tree growing on another tree--evenon the Tree of Life. I see it all now,
and also see the harmony betweenthis particular Scripture and other
Scriptures, better than formerly. It is scientificallytrue that I am a branch in
the Vine, yet that I am a tree, answering to the description, “Rootedand built
up in Him, and establishedin the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thanksgiving.” (C. Stanford, D. D.)
The buds
A Sunday schoolteacherwas trying to make his class understand this lesson.
“Jesus is the Vine,” said he, “we are the branches; we get all our life and
happiness from Him.” “Yes,” saida little fellow in the class, “Jesusis the
Vine, grownup people are the branches, and we young ones are the buds.” In
the natural vine the buds do not bear any fruit. But in Jesus, the Spiritual
Vine, even the buds can be fruitful; the youngestcan make themselves useful.
(J. L. Nye.)

The condition of fruitfulness
I saw a little twig scarcelyan inch long, so tender an infant hand could break
it; rough and unseemly without comeliness,and when I saw it there was no
beauty that I should desire it. It said: “If I were comelyand beautiful, like
those spring flowers I see, I could attract, and please, and fulfil a mission.” It
said: “If I were like yonder oak or cedar, I could afford shelterto God’s
wearysheep at noonday, and the fowls of heavenshould sing among my
branches.” It said: “If I were even strong, I might bear some burden, or serve
a purpose as a peg, a bolt, or a pin, in God’s great building that is going up.
But so unsightly, so weak, so small!” A voice said to it: “Abide in Me, and I in
you, He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”
And so it rested. It was not long until a glory of leaves crownedit, and in
God’s time I saw the heavy fruit it bore.
Without Me ye can do nothing
Without Christ--nothing
No saint, prophet, apostle would ever have said this to a company of faithful
men. Among the virtues of a perfectman we must certainly reckonmodesty.
It is impossible to conceive that Jesus of Nazareth, had he not been more than
man, could ever have uttered this sentence. We have here
I. AN ASPIRATION OF HOPE. From such a root what a vintage must come!
Being branches in Him, what fruit we must produce! That word “do” has
music in it. Jesus went about doing good, and, being in Him, we shall do good.

There is the hope of doing something in the way of glorifying God by bringing
forth
1. The fruits of holiness, peace, andlove.
2. Fruit in the conversionof others.
3. Fruit of further blessing will ripen for this poor world. Men shall be blessed
in us because we are blessedin Christ.
II. A SHUDDER OF FEAR. It is possible that I may be without Christ, and so
may be utterly incapacitatedfor all good.
1. What if you should not be so in Christ as to bring forth fruit? If you are
without Christ, what is the use of carrying on that Bible lass;for you can do
nothing?
2. What if you should be in Christ, and not so in Him as to abide in Him? It
appears from our Lord’s words that some branches in Him are castforth and
are withered. What if you are off and on with Christ! What if you play fast
and loose with the Lord! What if you are an outside saint and an inside devil!
What will come of such conduct as this?
III. A VISION OF TOTAL FAILURE.

1. A ministry without Christ in its doctrine will do nothing. Preachers aspire
to be leaders of thought; wilt they not command the multitude and charm the
intelligent? “Add music and architecture, and what is to hinder success, and
what has been done?” The sum total is expressedin the text--“Nothing.”
2. Without acknowledging always the absolute supremacy of Christ we shall
do nothing. Jesus is much complimented but He is not submitted to. Certain
modern praises of Jesus are written upon the theory that, on the whole, the
Saviour has given us a religion that is tolerably suited to the enlightenment of
the nineteenth century, and may be allowedto last a little longer. It is
fortunate for Jesus that He commends Himself to the “bestthought” and
ripest culture of the period; for, if He had not done so, these wise gentlemen
would have exposedHim as being behind the times. Of course they have every
now and then to rectify certain of His dogmas;He is rectified and squared,
and His garment without seam is takenoff, and He is dressedout in proper
style, as by a West-end clothier; then He is introduced to us as a remarkable
teacher, and we are advised to acceptHim as far as He goes. Now, whatwill
come of this foolish wisdom? Nothing but delusions, mischief, infidelity,
anarchy, and all manner of imaginable and unimaginable ills.
3. You may have sound doctrine, and yet do nothing unless you have Christ in
your spirit. In former years many orthodox preachers thought it to be their
sole duty to comfort and confirm the godly few who by dint of great
perseverance found out the holes and corners in which they prophesied. These
brethren spoke of sinners as of people whom God might possibly gather in if
He thought fit to do so; but they did not care much whether He did so or not.
When a Church falls into this condition it is, as to its spirit, “without Christ.”
What comes of it? The comfortable corporationexists and grows for a little
while, but it comes to nothing.

4. But above all things we must have Christ with us in the powerof His actual
presence. The powerlies with the Master, not with the servant; the might is in
the hand, not in the weapon.
5. We have, then, before us a vision of total failure if we attempt in any way to
do without Christ. He says, “Without Me ye cando nothing:” it is in the doing
that the failure is most conspicuous. You may talk a gooddeal without Him;
you may hold conferencesandconventions; but doing is another matter. The
most eloquent discourse without Him will be all a bottle of smoke. You shall
lay your plans, and arrange your machinery, and start your schemes;but
without the Lord you will do nothing.
IV. A VOICE OF WISDOM, whichspeaks out of the text, and says to us who
are in Christ
1. Let us acknowledgethis.
2. Let us pray. If without Christ we can do nothing, let us cry to Him that we
may never be without Him.
3. Let us personallycleave to Jesus.
4. Heartily submit yourselves to the Lord’s leadership, and ask to do
everything in His style and way. He will not be with you unless you accept
Him as your Master.

5. Joyfully believe in Him. Though without Him you cando nothing, yet with
Him all things are possible.
V. A SONG OF CONTENT.“WithoutMe ye can do nothing.” Be it so. Do
you wish to have it altered, any of you that love His dear name? I am sure you
do not: for suppose we could do something without Christ, then He would not
have the glory of it. Who wishes that? If the Church could do something
without Christ she would try to live without Him. As I listened to the song I
beganto laugh. I thought of those who are going to destroy the orthodox
doctrine from off the face of the earth. They sayour old theologyis decaying,
and that nobody believes it. It is all a lie. If His friends can do nothing without
Him, I am sure His foes cando nothing againstHim. I laughed, too, because I
recollecteda story of a New England service, when suddenly a lunatic started
up and declaredthat he would at once pull down the meeting house about
their ears. Taking hold of one of the pillars of the gallery, this newly-
announced Samsonrepeatedhis threatening. Everybody rose;the women
were ready to faint. There was about to be a greattumult; no one could see
the end of it; when suddenly one coolbrother produced a calm by a single
sentence. “Lethim try!” Even so today the enemy is about to disprove the
gospeland crush out the doctrines of grace. Are you distressed, alarmed,
astounded? So far from that, my reply is this only--Let him try! (C. H.
Spurgeon.)
Nothing without Christ
I. AS TO THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. There is much in the Bible which all
must understand and admire; but as to its moral spirit and purpose what can
be done without Christ? How slow of heart to believe were the disciples till

Christ openedtheir understandings (Luke 24:48). Of the Old Testament
Christ said, “They are they which testify of Me.” The first words of the New
are, “The Book of the Generations of Jesus Christ;” and its last, “The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ,” etc. He is the Alpha and Omega, and of the whole
Bible John 20:31 may be said.
II. AS TO RECONCILIATION WITHGOD. That man needs this is not to be
questioned; but how is it to be effected? Godcannot change;His laws cannot
be set aside. Sin is eternal separationfrom God. How, then, canman be
reconciled? Only through Christ (Romans 3:19-25;Colossians 1:21;2
Corinthians 5:19 : Romans 5:11).
III. AS TO PROGRESSIN THE DIVINE LIFE. From first to lastthe
Christian is dependent on Christ. His life is derived from, developedby,
devoted to Christ.
IV. AS TO SUCCESS IN EVANGELISTIC WORK. (W. Forsyth, M. A.)
None but Christ indispensable
In this world no man is necessary. There are many men who, if they were
takenaway, would be missed. But there is no man but what we may sayof
him, that useful and valuable as he may be, we might come to do without him.
It is a truth this which we do not like to admit. We like to fancy that things
would not go on exactlythe same without us as with us. But this world has

never seenmore than one Being who could say that it was absolutely
impossible to go on when separatedfrom Him. The little child fancied, when
its mother died, that without her it could “do nothing;” but the grownup, busy
man, hardly seems everto remember at all her whom the heart-brokenchild
missed so sorely. And the mother, when her little one is called to go, may
fancy that without that little one she “cando nothing;” but time brings its
wonderful easing, and, though not forgetting, she gets on much as before. And
it is the same way in every earthly relation. The husband comes to do without
his dead wife; and the wife to do without the departed husband. The
congregationthat missed their minister for a while, come at length to gather
Sunday after Sunday with little thought of the voice it once was pleasantfor
them to hear. The state comes to do without its lost political chief, and the
country without its departed hero: and we learn in a hundred ways, that no
human being is absolutely necessaryto any other human being. We may
indeed fancy so for a while, but at length we shall find that we were mistaken;
we may indeed miss our absentfriends sadly and long; but we shall come at
last to do without them. (A. K. H. Boyd, D. D.)
Man’s greatestneed
No man lives a true and useful life who lives without Christ. The goodman
feels his need of Him, and of all of Him always.
1. His eye to guide him.
2. His hand to uphold him.
3. His arm to shield him.

4. His bosom to lean upon.
5. His blood to cleanse him.
6. His Spirit to make him holy and meet for heaven.
Christ is the one only Saviour who canmake a sinner a saint, and secure to
him eternallife. Usefulness is suspendedupon holiness, and we are made holy
by Christ’s cleansing blood, and in no other way. (Homiletic Monthly.)
The union betweenChrist and His people
Apart from Christ
I. THERE IS NO MERIT FOR OUR ACCEPTANCE WITHGOD. “There is
none righteous, no, not one.” “Bythe deeds of the law there shall no flesh be
justified in His sight.” But in Christ there is all-sufficient merit. Believing in
Him, we are justified and accepted. Notthrough His merit togetherwith what
we ourselves cando. Dr. Chalmers’, when awakenedto his condition as a
sinner, for a time “repairedto the atonement to eke out his deficiencies,and
as the ground of assurance thatGod would look upon him with a propitious
eye.” But the conviction was at length “wroughtin him that he had been
attempting an impossibility … that it must be either on his ownmerits wholly,
or on Christ’s merits wholly, that he must lean; and that, by introducing his
own righteousness into the ground of his meritorious acceptancewith God,
‘he had been inserting a flaw, he had been importing a falsehoodinto the very
principle of his justification.’”

II. WE CAN DO NOTHING TO OVERCOME THE POWER OF
INDWELLING SIN. The evil propensities within us are not the same in each
one; it may be the love of money or the lust of power in one, vanity or pride,
malice or guile, in another. Does not the Christian have frequent experience
that the corruption of his heart is too strong for him? He made good
resolutions, and broke them; after repeatedfailures he is driven almost to
despair, and is ready to ask, “Canmy corruptions ever be conquered, or must
I become more and more their slave?” Butif we be brought by Divine grace to
cleave in faith to the Saviour, we shall have His Spirit to dwell in us, and in
His strength we shall prevail. In ancient fable we read that one of the great
labours imposed upon Hercules was to cleanse the foul Augean Stable. This
mighty task he accomplishedby turning the river Alpheus through it, thus
performing with ease whatbefore had appearedimpossible. That stable is a
true picture of the heart defiled by countless sins. The streams of that fountain
opened in the house of David, turned by a living faith to flow into it, alone can
cleanse it.
III. WE CAN DO NOTHING TO BUILD UP A CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
In a building there is not only a foundation, but also a superstructure. Apart
from Christ we cannot build aright. Christian charactermay be likened unto
a tree growing. “Giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue,” etc. Here is a
noble, well-developedgrowth; But these spiritual graces willnot appearif we
do not abide in constantcommunion with Christ.
IV. WE CAN DO NOTHING TO PROMOTE THE TRUE INTERESTSOF
OTHERS. Whatare all the provisions for the alleviating and removing of the

wants and sufferings of men--the hospitals, orphanages, almshouses, and
other philanthropic institutions--but the results of Christian effort, the
products of the Christian spirit! All noble enduring, legislative acts also, such
as that for the emancipation of the slaves, have been brought about by men
under the influence of the religion of Christ. Who likewise have filled Wales
and other countries with the gospel? Is it not men with the love of Christ as a
holy fire burning Within them? (J. R. Owen.)
The necessityofsupernatural grace in order to a Christian life
I. WHAT WE MEAN BY THE SUPERNATURALGRACE AND
ASSISTANCE OF CHRIST. Whatevernatural powerwe have to do anything
is from God, but God, considering the lapsedcondition of mankind, sent His
Son to recoverus out of that condition, but we, being without strength, our
Saviour hath in His Gospelofferedan extraordinary assistanceofHis Holy
Spirit, to supply the defects of our natural strength. And this supernatural
grace ofChrist is that alone which canenable us to perform what He requires
of us. And this, according to the severaluses and occasions ofit, is calledby
severalnames. As it puts goodmotions into us, it is called preventing grace;
because it prevents any motion or desire on our parts; as it assists and
strengthens us in the doing of anything that is good, it is calledassisting grace;
as it keeps us constantin a goodcourse, it is calledpersevering grace.
II. TO THIS GRACE THE SCRIPTURE DOTHCONSTANTLY
ATTRIBUTE OUR REGENERATION, SANCTIFICATION,AND
PERSEVERANCE IN HOLINESS.

III. THERE IS GREAT REASON TO ASSERT THE NECESSITYOF THIS
GRACE AND ASSISTANCE TO THESE PURPOSES. If we consider
1. The corruption and impotency of human nature. When the Scripture
speaks ofthe redemption of Christ, it represents our condition not only as
miserable, but helpless (Romans 5:6).
2. The strange power of evil habits and customs. The other is a natural, and
this is a contractedimpotency. The habits of sin being added to our natural
impotency, are like so many diseasessuperinduced upon a constitution
naturally weak, which do all help to increase the man’s infirmity. Evil habits
in Scripture are compared to fetters, which do as effectually hinder a man
from motion, as if he were quite lame, hand and foot. By passing from one
degree of sin to another, men became hardened in their wickedness,and
insensibly bring themselves into that state, out of which they are utterly
unable to recoverthemselves.
3. The inconstancy and fickleness ofhuman resolution.
4. The malice and activity of the devil.
IV. THIS SUPERNATURAL GRACE AND ASSISTANCE DOES NOT
EXCLUDE, BUT SUPPOSESTHE CONCURRENCEOF OUR
ENDEAVOURS. The grace ofGod strengthens and assists us. Our Saviour
implies that by the assistance ofgrace we may perform all the duties of the
Christian life; we may bear fruit, and bring forth much fruit. When the

Apostle says, “I cando all things through Christ strengthening me,” he does
not think it a disparagementto the grace ofChrist to say, he could do all
things by the assistanceofit Philippians 2:12-13).
V. THIS GRACE IS DERIVED TO US FROM OUR UNION WITH
CHRIST. Inferences:
1. If the grace of God be so necessaryto all the ends of holiness, obedience,
and perseverance,then there is greatreasonwhy we should continually
depend upon God, and every day earnestly pray to Him for the aids of His
grace.
2. We should thankfully acknowledgeand ascribe all the good that is in us,
and all that we do, to the grace of God.
3. Let us take heed that we resistnot the Spirit of God, and receive not the
grace ofGod in vain.
4. The considerationof our own impotency is no excuse to our sloth and
negligence, ifso be the grace ofGod be ready to assistus.
5. The considerationof our own impotency is no just ground of
discouragementto our endeavours, considering the promise of Divine grace
and assistance.(Archbishop Tillotson.)
Copyright Statement

Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Exell, JosephS. "Commentary on "John 15:5". The Biblical Illustrator.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/john-15.html. 1905-1909.
New York.
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
See under John 15:1 and John 15:4, and under John 14:20.
Apart from me ye can do nothing ... As regards procurement of righteousness
in the sight of God, no human being can ever achieve any semblance of it.
Christ Jesus wroughtthe only righteousness (in the ultimate sense)ever
known on earth. No man could everachieve the tiniest fraction of such a
righteousness as that of Christ; and therefore, no man canbe savedas
HIMSELF. The only way he can be saved is to be saved as CHRIST. God
makes sinners righteous, not by imputing to them "a righteousness" ofsome
kind, but by transferring the sinner himself "into Christ," thus identifying
him as Christ and thus enabling the sinner to be presented "perfectin Christ"
(Colossians1:28). The analogyin the metaphor is that the branch is in fact the
vine, being in it, and part of it; but when that union is destroyed by the
branch's being cut off, it dies.

Copyright Statement
James Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. All other rights reserved.
Bibliography
Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Coffman
Commentaries on the Old and New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/john-15.html. Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
I am the vine, ye are the branches,.... Christhere repeats what he said of
himself, "the vine", for the sake of the application of "the branches" to his
disciples:which expressestheir sameness ofnature with Christ; their strict
and close union to him; and the communication of life and grace, holiness and
fruitfulness, of support and strength, and of perseverance in grace and
holiness to the end from him:
he that abideth in me, and I in him; which is the case ofall that are once in
Christ, and he in them:
the same bringeth forth much fruit; in the exercise ofgrace, and performance
of goodworks;and continues to do so as long as he lives, not by virtue of his
own free will, power, and strength, but by grace continually receivedfrom
Christ:

for without me ye can do nothing; nothing that is spiritually good;no, not
anything at all, be it little or great, easyor difficult to be performed; cannot
think a goodthought, speak a goodword, or do a goodaction; canneither
begin one, nor, when it is begun, perfectit. Nothing is to be done "without
Christ"; without his Spirit, grace, strength, and presence;or as "separate
from" him. Were it possible for the branches that are truly in him, to be
removed from him, they could bring forth no fruits of goodworks, any more
than a branch separatedfrom the vine canbring forth grapes;so that all the
fruitfulness of a believer is to be ascribedto Christ, and his grace, andnot to
the free will and powerof man.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on John 15:5". "The New John Gill Exposition of
the Entire Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/john-
15.html. 1999.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
without me — apart, or vitally disconnectedfrom Me.
ye can do nothing — spiritually, acceptably.

Copyright Statement
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text
scannedby Woodside Bible Fellowship.
This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-BrownCommentary is in the
public domain and may be freely used and distributed.
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on John
15:5". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/john-15.html. 1871-8.
People's New Testament
I am the vine, ye are the branches. He has already declared(John 15:1) that
he is the True Vine, but he had not before declaredthat every disciple is a
branch of the Vine. Observe that, not denominations, but church members,
are the branches. The disciple, without Christ, cando nothing. Paul declared,
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.
Original work done by Ernie Stefanik. First published online in 1996 atThe
RestorationMovementPages.

Bibliography
Johnson, BartonW. "Commentary on John 15:5". "People's New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pnt/john-
15.html. 1891.
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament
Ye the branches (υμεις τα κληματα — humeis ta klēmata). Jesus repeats and
applies the metaphor of John 15:1.
Apart from me (χωρις εμου — chōris emou). See Ephesians 2:12 for χωρις
Χριστου — chōris Christou There is nothing for a brokenoff branch to do but
wither and die. Forthe cosmic relationof Christ see John 1:3 (χωρις αυτου —
chōris autou).
Copyright Statement
The Robertson's WordPictures of the New Testament. Copyright �
Broadman Press 1932,33,Renewal1960. All rights reserved. Used by
permission of Broadman Press (Southern BaptistSunday SchoolBoard)
Bibliography
Robertson, A.T. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Robertson'sWordPictures of
the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/john-15.html. Broadman
Press 1932,33. Renewal1960.
Vincent's Word Studies

Without me ( χωρὶς ἐμοῦ )
Properly, apart from me. So Rev. Compare John 1:3; Ephesians 2:12.
Copyright Statement
The text of this work is public domain.
Bibliography
Vincent, Marvin R. DD. "Commentaryon John 15:5". "Vincent's Word
Studies in the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/vnt/john-15.html. Charles
Schribner's Sons. New York, USA. 1887.
Wesley's ExplanatoryNotes
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.
I am the vine, ye are the branches — Our Lord in this whole passagespeaksof
no branches but such as are, or at leastwere once, united to him by living
faith.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that
is available on the Christian ClassicsEtherealLibrary Website.

Bibliography
Wesley, John. "Commentary on John 15:5". "JohnWesley's Explanatory
Notes on the Whole Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/john-15.html. 1765.
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
5.Without me you can do nothing. This is the conclusionand application of the
whole parable. So long as we are separate from him, we bear no fruit that is
goodand acceptable to God, for we are unable to do anything good. The
Papists not only extenuate this statement, but destroy its substance, and,
indeed, they altogetherevade it; for, though in words they acknowledge that
we can do nothing without Christ, yet they foolishly imagine that they possess
some power, which is not sufficient in itself, but, being aided by the grace of
God, co-operates(as they say,)that is, works along with it; (80) for they
cannot endure that man should be so much annihilated as to do nothing of
himself. But these words of Christ are too plain to be evaded so easily as they
suppose. The doctrine invented by the Papists is, that we can do nothing
without Christ, but that, aided by him, we have something of ourselves in
addition to his grace. ButChrist, on the other hand, declares thatwe can do
nothing of ourselves. The branch, he says, bearethnot fruit of itself; and,
therefore, he not only extols the aid of his co-operating grace, but deprives us
entirely of all power but what he imparts to us. Accordingly, this phrase,
without me, must be explained as meaning, except from me.
Next follows another sophism; for they allege that the branch has something
from nature, for if another branch, which is not fruit-bearing, be engraftedin
the vine, it will produce nothing. But this is easilyanswered;for Christ does
not explain what the branch has naturally, before it become united to the vine,

but rather means that we begin to become branches at the time when we are
united to him. And, indeed, Scripture elsewhere shows that, before we are in
him, we are dry and useless wood.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Calvin, John. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Calvin's Commentary on the
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/john-15.html.
1840-57.
Ver. 5. "I am the vine, you are the branches;he who abides in me and I in
him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me, you can do nothing."
Jesus begins by summarily reaffirming the nature of the relation. While
contemplating the natural vine which He has before His eyes, He recognizes in
it the image of the complete dependence on Him in which His disciples are:
"Yes, here indeed is what I am to you and what you are to me: I, the vine;
you, the branches!Do not therefore allow yourselves ever to fall into the
temptation of making yourselves the vine, by desiring to derive anything from
yourselves." The meaning is, therefore: "In me, rich fruitfulness; apart from
me, barrenness." If this secondidea is given as a proof of the first ( ὅτι,
because), it appears at the first glance scarcelylogical.But if Christ is so
completely everything that the believer cando nothing without Him, does it
not follow that the latter cando much, so long as he shall remain united with
Him?

Then, in John 15:6, the fate of the branch which has become unfruitful, and in
John 15:7-8, the fate of the branch united with Christ and fruitful in Him.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Godet, Frédéric Louis. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Frédéric Louis Godet -
Commentary on SelectedBooks".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsc/john-15.html.
James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary
APART FROM THE VINE
‘Without Me ye can do nothing.’
John 15:5
These are the words of our Lord Himself about Himself. They might be more
accuratelytranslatedthus—‘Apart from Me ye cando nothing’—the idea
being not merely that the help of Jesus is required in order that we may have
spiritual life and bear ‘fruit’ to the praise and glory of God, but that we

cannot even possess spirituallife at all unless we are united to Him as the
branch is united to the tree.
I. No fruit without life.—In the natural world we see this at once. You have a
dead tree in your garden; and you know perfectly well that no amount of
careful pruning, no application of wateror of manure to its roots, will enable
it to bear fruit. What it wants is life, and that the Creatoralone can give. So
with the human being. The Scripture compares him to a plant, and as a plant
he must be alive before you can expectto get anything from him that God will
be pleasedwith, and will consentto accept. What cancome from a soul ‘dead
in trespassesand sin’?
II. There can be no life apart from Christ.—Perhaps this statement requires a
little explanation. We are not speaking here about the life of the body, or of
the mind and feelings—life, whichall persons, goodand bad, possess;but of a
specialthing—a thing by which we become acquainted with God, and know,
and love, and serve Him. This particular kind of life is a Divine gift, and it is
the beginning or germ of ‘life eternal’; and in order to be possessedofit we
must be possessedofChrist Himself. See 1 John 5:12—He that hath the Son.’
Hath Christ as an inward treasure—as aninmate dwelling in the secret
recessesofthe soul. Hath Christ as His prophet to teachhim. His Priest to
atone for and to bless him. His King to rule and direct him. Hath Christ as his
‘portion’ (Psalms 119:57). He and he alone hath the life which is ‘life indeed.’
Such a one is united with Christ, and by virtue of this union obtains the
blessing we speak of.
III. No union with Christ without faith.—This fact is abundantly testified to in
Holy Scripture, especiallyin the Gospelof John. There everything is
representedas hanging upon faith. Without faith the human soulstands aloof
from Christ.

Prebendary Gordon Calthrop.
Illustration
‘The marginal reading gives our Lord’s meaning more completely: “Severed
from Me, separate from Me, you have no strength, and can do nothing. You
are as lifeless as a branch cut off from the parent stem.” We must always take
care that we do not misapply and misinterpret this text. Nothing is more
common than to hear some ignorant Christians quoting it partially as an
excuse for indolence and neglectof means of grace. “Youknow we cando
nothing,” is the cry of such people. This is dragging out of the text a lessonit
was never meant to teach. He that spoke these words to His elevenchosen
Apostles is the same Lord Who said to all men who would be saved: “Strive to
enter in”;—“Labour for the meat which endureth to everlasting life”;—
“Repentand believe” (Luke 13:24; John 6:27; Mark 1:15).’
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Nisbet, James. "Commentaryon John 15:5". Church Pulpit Commentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cpc/john-15.html. 1876.
John Trapp Complete Commentary

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
Ver. 5. The same bringeth forth much fruit] Christ is a generous vine, a plant
of renown; and all his are "filled with the fruits of righteousness,"Philippians
1:11, have hearts full of goodness,as those Romans 15:14, and lives full of
goodworks, as Tabitha, Acts 9:33. In Bucholcero vivida omnia fuerunt; vivida
vox, vividi oculi, vividae manus, gestus omnes vividi. (Melch. Ad. in Vita.)
Nehemiah never resteddoing goodfor his people;he was goodall over. Like
the Egyptian fig tree, that bears fruit seventimes a year; or the lemon tree,
which ever and anon sendeth forth new lemons, as soonas the former are
fallen off; or the plain of Campania, now called Terra de lavoro, regionof
labour, which is extolled for the most fruitful plat of earth that is in the
universe.
For without me ye can do nothing] This is point blank againstthe doctrine of
freewill. Sub laudibus naturae latent inimici gratiae, Those who hide under
the praise of works are enemies of free grace, saithAugustine. These will
needs hammer out their own happiness, like the spider, climbing by a thread
of her own weaving, with motto accordingly, Mihi solidebeo. I owe only to
me. Whereas the apostle demandeth, Who made thee to differ? Grevinchovius
the Arminian boldly answers, Egomeipsum discerno, I make myself to differ.
This he had learned from heathens belike: What we live, is from God; but that
we live well, is from ourselves, saithSeneca. And this is the judgment of all
men, saith Cicero, that prosperity is to be sought of God, but wisdom is to be
takenup from ourselves. StAugustine was of another judgment, and saith,
Ciceronem, ut facerethomines liberos, fecisse sacrilegos. Quodvivamus
deorum munus est;quod bone vivamus, nostrum. Iudicium hoc omnium
mortalium est, &c. (Cic. de Nat. Deor.;Aug. Civ. Dei. l. 5.)

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on John 15:5". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/john-
15.html. 1865-1868.
Sermon Bible Commentary
John 15:5
Jesus, the Source of Spiritual Blessing to men
I. When men speak, as they do now, so much of Jesus Christ as only one
amongstthe many greatteachers and benefactors ofour race, does it not
occurto them as strange and unaccountable that He alone—He alone of all
those whose names have come down to us with this honour attachedto them—
should, in the midst of this advanced and enlightened age, possessa living
powerand a devoted and loving following. The writings of many of the great
thinkers of antiquity are still in our hands. We value them for what we think
they are worth. But, I ask, overwhom do they rule? By whom are their
authors reverencedand worshipped? We may delight our intellects with the
hard, keenreasoning ofan Aristotle, or delight our souls with the sublime
conceptions and dulcet words of a Plato;but what man in his senses would
now profess himself an Aristotelian or a Platonist? Their powerhas long since
passedaway;their sceptre is broken; and to most men, even in civilised

countries, they are nothing but a name. But Jesus Christis still in the midst of
us as a living power. Men believe in Him, receive His teachings, confide their
highest interests into His hands, love Him with an all-mastering love, and if
need be, are ready to sacrifice evenlife itself for His sake. And if we have yet
to expect a further development of thought which is to supersede Christianity,
why has it been so long in coming? Centuries have passed, and yet no signof
its approach is to be seen. Is not the world's last hope in Christ? Is not our last
alternative this: Jesus Christfor all, or a dark, dreary, and hopeless nothing.
II. The moral judgments and the spiritual wants of men are the same now as
they were when Christianity was first preached, as they have ever been during
the whole period that Christian truth has been the object of thought. Why
should men wish to change what has already been found to meet the end it
was designedto reachin satisfying the intellectual, the moral, and the
spiritual wants of men? Let searchbe made by men into their spiritual
necessities, letthem survey and catalogue their spiritual wants, let them
gather into one sum all their needs and all their longings as moral,
accountable, and immortal beings, and then let them come unto Jesus Christ
and see whetherHe is not ready and sufficient to do for them all they need. He
alone who came forth from the bosom of the Father can revealGod to men.
W. Lindsay Alexander, Penny Pulpit, No. 699, new series.
References:John 15:5.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. vi., No. 345;vol. xxvii., No.
1625;Preacher's Monthly, vol. i., p. 348;Church of England Pulpit, vol. v., p.
201;Homilist, vol. vi., p. 145;Ibid., 3rd series, vol. x., p. 277;Homiletic
Quarterly, vol. ii., p. 267;vol. xv., p. 101;R. Tuck, Christian World Pulpit,
vol. xiii., p. 213;H. W. Beecher, Plymouth Pulpit, 5th series, p. 293;W. Page
Roberts, Liberalism in Religion, p. 137. John 15:5-8.—Clergyman's Magazine,
vol. iv., pp. 85, 224. John15:7.—A. Murray, With Christ in the Schoolof

Prayer, pp. 156, 164;J. Keble, Sermons from AscensionDayto Trinity, p. 474.
John 15:7-11.—W. Roberts, ChristianWorld Pulpit, vol. x., p. 237.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Nicoll, William R. "Commentary on John 15:5". "SermonBible
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/sbc/john-
15.html.
Greek TestamentCriticalExegeticalCommentary
5.] The interpretation of the allegorywhich eachmind was forming for itself,
the Lord solemnly asserts forthem. Notice οὗτος—he andno other: ‘it is he,
that.…’
χωρὶς ἐμ. is more than ‘without Me,’it = χωρισθέντες ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ (Me(209).),
separate from Me, from being in Me and I in you. The ὅτι regards what is
implied in χωρὶς ἐμ. οὐ δ. π. οὐδ. rather than the word themselves:because
union with Me ( μένειν ἐν ἐμοί) is the sole efficientcause of fruit being
produced, you having no powerto do any thing (not, ποιεῖν καρπόν: for
φέρειν is here used throughout), to bring any thing to perfection, to do any of
the ἀρεταί of that which ye are, separate from Me.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Alford, Henry. "Commentary on John 15:5". Greek TestamentCritical
ExegeticalCommentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hac/john-15.html. 1863-1878.
Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae
DISCOURSE:1691
OUR IMPOTENCYWITHOUT CHRIST
John 15:5. Without me ye cando nothing.
THE various systems of heathen philosophers were all calculatedto confirm
the pride of man: the tendency of the Gospel, on the contrary, is to humble
and abase the soul. Its sublimest doctrines are by far the most humiliating.
The sovereigntyof God, for instance, annihilates, as it were, our fancied
greatness;and the atonement of Christ brings to naught our boasted
goodness.Thus the mysterious doctrine of union with Christ proclaims our
insufficiency for any thing that is good. Our blessedLord declares this, first
by a comparison[Note: ver. 4.], and then in plain terms, “Without me ye can
do nothing.”

In discoursing upon this assertion, I will,
I. Explain it—
In explaining the words of Scripture we must take care not to strain them
beyond their obvious meaning. These must evidently be understood in a
qualified sense:
They must not be understood in reference to things which come within the
province of the natural man—
[A natural man has the same faculties and powers as a spiritual man: his
understanding is as capable of comprehending common subjects, or of
investigating the depths of human sciences:his will and affections are as
capable of being exercisedon objects according to their quality, as much as
ever they will be when he shall be convertedto God: and his memory is as
retentive as that of any other man. A spiritual man has no advantage over him
in these respects. Consequently, our Saviour’s assertionmust not be
interpreted as extending to things purely intellectual, or even moral: since,
beyond a doubt, a natural man may either do or forbearmany things which
come under the designationof morals.]
They refer exclusively to what is spiritual—
[There are different gradations or different kinds, of life, if I may so speak:
there is a vegetative life, an animal life, a rational life, and a spiritual life: and
the powers of eachare limited to its own order: a thing which vegetates, is not
capable of animal exertion; nor is an animal capable of exercising the faculties

of reason;nor does the rational man comprehend or enjoy what is spiritual. If
any one order of being will affectthe offices ofthat above it, it must first
attain the powers of that superior order: for without the powers suited to the
object, its efforts will be in vain. There is indeed this point of difference
betweenthe different kinds of life. The three first differ in their nature: but
the lastdiffers only in the applicationof powers previously possessed. Yet is
the lastcalled a new nature, because it is produced in the soul by the Spirit of
God, who “opens the eyes of the understanding,” constrains the will, and
purifies the affections, and thus, in fact, makes the personso changed, “a new
creature [Note:2 Corinthians 5:17. with 2 Peter1:4.].”
But our Lord’s illustration will place the matter in the clearestlight.
“Christ is a vine: his people are the branches;” and by virtue derived from
him they are enabled to bear fruit. If a branch be broken off from a vine, it
can no more bear fruit: it has nothing in itself independent of the stem; and, if
separatedfrom the stem, it must wither and die. So we, if separatedfrom, or
not united with, the Lord Jesus Christ, are incapable of bearing fruit; because
we have nothing in ourselves independent of him, and have no means of
deriving grace and strength from him. In respectof natural actions, we can
effectall which nature qualifies us to effect: but in respectofspiritual
exertions, we are incapable of them; because, in consequenceofour
separationfrom Him, we are destitute of all spiritual life and power.]
This is, as clearly as I can state it, the import of our Lord’s assertion, I shall
now proceedto,
II. Vindicate it—

I grant, that in itself the assertionis very broad and unqualified: but in the
sense in which it has been explained, it may be fully vindicated:
1. From Scripture—
[Throughout all the Holy Scriptures man is representedas dependent upon
God for the communications of his grace. In himself he has nothing but evil
[Note:Genesis 6:5.]: his whole soul is corrupt [Note:Jeremiah17:9.]: and he
must have “the heart of stone takenaway, and an heart of flesh given him,”
before he can keepthe commandments of his God [Note:Ezekiel36:26-27.].
So far is this carried, that the natural man is declared to be incapable of
performing a goodact [Note:Jeremiah13:23.], or uttering in a becoming
manner a goodword [Note: 1 Corinthians 12:3. Matthew 12:34.], or
entertaining with real approbation a goodthought [Note: 2 Corinthians 3:5.
with 2 Corinthians 8:16.]. And with this statement our Church fully accords,
when, in addressing Jehovah, it says, “O God, from whom all holy desires, all
goodcounsels, and all just works do proceed.” As far as the Scripture
testimony therefore is admitted, the point is clear;and our Saviour’s
declarationis fully justified.]
2. From experience—
[Where shall we find one from the beginning of the world to this hour, who
ever servedGod but by a power derived immediately from God [Note:Hosea
14:8.]? If any one think he have a power in himself to do goodworks, let him
consult the tenth Article of our Church, which says, “The grace ofGod by
Christ prevents us, that we may have a goodwill; and workethwith us when
we have that goodwill.” Or let him rather try what he can effectby any power
of his own. Go, and get your soul filled with love to God; or with hatred of sin;
or with a contempt for this present evil world and all that is in it: go,

determine to do these things; and then carry them into effect:and then we will
confess that what our Saviour has affirmed is not true. There is not any one, I
apprehend, who will not acknowledgethree things necessaryto the salvation
of his soul; namely, repentance, faith, and obedience. Go then, and repent
with real contrition, and unfeigned self-lothing and self-abhorrence. Go, and
work up your soulalso to faith in Christ, so as to flee to him, and rely upon
him, and cleave to him, and glory in him as all your salvationand all your
desire. Go too, and getyour whole soul castinto the mould of the Gospel, so as
to delight in every part of God’s revealedwill, and to and all your happiness
in the performance of it. Do anyone of these things, and we will confess, either
that the word of God is altogetherfalse, orat leastthat it is so expressed, as to
mislead every person who endeavours to understand it. But I will not require
so much at your hands. Only go home from this place, and fall upon your
knees in your secretchamberbefore God, and for one half hour pour out your
soul before him in fervent supplications for mercy, and in devout
thanksgivings for all the blessings of redemption as setbefore you in the
Gospel. Put this matter to a trial: see whetheryou can effecteven this small
matter by any powerof your own. I am not afraid to abide the testof this
experiment, and to constitute this whole assemblyjudges in their own cause. If
then not so much as one amongstyou is able to do this small thing, know every
one of you that the declarationin my text is true.]
Address—
1. Those who are yet without Christ—
[Truly, whilst you are “without Christ,” you are “without any scriptural
hope” of salvation[Note:Ephesians 2:12.]. Renounce therefore, I pray you,
brethren, all confidence in yourselves. That you have brought forth fruit, I
confess;but it has been “only wild grapes [Note:Isaiah5:2-4.].” But it is a far
different fruit that God looks for: and in order to bring forth that, you must

be cut off from the stock on which you have hitherto grown, and be graffed
into Christ [Note: Romans 11:24.]. Seek then to become living branches of the
living vine: seek an union with the Lord Jesus Christby faith: so shall you be
enabled to bring forth fruit to his glory, and be approved by the Great
Husbandman in the day that he shall come to inspecthis vineyard [Note: ver.
1, 2, 6, 8.] — — —]
2. Those who by faith are united to him—
[Happy, happy are ye: for, as “those who are separate from him cando
nothing,” you, on the contrary, by virtue of your union with him can do every
thing; as St. Paul has said, “I can do all things through Christ, who
strengtheneth me [Note: Philippians 4:13.].” In order to this howeveryou
must “abide in him,” just as the branch abideth in the vine. You must be
continually “receiving out of his fulness the grace” whichyour necessities
require [Note:John 1:16.]. This life of faith is your wisdom, your happiness,
your security [Note:Galatians 2:20.]: and the more entire is your affiance in
him, the more will you “be filled with all the fruits of righteousness whichare
by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”]
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

Simeon, Charles. "Commentary on John 15:5". Charles Simeon's Horae
Homileticae. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/shh/john-
15.html. 1832.
Heinrich Meyer's Critical and ExegeticalCommentaryon the New Testament
John 15:5. Abide on me, I say, for I am the vine, ye the branches;thus then
only from me (not ἀφʼ ἑαυτὼν, John 15:4) canyou derive the living power for
bearing fruit. And you must abide on me, as I on you: so ( οὗτος:he, no other
than he) will you bring forth much fruit. In this way, by means of ἐγὼ …
κλήματα the preceding ἐν ἐμοί, and by means of ὁ μένων, κ. τ. λ., the
preceding μείνητε is confirmed and brought into relief. Hence also the
emphatic position of ἐγώ and μένων.
κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ]Instead of καὶ ἐν ᾧ ἐγὼ μένω, this clause—notrelative, but
appending itself in an easyand lively manner—is introduced. See on this
classic idiom, Bernhardy, p. 304;Nägelsbach, z. Ilias, p. 6, ed. 3; Buttmann, N.
T. Gr. p. 327 f. [E. T. p. 382].
χωρὶς ἐμοῦ]χωρισθέντες ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, out of living fellowship with me. Comp.
Ephesians 2:12; Tittmann, Synon. p. 94. Antithetic to ἐν ἐμοὶ μένειν.
ποιεῖν οὐδέν] effectnothing, bring about nothing, passing from the figure into
the proper mode of presentation. The activity of the Christian life in generalis
meant, not merely that of the apostles, since the disciples are addressed, not
especiallyin respectof their narrowervocation, but generally as κλήματα of
Christ, which standing they have in common with all believers. The utter
incapacity for Christian efficiencywithout the maintenance of the living
connectionwith Christ is here decidedly and emphatically expressed;on this

subject, however, Augustine, and with him ecclesiasticalorthodoxy, has
frequently drawn inferences too wide in favour of the doctrine of moral
inability generally(see especiallyCalovius);since it is only the ability for the
specificallyChristian ποιεῖν τι (the καρπὸν φέρειν) which is denied to him who
is χωρὶς χριστοῦ. Forthis higher moral activity, which, indeed, is the only true
one, he is unable (John 3:6), and in this sense it may be saidwith Augustine,
that Christ thus spoke, “ut responderetfuturo Pelagio;” where, however, a
natural moral volition and ability of a lowergrade in and of itself (comp.
Romans 2:14-15;Romans 7:14 ff.) is not denied, nor its measure and power
more exactly defined than to this effect, that it cannot attain to Christian
morality, to which rather the ethical powerof the living fellowshipwith Christ
here depicted, consequentlythe new birth, is indispensable. Luther well says:
“that He speaks nothere of the natural or worldly being and life, but of fruits
of the gospel.” And in so far “nos penitus privat omni virtute, nisi quam
suppeditat ipse nobis,” Calvin.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Meyer, Heinrich. "Commentary on John 15:5". Heinrich Meyer's Critical
and ExegeticalCommentaryon the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hmc/john-15.html. 1832.
Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament

John 15:5. οὗτος)he, and he only [“the same”].— ποιεῖν, do) This verb is
takenin the strict sense. Elsewhere we have the expressionκαρπὸνποιεῖν, to
make or produce fruit: but here καρπὸν φέρειν, to bear fruit.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bengel, JohannAlbrecht. "Commentary on John 15:5". Johann Albrecht
Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/john-15.html. 1897.
Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
I am the vine, ye are the branches; that is, I am as the vine, you are as the
branches: without the continual influence of the vine upon the branches, they
bring forth no fruit; but that influence continuing, no plant is more fruitful
than a vine is: so without the continual influence of my Spirit of grace upon
you, you will be altogetherbarren and unfruitful; but if you have that
influence, you will not be fruitful only, but very fruitful: for without my
continuing such influence, you will not only be able to do little, but you will be
able to do nothing that is truly and spiritually goodand acceptable in the sight
of God.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Poole, Matthew, "Commentaryon John 15:5". Matthew Poole's English
Annotations on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/john-15.html. 1685.
Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament
The union of the branch to the vine by a vital communication is no more
essentialto its life and fruitfulness, than the union of souls to Christ, by
receiving and trusting in him as the Saviour, is to their holiness and bliss.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Edwards, Justin. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Family Bible New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/fam/john-
15.html. American TractSociety. 1851.
Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools andColleges

5. The text of the allegoryis repeatedand enlarged. That the disciples are the
branches has been implied but not stated. Note the irregular constructionand
comp. John 5:44.
ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ. Becauseapartfrom Me (John 1:3; Ephesians 2:12). Christians
cannot live as such if severedfrom Christ. Nothing is here said about those
who are not Christians; but there is a sense in which the words are true of
them also.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
"Commentary on John 15:5". "Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools and
Colleges".https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/john-15.html.
1896.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
5. Without me ye cando nothing—Gracious ability precedes all acceptable
action. It is the sap without which no branch can bring forth fruit. Man,
without the grace of God, through Christ, empowering him, can no more
bring forth action pleasing to God than the dry and withered branch can put
forth the rich and ruddy cluster.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Whedon, Daniel. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Whedon's Commentary on
the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/whe/john-15.html.
1874-1909.
Expository Notes ofDr. Thomas Constable
Jesus continued to stress the importance of believers abiding in Him (i.e,
cultivating intimacy through loving obedience, John 14:23;John 15:10) to
bear much fruit. The negative alternative illustrates the positive truth. No
contactwith the vine results in no fruit. Jesus had spokenof no fruit ( John
15:2), some fruit ( John 15:2), more fruit ( John 15:2), and now He spoke of
much fruit ( John 15:5).
Obviously it is impossible for a branch to bear any fruit if it has no contact
with the life-giving vine. Many unbelievers appear to bear the fruit of godly
characterand conduct, but their fruit is phony. It is similar to plastic fruit
that one could hang on trees to give them the appearance ofbeing healthy and
productive. It is natural, though not inevitable, that a branch that has vital
connectionwith the vine bear some fruit. The way to bear much fruit is for
the branch to maintain unhindered fellowshipwith the vine by allowing the
vine to have its way with the branch. The alternative would be resisting the
Holy Spirit"s work by neglecting and disobeying God.

Lack of fruit in the life, therefore, may not necessarilybe an indication that
the branch has no vital relationship to the vine (i.e, that the person is
unsaved). It may indicate that the branch, though connectedto the vine, is not
abiding in it (i.e, that the believer is not cultivating an intimate relationship
with the Savior).
"How strange that in our day and time we have been told so often that
fruitlessness is a sure sign that a person is unsaved. Certainly we did not get
this idea from the Bible. Rather, the Bible teaches that unfruitfulness in a
believer is a sure sign that one is no longermoving forward, no longer
growing in Christ. It is a sign that the Christian is spiritually sick, and until
well again, cannotenjoy spiritual success." [Note:Zane C. Hodges, Absolutely
Free!p118.]
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentaryon John 15:5". "ExpositoryNotes of
Dr. Thomas Constable".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/john-15.html. 2012.
Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in
him, the same beareth much fruit; because apartfrom me ye cando nothing.
The transition from John 15:4 to John 15:5 appears to be similar to that from

chap. John 5:19-23 to chap. John 5:24,—a transition from the principle to its
application to men. In substance the lessonis the same as before;and it has
only to be distinctly observedthat the words ‘ye can do nothing’ refer to the
efforts of one already a believer. The state of faith is presupposed.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Schaff, Philip. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Schaff's PopularCommentary
on the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/scn/john-15.html. 1879-90.
The Expositor's Greek Testament
John 15:5. ἐγὼ … κλήματα—“Iam the Vine, ye are the branches,” together
forming one tree and possessedby one common life. The stock does not bear
fruit, but only the branches;the branches cannot live without the stock.
Therefore it follows ὁ μένων … οὐδέν. The one thing needful for fruit-bearing
is that we abide in Christ, and He in us; that the branch adhere to the vine,
and the life of the vine flow into the branch. χωρὶς ἐμοῦ, “in separationfrom
me”. See Ephesians 2:12. Grotius gives the equivalents “seorsim,”
“separatim,” κατὰ μονάς, κατʼαὐτό.οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν, “ye cannotdo
anything,” absolutely nothing according to John 1:3-4; but here the meaning
is, “ye cannot do anything which is glorifying to God, anything which can be
calledfruit-bearing,” John 15:8.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Nicol, W. Robertson, M.A., L.L.D. "Commentary on John 15:5". The
Expositor's Greek Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/egt/john-15.html. 1897-1910.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
without. Greek choris, apartfrom. Compare John 1:3 and John 20:7 (by
itself), the only other occurancein John.
nothing. Greek. ououden, a double negative.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on John 15:5". "E.W. Bullinger's
Companion bible Notes".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bul/john-15.html. 1909-1922.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
same bringeth forth much fruit. This is just the positive form of what had
been said negativelyin the previous verse. But it is more. Without abiding in
Christ we cannot bear any fruit at all; but he that abideth in Christ, and
Christ in him, the same bringeth forth-not fruit merely, as we should expect
but - "much fruit:" meaning that as Christ seeksonly a receptive soul to be a
communicative Saviour, so there is no limit to the communication from Him
but in the power of receptionin us.
For without me (disconnectedfrom Me, in the sense explained), ye cando
nothing - nothing spiritually good, nothing which God will regard and accept
as good.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on John
15:5". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -

Unabridged". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfu/john-
15.html. 1871-8.
The Bible Study New Testament
You are the branches. He is the RealVine (John 15:1). Now he declares that
eachdisciple is a branch on the RealVine.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Ice, Rhoderick D. "Commentary on John 15:5". "The Bible Study New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ice/john-15.html.
College Press, Joplin, MO. 1974.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(5) I am the vine, ye are the branches.—The first clause is repeatedto bring
out the contrastwith the second. It has been implied, but not directly stated,
that they are the branches. It may be that there was a pause after the end of
the fourth verse, accompaniedby a look at the disciples, or at that which
suggestedthe imagery of the vine. His words would then continue with the
sense, “Yes, it is so. That is the true relation betweenus. I am the vine, ye are
the branches. The fruitful branches represent men that abide in Me . . .”

For without me ye can do nothing.—Better, separate from Me, or, apart from
Me. (Comp. margin.) The words bring out the fulness of the meaning of the
fruitfulness of the man who abides in Christ. It is he, and he only, who brings
forth fruit, for the man who is separate from Christ can bear no fruit. The
words have often been unduly pressed, to exclude all moral powerapart from
Christ, whereas the whole context limits them to the fruit-bearing of the
Christian life. The persons thought of all through this allegoryare true and
false Christians, and nothing is said of the influence on men of the wider
teaching of God, the Light of the Logos ever in the world. A moral power
outside the limits of Christianity is clearly recognisedin the New Testament.
(Comp., e.g., Romans 2:14-15, Notes.)
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Ellicott, Charles John. "Commentary on John 15:5". "Ellicott's Commentary
for EnglishReaders".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/john-15.html. 1905.
Treasuryof Scripture Knowledge
vine
Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 12:12,27;1 Peter2:4

same
12:24;Proverbs 11:30;Hosea 4:8; Luke 13:6-9;Romans 6:22; 7:4; 2
Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11; 4:13,17;
Colossians 1:6,10;James 1:17;2 Peter 1:2-18;3:18
without
or, severedfrom.
Acts 4:12
can
5:19; 9:33; 2 Corinthians 13:8; Philippians 4:13
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Torrey, R. A. "Commentary on John 15:5". "The Treasury of Scripture
Knowledge". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tsk/john-
15.html.
Commentary by J.C.Philpoton selecttexts of the Bible
John 15:5
"I am the vine, you are the branches—He that abides in me, and I in him, the
same brings forth much fruit—for without me you cando nothing." John 15:5

Without a union with Christ, we have no spiritual existence;and we may
boldly say that we no more have a spiritual being in the mind of God
independent of Christ, than the branch of a tree has an independent existence
out of the stem in which it grows. But you will observe, also, in this figure of
the vine and the branches, how all the fruitfulness of the branch depends upon
its union with the vine. Whateverlife there is in the branch, it flows out of the
stem; whatever strength there is in the branch, it comes from its union with
the stem; whateverfoliage, whateverfruit, all come still out of its union with
the stem. And this is the case,whetherthe branch be greator small. From the
stoutestlimb of a tree to the smallesttwig, all are in union with the stem and
all derive life and nourishment from it.
So it is in grace—notonly is our very being, as sons and daughters of the Lord
Almighty, connectedwith our union with Christ, but our well-being. All our
knowledge, therefore, ofheavenly mysteries, all our faith, all our hope, and all
our love—in a word, all our grace, whethermuch or little, whether that of the
babe, the child, the young Prayer of Manasseh, or the father—flows out of a
personal, spiritual, and experimental union with the Lord Jesus;for we are
nothing but what we are in him, and we have nothing but what we possessby
virtue of our union with him.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me, and I in him, the
same brings forth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." John 15:5
The greatsecretin religion—thatsecretwhich is only with those who fear the
Lord and to whom he shows his covenant—is first to get sensible union with
the Lord, and then to maintain it. But this union cannot be gotten exceptby
some manifestation of his Personand work to our heart, joining us to him as
by one Spirit. This is the espousalofthe soul, whereby it is espousedto one
husband as a chaste virgin to Christ. From this espousalcomes fellowship, or

communion with Christ; and from this communion flows all fruitfulness, for it
is not a barren marriage.
But this union and communion cannotbe maintained exceptby abiding in
Christ; and this can only be by his abiding in us. "Abide in me, and I in you."
But how do we abide in him? Mainly by faith, hope, and love, for these are the
three chief graces ofthe Spirit which are exercisedupon the Personand work
of the Son of God. But as a matter of faith and experience, we have also to
learn that to abide in Christ needs prayer and watchfulness, patience and self-
denial, separationfrom the world and things worldly, study of the Scriptures
and secretmeditation, attendance on the means of grace, and, though last, not
least, much inward exercise ofsoul.
The Lord Isaiah, so to speak, very cautious of his presence. Any indulged sin;
any forbidden gratification; any bosom idol; any lightness or carnality; any
abuse of the comforts of house and home, wife and children, food and
clothing; any snare of business or occupation;any negligence in prayer,
reading, watching the heart and mouth; any conformity to the world and
worldly professors;in a word, anything contrary to his mind and will,
offensive to the eyes of his holiness and purity, inconsistent with godly fear in
a tender conscience,orunbecoming our holy profession, it matters not
whether little or much, whether seenor unseen by human eye—allprovoke
the Lord to deny the soulthe enjoyment of his presence.
And yet with all his purity and holiness and severity againstsin, he is full of
pity and compassionto those who fear and love his greatand glorious name.
When these sins are felt, and these backslidings confessed, he will turn again
and not retain his anger forever. When repenting Israelreturns unto the Lord
his God, with the words in his heart and mouth—"Take awayalliniquity, and
receive us graciously;" then the Lord answers—"Iwill heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely; for mine angeris turned awayfrom him. I will be as

the dew unto Israel—he shall grow as the lily, and castforth his roots as
Lebanon." Then, under the influence of his love, Israelcries aloud—"Who is
a God like unto you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgressionof
the remnant of his heritage? he retains not his angerforever, because he
delights in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassionupon us; he will
subdue our iniquities; and will castall their sins into the depths of the sea."
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Philpot, JosephCharles. "Commentary on John 15:5". Commentary by
J.C.Philpoton selecttexts of the Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jcp/john-15.html.
Ver. 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."
The first words do not contain a mere repetition. The words which had been
formerly spokengenerallyare now specificallyapplied to the relation to
Christ and His disciples, in order to draw the conclusion, that they can bear
fruit only in fellowship with Him. "Ye are the branches" does not imply that
the disciples were the only branches. It is rather equivalent to saying: My
relation to you is that of the vine to the branches. This does not exclude the
fact, that with them there were, and after them should be, other branches.
That there were other branches, and that the Jews in particular were such, is

shown by vers. 2 and 6. The absolute relation of vine to the branches, which
Jesus assumes in declaring His relationto His disciples,
His thus making Himself to be unconditionally the source ofall spiritual
powers of life,—presupposes andrests upon the basis of His divinity.
Augustin: Quamvis autem Christus vitis non essetnisi homo esset:tamen
istam gratiam palmitibus non praeberetnisi etiam Deus esset. "WithoutMe
ye can do nothing" leads to the deep corruption of our nature, and
presupposes the πονηροὶ ὄντες in Matthew 7:11, and "that which is born of
the flesh is flesh" of ch. John 3:6. Thence will appear at the same time the
necessityofthe closestadherenceto the vine, and of the firmest continuance in
a state, to relapse from which is to fall back againinto the old impotence.
Augustin: Nonait, sine me parum potestis facere, sednihil potestis facere.
Luther: "Thus there is a heavy sentence pronouncedupon all life and action,
however;greatand glorious it may seemto be, which is out of Christ: man
can do nothing, and be nothing, out of Him."
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
Without Christ-Nothing
Charles Haddon SpurgeonOctober23, 1881
Scripture: John 15:5
From: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 27

Without Christ-Nothing
“Without me ye can do nothing.” — John xv. 5.
THIS is not the language ofa man of ordinary mould. No saint, no prophet,
no apostle would everhave addresseda company of faithful men, and have
said to them, “Without me ye can do nothing.” Had Jesus Christ been, as
some say, a goodman, and nothing more, such language as this would have
been unseemly and inconsistent. Among the virtues of a perfect man we must
certainly reckonmodesty, but this from a mere man would have been
shamelesslyimmodest. It is impossible to conceive that Jesus of Nazareth, had
he not been more than man, could ever have uttered the sentence, “Without
me ye cando nothing.” My brethren, I hear in this sentence the voice of that
Divine Personwithout whom was not anything made that was made. The
majesty of the words reveals the Godhead of him that uttered them. The “I
am” comes out in the personalword “me,” and the claim of all power unveils
the Omnipotent. These words mean Godhead or nothing. The spirit in which
we listen to this language is that of adoration. Let us bow our heads in solemn
worship, and so unite with the multitude before the throne who ascribe power
and dominion and might to him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb.
In this adoring state of mind we shall be the better prepared to enter into
the innermost soul of the text. I am not going to preachupon the moral
inability of the unregenerate, althoughin that doctrine I most firmly believe;
for that truth did not come in our Lord’s way when he uttered these words,
neither did he allude to it. It is quite true that unregenerate men, being
without Christ, can do no spiritual actionwhatever, and can do nothing which
is acceptable in the sight of God; but our Lord was not speaking to

unregenerate men at all, nor speaking about them. He was surrounded by his
apostles, the eleven out of whom Judas had been weeded, and it is to them as
branches of the true vine that he says, “Without me ye cando nothing.” The
statementrefers to such as are in the vine, and even to such as have been
pruned, and have for a while been found abiding in the stem, which is Christ;
even in such there is an utter incapacity for holy produce if separatedfrom
Christ.
We are not called upon just now to speak upon all forms of doing, as
beyond us, but of that form of it which is intended in the text. There are
certain forms of doing in which men excelwho know little or nothing of
Christ; but the text must be viewed in its own connection, and the truth is
clear. Believers are here describedunder the figure of branches in the vine,
and the doing alluded to must therefore be the bearing of fruit. I might render
it, “Apart from me ye can produce nothing— make nothing, create nothing,
bring forth nothing.” The reference, therefore, is to that doing which may be
setforth by the fruit of the vine branch, and therefore to those goodworks
and graces ofthe Spirit which are expected from men who are spiritually
united to Christ: it is of these that he says, “Without me ye can do nothing.”
Our text is only another form of the fourth verse:“As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, exceptit abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in
me.” I am therefore going to address myself to you who profess to know and
love the Lord, and are anxious to glorify his name, and I have to remind you
that union to Christ is essential;for only as you are one with him, and
continue to be so, canyou bring forth the fruits which prove you to be truly
his.
I. Reading againthis solemn sentence, “Withoutme ye cando nothing,” it
first of all excites in me AN ASPIRATION OF HOPE. There is something to
be done, our religion is to have a grand practical outcome. I have been
thinking of Christ as the vine, and of the myriads of branches in him, and my
heart has hoped for greatthings. From such a root what a vintage must come!

Being branches in him, what fruit we must produce! There canbe nothing
scanty or povertystrickenin the fruitage of a vine so full of sap. Fruit of the
best quality, fruit in the utmost abundance, fruit unrivalled, must be borne by
such a vine. That word “do” has music in it. Yes, brethren, Jesus wentabout
about doing good, and, being in him, we shall do good. Everything about him
is efficient, practical,— in a word, fruitbearing; and being joined to him much
will yet be done by us. We have been savedby the almighty grace of God
apart from all doings of our own, and now that we are saved we long to do
something in return: we feel a high ambition to be of some use and service to
our greatLord and Master. The text, even though there be a negative in it, yet
raises in our soul the hope that ere we go hence and be no more we may even
here on earth do something for Christ.
Beloved, there is the ambition and hope before us of doing something in the
way of glorifying Godby bringing forth the fruits of holiness, peace, and love.
We would adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. By pureness,
by knowledge, by longsuffering, by love unfeigned, by every goodand holy
work we would show forth the praises of our God. Apart from the Lord Jesus
we know we cannot be holy; but joined unto him we overcome the world, the
flesh, and the devil, and walk with garments unspotted from the world. The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness,temperance, and all manner of holy conversation. Fornone of these
things are we equal in and of ourselves, and yet by faith we say with Paul, “I
can do all things through Christ which strengthenedme.” We may be adorned
with plentiful clusters, we may cause the Saviour to have joy in us that our joy
may be full: greatpossibilities are before us.
We aspire not only to produce fruit in ourselves, but to bear much fruit in
the conversionof others, even as Paul desired concerning the Romans, that he
might have fruit among them. In this matter we can do nothing whatever
alone;but being united unto Christ we bring forth increase unto the Lord.
Our Lord Jesus said, “The works that I do shall ye do also, and greaterworks

than these shall ye do, because Igo unto the Father.” Brethren, a hope springs
up in our bosom that we may eachone of us bring many souls to Jesus. Not
because we have any power in ourselves, but because we are united to Jesus
we joyfully hope to bring forth fruit in the way of leading others to the
knowledge ofthe gospel.
My soul takes fire of hope, and I say to myself, If it be so, all these
branches, and all alive, how much fruit of further blessing will ripen for this
poor world. Men shall be blessedin us because we are blessedin Christ. What
must be the influence of ten thousand godly examples!What must be the
influence upon our country of thousands of Christian men and women
practically advancing love, peace, justice, virtue, holiness!And if eachone is
seeking to bring others to Christ what numerous conversions there must be,
and how largelymust the church of God be increased. Do you not know that if
there were only ten thousand real Christians in the world, yet if eachone of
these brought one other to Christ every year it would not need twenty years to
accomplishthe conversionof the entire population of the globe? This is a
simple sum in arithmetic which any schoolboycan work out. Certainly it looks
a small thing that eachone should bring another to the Lord; and surely if we
are one with him we may hope to see it done. So I sit me down and dream
right comfortably, according to the promise, “Your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” See these thousands of
branches, proceeding from such a stem as Christ Jesus, andwith such sap as
the Holy Ghostflowing through them; why, surely, this vine must soonclothe
the mountains with its verdure, and there shall not remain a single barren
rock unadorned with the blessedfoliage!Then shall the mountains drop sweet
wine, and all the hills shall melt. Not because ofany natural fertility in the
branches, but because oftheir glorious root, and stem, and sap, eachone shall
bear full clusters, and eachfruitful bough shall run over the wall. Beloved
friends in Christ, have you not strong desires to see some suchconsummation?
Do you not long to take a share in the high enterprise of winning the world to
Christ? Oh, ye that are young and full of spirits, do you not long to press to
the front of this greatcrusade? Our souls pine to see the knowledge ofthe
Lord covering the earth as the waters coverthe sea. It is glad tidings to us

that, joined unto Christ, we cando something in this greatbusiness,
something upon which the Lord will smile, something which shall redound to
the glory of his name. We are not condemned to inaction; we are not denied
the joy of service, the superior blessedness ofgiving and of doing: the Lord
hath chosenus and ordained us to go and bring forth fruit, fruit that shall
remain. This is the aspiration which rises in our soul; the Lord grant that we
may see it take actual form in our lives.
II. But now, in the secondplace, there passes throughmy heart a
shudder,— A SHUDDER OF FEAR. Albeit I glow and burn with strong
desire, and rise upon the wing of a mighty ambition to do something greatfor
Christ, yet I read the text, and a sudden trembling takes hold upon me.
“Without me”:— it is possible, then, that I may be without Christ, and so may
be utterly incapacitatedfor all good. Come, friends, I want you to feel, even
though it casta coldchill over you, that you may possibly be “without Christ.”
I would have you feel it in the very marrow of your bones, yea, in the centre of
your hearts. You profess to be in Christ; but are you so? The large majority of
those to whom I speak this morning are visible members of the visible church
of Christ; but what if you should not be so in him as to bring forth fruit?
Evidently there are branches which in a certain sense are in the vine, and yet
bring forth no fruit! It is written, “Everybranch in me that beareth not fruit
he taketh away.” Yes, you are a member, perhaps an elder, perhaps a deacon,
possibly a minister, and so you are in the vine; but are you bringing forth the
fruits of holiness? Are you consecrated? Are you endeavouring to bring others
to Jesus Christ? Or is your professiona thing apart from a holy life, and
devoid of all influence upon others? Does it give you a name among the people
of God and nothing more? Say, is it a mere natural associationwith the
church, or is it a living, supernatural union with Christ? Let the thought go
through you and prostrate you before him who looks downfrom heaven upon
you, and lifts his pierced hand, and cries, “Without me ye cando nothing.”
My friend, if you are without Christ, what is the use of carrying on that Bible-
class;for you can do nothing? What is the use of my coming to this pulpit if I
am without Christ? What is the use of your going down into the Sunday-
schoolthis afternoon if, after all, you are without Christ? Unless we have the

Lord Jesus ourselves we cannottake him to others. Unless within us we have
the living waterspringing up unto eternal life, we cannot overflow so that out
of our midst shall flow rivers of living water.
I will put the thought another way,— What if you should be in Christ, and
not so in him as to abide in him? It appears from our Lord’s words that some
branches in him are castforth and are withered. “If a man abide not in me, he
is castforth as a branch, and is withered.” Some who are calledby his name,
and reckonedamong his disciples, whose names are heard wheneverthe
muster-roll of the church is read, yet do not continue in him. My hearer, what
if it should happen that you are only in Christ on a Sunday, but in the world
all the week!What if you are only in Christ at the communion table, or at the
prayermeeting, or at certain periods of devotion? What if you are off and on
with Christ! What if you play fastand loose with the Lord! What if you are an
outside saint and an inside devil! Ah me, what will come of such conduct as
this? And yet some persistin attempting to hold an intermittent communion
with Christ; in Christ to-day because it is the Sabbath; out of Christ to-
morrow because it is the market, and obedience to Christ might be
inconvenient when they buy and sell. This will not do. We must be so in Christ
as to be always in him, or else we are not living branches of the living vine,
and we cannot produce fruit. If there were such a thing as a vine branch that
was only occasionallyjoined to the stem, would you expectit to yield a cluster
to the husbandman? So neither canyou if you are off and on with Christ. You
can do nothing if there be not constantunion.
One year when I was travelling towards my usual winter resting-place I
halted at Marseilles,and there was overtakenby greatpain. In my room in
the hotel I found it cold, and so I askedfora fire. I was sitting in a very
desponding mood, when suddenly the tears came to my eyes, as if smitten with
a greatsorrow. I shall never forgetthe thoughts which stirred my heart. The
porter came in to light the fire. He had in his hand a bundle of twigs. I called
to him to let me look at it. He was about to push it into the stove as fuel with

which to kindle the fire. As I took the bundle into my hand, I found it was
made of vine branches— branches that had been cut off now that the pruning
time was come. Ah me, I thought, will this be my portion? Here I am, away
from home, unable to bear fruit, as I love to do. Shall I end with this as my
portion? Shall I be gatheredfor the fire? Those vine shoots were parts of a
goodvine, no doubt— branches that once lookedfair and green; but now they
were fuel for the flame. They had been cut off and castoff as useless things,
and then men gatheredthem and tied them in bundles, and they were ignobly
thrust into the fire. What a picture! There goes a bundle of ministers into the
fire! There is a bundle of elders! There’s another bundle of deacons, a bundle
of church members, a bundle of Sunday-schoolteachers!“Mengather them,
and castthem into the fire, and they are burned.” Dear brothers and sisters,
shall this be the lot of any of us who have named the name of Christ? Well did
I say a shudder may go through us as we listen to those words, “without me.”
Our end without Christ will be terrible indeed. First, no fruit; then no life;
and at last no place among the saints, no existence in the church of God.
Without Christ we do nothing, we are nothing, we are worse than nothing.
This is the condition of the heathen now, and it was our own condition once;
God forbid that we should find it to be our condition now— “without Christ,
having no hope!” Here is grave cause for heart-searching, and I leave the
matter with you to that end.
III. Having come so far in our secondhead, under the third I behold A
VISION OF TOTAL FAILURE. Without me,” says the text, “ye can do
nothing”— ye can produce nothing. The visible church of Christ has tried this
experiment a greatmany times already, and always with the same result.
Separatedfrom Christ, his church can do nothing which she was formed to
do. She is sent into the world upon a high enterprise, with noble aims before
her, and grand forces at her disposal;but if she could ceasefrom communion
with Christ she would become wholly incapable.

Now what are the outward signs of any community being apart from
Christ? Answer, first, It may be seenin a ministry without Christ in its
doctrine. This we have seenourselves. Woe worththe day that it is so!History
tells us that not only in the Romish church and the Anglican church, but
among the Nonconformistchurches, Christ has been at times forgotten. Not
only among Unitarians, but among Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, all
round, Jesus has been dishonoured, Attempts have been made to do
something without Christ as the truth to be preached. Ah me, what folly it is!
They preach up intellectualism, and hope that this will be the greatpowerof
God; but it is not. “Surely,” say they, “novelties of thought and refinements of
speechwill attract and win! The preachers aspire to be leaders of thought;
will they not command the multitude and charm the intelligent? Add music
and architecture, and what is to hinder success?”Manya young minister has
given up his whole mind to this— to try and be exceedinglyrefined and
intellectual; and what has he done with these showy means? The sum total is
expressedin the text— “Nothing”:“Without me ye can do nothing.” What
emptiness this folly has created:when the pulpit is without Christ the pews
are soonwithout people. I knew a chapelwhere an eminent divine was to be
heard for years. A convertedJew coming to London to visit a friend, set out
on Sunday morning to find a place of Christian worship, and he chancedto
enter the chapelof this eminent divine. When he came back he saidthat he
fearedhe had made a mistake;he had turned into a building which he hoped
was a Christian place of assembly;but as he had not heard the name of Jesus
all the morning, he thought perhaps he had fallen in with some other
religionists. I fear that many modern sermons might just as fairly have been
delivered in a Mahometanmosque as in a Christian church. We have too
many preachers of whom we might complain, “they have takenawaymy
Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” Christianity without Christ
is a strange thing indeed. And what comes of it where it is held up to the
people? Why, by-and-by there are not enoughpeople to support the ministry;
empty benches are plentiful, and the thing gets pretty nearly wound up.
Blessedbe God for it! I am heartily glad that without Christ these pretended
ministers cannot prosper. Leave Christ out of the preaching and you shall do
nothing. Only advertize it all over London, Mr. Baker, that you are making
bread without flour; put it in every paper, “Breadwithout flour;” and you

may soonshut up your shop, for your customers will hurry off to other
tradesmen. Somehow there is a strange prejudice in people’s minds in favour
of bread made of flour, and there is also an unaccountable prejudice in the
human mind which makes men think that if there be a gospelit must have
Christ in it. A sermonwithout Christ as its beginning, middle, and end is a
mistake in conceptionand a crime in execution. However grand the language
it will be merely much-ado-about-nothing if Christ be not there. Ay, and I
mean by Christ not merely his example and the ethical precepts of his
teaching, but his atoning blood, his wondrous satisfactionmade for human
sin, and the grand doctrine of “believe and live.” If “Life for a look at the
Crucified One” be obscured, all is dark; if justification by faith be not set in
the very forefront in the full blaze of light, nothing can be accomplished.
Without Christ in the doctrine ye shall do nothing.
Further, without acknowledging always the absolute supremacy of Christ
we shall do nothing. Jesus is much complimented nowadays;but he is not
submitted to as absolute Lord. I hear many pretty things about Christ from
meu who rejecthis gospel. “Lives ofChrist” we have in any quantity. Oh for
one which would sethim forth in his glory as God, as Head of the church and
Lord of all. I should greatly like to see a “Life of Christ” written by one who
knew him by communion with him and by reverently sitting at his feet. Most
of the pretty things about Jesus which I read nowadays seemto have been
written by persons who have seenhim through a telescopeata greatdistance,
and know him “according to Matthew,” but not according to personal
fellowship. Oh for a “Life of Christ” by Samuel Rutherford or George
Herbert, or by some other sweetspirit to whom the everblessedOne is as a
familiar friend. Certain modern praises of Jesus are written upon the theory
that, on the whole, the Saviour has given us a religion that is tolerably suited
to the enlightenment of the nineteenth century, and may be allowedto lasta
little longer. Jesus is commended by these critics, and somewhatadmired as
preferable to most teachers;but he is by no means to be blindly followed. It is
fortunate for Jesus that he commends himself to the “bestthought” and ripest
culture of the period; for, if he had not done so, these wise gentlemen would
have exposedhim as being behind the times. Of course they have every now

and then to rectify certain of his dogmas, especiallysuch as justification by
faith, or atonement, or the doctrine of election— these are old-fashioned
things, which belong to an older and less enlightenedperiod, and therefore
they adapt them by tearing out their real meaning. The doctrines of grace,
according to the infallible critics of the period, are out of date— nobody
believes them now, and so they settle off old-fashioned believers as non-
existent. Christ is rectified and squared, and his garment without seamis
takenoff, and he is dressedout in proper style, as by a West-End clothier;
then he is introduced to us as a remarkable teacher, and we are advised to
accepthim as far as he goes. Forthe presentthe wise ones tolerate Jesus;but
there is no telling what is to come:the progress ofthis age is so astonishing
that it is just possible we shall before long leave Christ and Christianity
behind. Now, what will come of this foolish wisdom? Nothing but delusions,
mischief, infidelity, anarchy, and all manner of imaginable and unimaginable
ills. The fact is, if you do not acknowledgeChristto be all, you have virtually
left him out, and are without him. We must preach the gospel, because Christ
has revealedit. “Thus saith the Lord,” is to be our logic. We must preachthe
gospelas ambassadors delivering their message;that is to say, in the King’s
name, by an authority not their own. We preach our doctrines, not because we
considerthat they are convenient and profitable, but because Christhas
commanded us to proclaim them. We believe the doctrines of grace, not
because the enlightenment of the age sets its wonderful imprimatur upon
them, but because they are true and are the voice of God. Age or no age has
nothing to do with us. The world hates Christ and must hate him: if it would
boldly denounce Christ it would be to us a more hopeful sign than its deceitful
Judas kiss. We keepsimply to this,— the Lord hath said it, and we care not
who approves or disapproves. Jesus is God and Head of the church, and we
must do what he bids us, and saywhat he tells us: if we fail in this, nothing of
goodwill come of it. If the church gets back to her loyalty she shall see what
her Lord will do; but without Christ as absolute Lord, infallible Teacher, and
honoured King, all must be failure even to the end.
Go a little further: you may have sound doctrine, and yet do nothing unless
you have Christ in your spirit. I have known all the doctrines of grace to be

unmistakably preached, and yet there have been no conversions;for this
reason, that they were not expectedand scarcelydesired. In former years
many orthodox preachers thought it to be their sole duty to comfort and
confirm the godly few who by dint of greatperseverance found out the holes
and corners in which they prophesied. These brethren spoke of sinners as of
people whom God might possibly gather in if he thought fit to do so; but they
did not care much whether he did so or not. As to weeping over sinners as
Christ wept overJerusalem;as to venturing to invite them to Christ as the
Lord did when he stretched out his hands all the day long; as to lamenting
with Jeremiahover a perishing people, they had no sympathy with such
emotions, and fearedthat they savouredof Arminianism. Both preacherand
congregationwere casedin a hard shell, and lived as if their own salvation
was the sole design of their existence. If anybody did grow zealous and seek
conversions, straightwaythey said he was indiscreet, or conceited. When a
church falls into this condition it is, as to its spirit, “without Christ.” What
comes of it? Some of you know by your own observationwhat does come of it.
The comfortable corporationexists and grows for a little while, but it comes to
nothing in the long run; and so it must: there can be no fruit-bearing where
there is not the spirit of Christ as wellas the doctrine of Christ. Exceptthe
spirit of the Lord rests upon you, causing you to agonize for the salvation of
men even as Jesus did, ye can do nothing.
But above all things we must have Christ with us in the power of his actual
presence. Do we always think of this— “Without me ye can do nothing”? We
are going out this afternoon to teachthe young; shall we be quite sure to take
Christ with us? or on the road shall we suddenly stop and say, “I am without
my Master, and I must not dare to go another step”? The abiding
consciousnessofthe love of Christ in our soul is the essentialelementof our
strength. We can no more converta sinner without Christ than we could light
up new stars in the sky. Powerto change the human will, powerto enlighten
the intellectas to the things of God, and to influence the mind as to repentance
and faith, must come entirely from the MostHigh. Do we feel that? or do we
put our thoughts togetherfor an address, and say, “Now, that is a strong
point, and that will produce effect”;and do we restthere? If so, we can do

nothing at all. The powerlies with the Master, not with the servant; the might
is in the hand, not in the weapon. We must have Christ in these pews and in
these aisles, and in this pulpit, and Christ down in our Sunday-school, and
Christ at the street cornerwhen we stand up there to talk of him, and we must
feel that he is with us even to the end of the world, or we shall do nothing.
We have, then, before us a vision of total failure if we attempt in any wayto
do without Christ. He says, “Without me ye cando nothing:” it is in the doing
that the failure is most conspicuous. You may talk a gooddeal without him;
you may hold congresses,and conferences, andconventions; but doing is
another matter. Without Jesus you can talk any quantity; but without him
you cando nothing. The most eloquent discourse without him will be all a
bottle of smoke. You shall lay your plans, and arrange your machinery, and
start your schemes;but without the Lord you will do nothing. Immeasurable
cloudland of proposals and not a spot of solid doing large enough for a dove’s
foot to rest on— such shall be the end of all! You may have all the money that
generositycanlavish, all the learning that your universities can supply, and
all the oratory that the most gifted canlay at your feet; but “without me,”
saith Christ, “ye can do nothing.” Fuss, flare, fireworks, and failure; that is
the end of it. “Without me ye can do nothing.” Let me repeatthose words
again, “Do nothing.” “Do nothing,” and the world dying around us! Africa in
darkness!China perishing! Hindostan sunk in superstition, and a church
which can do nothing! No bread to be handed out to the hungry, and the
multitude fainting and dying! The rock to be smitten and the water of life to
leap out for the thirsty, but not a drop forthcoming, because Jesus is not there.
Ministers, evangelists, churches, salvationarmies, the world dies for want of
you, and yet “ye can do nothing” if your Lord is away. The age shalladvance
in discovery, and men of science shalldo their little best, but you shall do
“nothing” without Christ, absolutelynothing! You shall not proceeda single
inch upon your toilsome way, though you row till the oars snap with the
strain; you shall be drifted back by winds and currents unless you take Jesus
into the ship. Remember that all the while the greatHusbandman is watching
you, for his eye is on every vine-branch. He sees that you are producing no
grapes, and he is coming round with that sharp knife of his, cutting here and

there! What must become of you who produce nothing? It makes one’s very
soul to curdle within him to think that we should live to do nothing. Yet I fear
that thousands of Christians get no further than this; they are not immoral,
dishonest, or profane; but they do nothing. They think of what they would like
to do, and they plan and they propose;but they do nothing. There are buds in
plenty, but not a single grape is produced and all because they do not getinto
that vital, overflowing, effectualcommunion with Christ which would fill
them with life, and constrainthem to bring forth fruit unto the glory of God.
There is a vision, then, of the failure all along the line if we try to do without
Christ.
IV. But now, fourthly, I hear A VOICE OF WISDOM, a still small voice
which speaks out of the text, and says to us who are in Christ, let us
acknowledge this. Downon your knees, bow your mouths in the dust and say,
“Lord, it is true: without thee we cando nothing, nothing whateverthat is
goodand acceptable in the sight of God. We have not ability of ourselves to
think anything of ourselves, but our ability is of God.” Now, do not speak
thus, as if you paid a compliment which orthodoxy requires you to make;but
from the deeps of your soul, smitten with an absolute self-despair, ownthe
truth unto God. “To will is present with me, but how to perform that which I
would I find not.” Lord, I am a good-for-nothing do-nothing, a fruitless,
barren, dry, rotten branch without thee, and this I feelin my inmost soul. Be
not far from me, but quicken me by thy presence.
Next, let us pray. If without Christ we can do nothing, let us cry to him that
we may never be without him. Let us with strong crying and tears entreat his
abiding presence. He comes to those who seek him: let us never ceaseseeking.
In conscious fellowshipwith him, let us plead that the fellowship should be
unbroken evermore. Let us pray that we may be so knit and joined to Jesus
that we may be one spirit with him, never to be separatedfrom him again.
Masterand Lord, let the life floods of thy grace nevercease to flow into us, for
we know that we must be thus supplied or we can produce nothing. Brethren,

let us have much more prayer than has been usual among us. Prayer is
appointed to conveythe blessings Godordains to give; let us constantly use
the appointed means, and may the result be ever increasing from day to day.
Next, let us personallycleave to Jesus. Let us not attempt a life of
separation;for that were to seek the living among the dead. Do not let us
depart from him for a single minute. Would you like to be caught at any one
secondof your life in a condition in which you could do nothing? I must
confess I should not like to be in that state— incapable of defence againstmy
enemies, or of service for my Lord. If an awakenedone should come before
you under distress of mind, and you should feel quite incapable of doing any
goodto him, what a sad perplexity. Or if you did not feel incapable, and yet
should really be so, and what if you should therefore talk on in a religious
way, but know no powerin it; would it not be a sad thing? Mayyou never be
in such a state that you would be a do-nothing, with opportunities afforded
and yet without strength to utilize them! If you are divided from Christ you
are divided from the possibility of doing good; cling, therefore, to the Saviour
with your whole might, and let nothing take you off from him; no, not for an
hour.
Heartily submit yourselves, also, dearfriends, to the Lord’s headship and
leadership, and ask to do everything in his style and way. He will not be with
you unless you accepthim as your Master. There must be no quarrel about
supremacy, but you must yield yourself up absolutely to him, to be, to do, or
to suffer, according to his will. When it is wholly so he will be with you, and
you shall do everything that is required of you. Wonderful things will the
Lord perform through you when once he is your all in all. Will we not have it
so?
Once more; joyfully believe in him. Though without him you can do
nothing, yet with him all things are possible. Omnipotence is in that man who

has Christ in him. Weaknessitselfyou may be, but you shall learn to glory in
that weakness becausethe powerof Christ doth rest upon you if your union
and communion with Christ are continually kept up. Oh for a grand
confidence in Christ! We have not believed in him yet up to the measure of the
hem of his garment; for even that faith made the sick woman whole. Oh to
believe up to the measure of his infinite Deity! Oh for the splendour of the
faith which measures itself by the Christ in whom it trusts! May Godbring us
there, then shall we bring forth much fruit to the glory of his name.
V. And now, lastly. While I was listening to my text as a child puts a shell to
its ear and listens till it hears the deep sea rolling in its windings, I heard
within my text A SONG OF CONTENT.“Withoutme ye can do nothing.” My
heart said, “Lord, what is there that I want to do without thee? There is no
pain in this thought to me. If I can do without thee I am sorry to possessso
dangerous a power. I am happy to be deprived of all strength except that
which comes from thee. It charms, it exhilarates, and delights my soul to think
that thou art my all. Thou hast made me penniless as to all wealth of my own,
that I might dip my hand into thy treasury; thou hast takenall poweraway
from every sinew and muscle of mine, that I may reston thy bosom.”
“Without me ye can do nothing.” Be it so. Brethren, are you not all agreed?
Do you wish to have it altered, any of you that love his dear name? I am sure
you do not; for suppose, dear friends, we could do something without Christ,
then he would not have the glory of it. Who wishes that? There would be little
crowns for our poor little heads, for we should have done something without
him; but now there is one greatcrownfor that dear head which once was girt
with thorns; for all his saints put togethercannot do anything without him.
The goodlyfellowship of the apostles, the noble army of martyrs, and the
triumphant host of the redeemedby blood, all put together, cando nothing
without Jesus. Lethim be crownedwith majesty who workethin us both to
will and to do of his own goodpleasure. Forour own sakes, forour Lord’s
sake, we are glad that it is so. All things are more ours by being his; and if our
fruit is his rather than our own, it is none the less but all the more ours. Is not
this rare music for a holy ear?

I feel so glad that without Christ we cando nothing because I fearthat if
the church could do something without Christ she would try to live without
him. If she could teach the schooland bring the children to salvationwithout
Christ, I am afraid Christ would never go into a Sunday-schoolagain. If we
could preach successfullywithout Jesus, I suspectthat the Lord Jesus Christ
would seldom stand on high among the people again. If our Christian
literature could bless men without Christ, I am afraid we should setthe
printing-press going, and never think about the crucified One in the matter. If
there could be work done by the church without Jesus, there would be rooms
into which he would never be invited; and these would soonbecome a sortof
Blue Beard’s chambers, full of horror. A something that we could do without
Christ! Why the mass of the church would get to working that machinery
tremendously, and all the rest would be neglected, andso it is a blessedthing
for the whole church that she must have Christ everywhere.
“Without me ye cando nothing.” As I listened to the song within these
words I began to laugh: I wonder if you will laugh too. It was to myself I
laughed, like Abraham of old. I thought of those who are going to destroythe
orthodox doctrine from off the face of the earth. How they boastof the decline
and death of old-fashioned evangelism. I have read once or twice that I am the
last of the Puritans, the race is all dying out. To this I demur: I am willing to
be esteemedlastin merit, but not lastas ending the race. There are many
others who are steadfastin the faith. They sayour old theologyis decaying,
and that nobody believes it. It is all a lie; but wise men sayso, and therefore
we are bound to considerourselves obsolete andextinct. We are, in their
esteem, as much out of date as antediluvians would be could they walk down
our streets. Yes, they are going to quench our coaland blot us out from Israel.
Newspapersand reviews and the generalintelligence of the age all join to
dance upon our graves. Put on your night-caps, ye goodpeople of the
evangelicalorder, and go home to bed and sleepthe sleepof the righteous, for
the end of you is come. Thus say the Philistines, but the armies of the Lord
think not so. The adversaries exult exceedingly;but Christ is not with them.

They know very little about him, they do not work in his spirit, nor cry him
up, nor extol the gospelof his precious blood, and so I believe that when they
have done their little best it will come to nothing. “Without me ye can do
nothing if this be true of apostles, much more of opposers!If his friends can
do nothing without him, I am sure his foes cando nothing againsthim. If they
that follow his steps and lie in his bosomcan do nothing without him, I am
sure his adversaries cannot, and so I laughed at their laughter and smiled at
their confusion. I laughed, too, because I recollecteda story of a New England
service when the pastor one afternoonwas preaching in his own solemn way,
and the goodpeople were listening or sleeping, as their minds inclined. It was
a substantial edifice wherein they assembled, fit to outlive an earthquake. All
went on peacefully in the meeting-house that afternoon till suddenly a lunatic
started up, denounced the minister, and declaredthat he would at once pull
down the meeting-house about their ears. Taking hold of one of the pillars of
the gallery, this newly-announcedSamsonrepeatedhis threatening.
Everybody rose;the women were ready to faint; the men began to rush to the
door, and there was dangerthat the people would be trodden on as they
rushed down the aisles. There was aboutto be a great tumult; no one could
see the end of it; when suddenly one coolbrother sitting near the pulpit
produced a calm by a single sentence. “Lethim try!” was the stern sarcasm
which hushed the tempest. Even so to-day the enemy is about to disprove the
gospeland crush out the doctrines of grace. Are you distressed, alarmed,
astounded? So far from that, my reply to the adversary’s boastthat he will
pull down the pillars of our Zion is this only,— LET HIM TRY! Amen.
We Can Do Nothing
Devotionalby John Piper
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it
is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Suppose you are totally paralyzed and can do nothing for yourself but talk.
And suppose a strong and reliable friend promised to live with you and do
whateveryou needed done. How could you glorify this friend if a stranger
came to see you?
Would you glorify his generosityand strength by trying to getout of bed and
carry him? No! You would say, “Friend, please come lift me up, and would
you put a pillow behind me so I can look at my guest? And would you please
put my glassesonfor me?”
And so your visitor would learn from your requests that you are helpless and
that your friend is strong and kind. You glorify your friend by needing him,
and by asking him for help, and counting on him.
In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” So we really
are paralyzed. Without Christ, we are capable of no Christ-exalting good. As
Paul says in Romans 7:18, “Nothing gooddwells in me, that is, in my flesh.”
But John 15:5 also says that God does intend for us to do much Christ-
exalting good, namely bear fruit: “Whoeverabides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit.” So as our strong and reliable friend — “I have called
you friends” (John 15:15) — he promises to do for us, and through us, what
we can’t do for ourselves.
How then do we glorify him? Jesus gives the answerin John 15:7: “If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whateveryou wish, and it will be
done for you.” We pray! We ask Godto do for us through Christ what we
can’t do for ourselves — bear fruit.

John 15:8 gives the result: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much
fruit.”
So how is God glorified by prayer? Prayeris the open admission that without
Christ we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning awayfrom ourselves to
God in the confidence that he will provide the help we need.
END OF PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
Without Christ, We Can Do Nothing
by Eddie Foster
John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Christians must have Christ living in them in order to overcome sin. This
verse compares Christ to a vine and us to branches. What canthe branches do
without being connectedto the vine? Nothing! They would die from being cut
off from their source ofnourishment and strength.
Here are a few ways to stayconnectedto Christ:

1. Regularlypractice the daily disciplines of a Christian—prayer, Bible study,
meditation and occasionalfasting.
2. Rule over the very strong pulls of your physical, fleshly desires, insteadof
having them rule over you (Genesis 4:7; James 4:8).
3. Do goodworks and deeds for others out of genuine concerninstead of for
recognitionor gain (Philippians 2:3).
Even Christ didn’t try to do everything on His own; He lookedto the Father
for strength (Hebrews 5:7). We are instructed to follow this example and look
to God the Fatherand His Son living in us for help. If we can do nothing
without Christ, then just think of what we cando with Him!
We are nothing, and cando nothing, without Jesus Christ
Jesus continued to clarify to His disciples who He was, and who they were
when He said to them – “’I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides
in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’”
(John 15: 5) This became experientially evident to them when they followed
Peter’s lead to go fishing – “Simon Petersaid to them, ‘I am going fishing.’
They said to him, ‘We are going with you also.’ They went out and
immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when
the morning had now come, Jesus stoodon the shore;yet the disciples did not
know that it was Jesus. ThenJesus saidto them, ‘Children, have you any

food?’ They answeredHim, ‘No.’And He said to them, ‘Castthe net on the
right side of the boat, and you will find some.’So they cast, and now they were
not able to draw it in because ofthe multitude of fish.’” (John 21:3-6)
When we actin self-direction, we often come up short. Our plans usually do
not work out the way we intend them to. However, when we allow Jesus to be
our Captain; and allow Him to direct our steps, He brings about an abundant
outcome. An abundant outcome through Christ; however, may not be what
the world considers an abundant outcome. After years of abiding in Christ,
Paul understood the realities of abundant living in Christ. He wrote to the
Philippians – “Notthat I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in
whateverstate I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how
to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to
be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4: 11-13)
A wise question to ask ourselves is – “Are we seeking to build our own
kingdom, or are we seeking to build God’s Kingdom?” If we are a spiritually
born againbeliever, Paul teaches thatwe do not belong to ourselves – “Or do
you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at
a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are
God’s.” (1 Cor. 6: 19-20)If we are seeking to build our own kingdom, it will
be a very temporary, weak, anddeceptive one. If we are seeking to build both
our kingdom, and God’s Kingdom, the “Day” will revealthis truth – “Forno
other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, or straw, eachone’s work will become clear;for the Day will
declare it, because it will be revealedby fire; and the fire will testeachone’s
work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he
will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss;but he
himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the

temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the
temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which
temple you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be
wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. Forthe
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Forit is written, ‘He catches the
wise in their own craftiness’;and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the
wise, that they are futile.’ Therefore let no one boastin men. For all things are
yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or
things present or things to come – all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and
Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3: 11-23)
Considering the abundant life that Paul found by abiding in Christ, I wonder
what he would think about the teachings of our prosperity preachers? What
would Paul say to Oral Roberts, JoelOsteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth
Copeland, Reverend Ike, or Kenneth Hagin if he could? I believe that he
would tell them that they have been deceived, and are in turn deceiving
others. The spiritual blessings we receive through abiding in Christ in no way
can compare to the paltry material blessings that these false teachers glorify.
Like all of us, they too will one day answerto God as to how they built on the
foundation of the prophets and apostles. Ithink there may be quite a bonfire
coming…
https://swordcrossandcrown.org/2017/09/28/nothing-can-nothing-without-
jesus-christ/
“WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING!”

TEXT: John 15:1-17; I Pet. 3:7
INTRO: Without Christ, you can do nothing ... just what does this mean
exactly? Isn't it true that there are non-Christians that have done great things,
and if so, then what does this verse really mean?
What is meant in this verse is that “without Jesus we can do nothing of eternal
significance.” We are powerless withoutChrist to build eternal things, we are
spiritually poor and without power outside of Christ! But with Christ we are
rich in every way, we now have the powerto affect eternal things and leave a
legacythat will impact eternity and last into eternity.
ILLUS: A very poor womanworkedfor a very wealthy man. She actedas a
maid as well as took care of their only sonwhom she grew to love as her own.
One day the wealthy man's wife passedawayunexpectedly. When the boy
reachedhis teens he became ill one day and died. The father was
heartbroken, as was the maid who workedfor him. He was so grievedthat he
passedawaya short time after his son did. There were no known living
relatives and no will was ever found so the state decided to auction off all the
belongings. The maid who had nothing but her memories of devotion to this
fattier and son all those years scrapedtogetherall the money she had and

went and bought a picture of the boy that had been displayed in the family
room of the mansion. She had loved and nurtured this son for 15 years and to
her it was worth the price to have his picture. Once home, she decided to
cleanthe frame and picture, and she noticeda lump behind the cardboard
backing … it was the lostwill! In the will it stated, “All my wealth should go
to the one who loved my son enough to claim this portrait of him!” Her
devotion and love for this father's son brought her untold wealthand power ...
she could now do all things! And so it is with us in giving ourselves to Christ!
-- Source Unknown
PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches us that only by dwelling in Christ and His
love do we have eternalsignificance and can reap eternalrewards. Without
Christ, we cando nothing of eternal significance!
I. WITHOUT ME - NO LIFE! 15:1-4
A. Participants 15:1, 3-4
1. Jesus begins to paint a picture to teachus some very important spiritual
truths, He states that He is the vine, and that His father is the gardener!

a. The point is quite clear, no branch can be fruitful that is not attachedto
the vine!
b. “Fruit” here means things that are important and lasting, not natural fruit
but spiritual fruit!
2. Jesus is speaking to His disciples and He is showing them and us that we
must abide in Him to have life, a life that will matter not just now but in
eternity!
a. Jesus describes them as "alreadyclean"… meaning that they are “grafted
in” already... they are participants of Christ's salvationand plan for eternity!
b. Jesus says that they will not be able to bear fruit unless they "REMAIN IN
HIM," just like grapes no branch can bear fruit without remaining in the
vine!
B. "Pruning" 15:2
1. Abiding in the vine is wonderful, but the quality of the fruit will also
depend on how well someone "prunes" the branches!
a. Anyone who grows grapes willtell you that the only way you gethigh
quality grapes and a goodcrop is to cut awayexcess growth, growththat will

not produce fruit is only extraneous and takes awayfrom the all important
fruit!
b. The goalof a goodgardeneris not just to produce any life, but fruitful life!
2. The work of pruning includes cutting awayexcess stuff, but with the right
balance!
a. If too many leaves are cut awayit could zap the energy of the plant.
b. But, if too many leaves are left the fruit is compromised!
c. The mastergardener knows just where to keephis balance!
3. His goalis to develop healthy life with greatfruitfulness! Discipline is the
act of "pruning" in our lives ... we don't like it but we need it to stay healthy!
ILLUS: A young child accidentallytook sleeping pills from the family's
medicine cabinet one day. The doctorinstructed the parents to keepthe child
awake by any means necessaryfor the next four hours, including the pain of
slapping if necessary!That pain was necessaryfor the child's survival! HEB.
12:11 states, "No discipline seems pleasantat the time, but painful. Later on,
however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace forthose who have
been trained by it." (NIV) -- Source Unknown

4. “Pruning” is necessaryfor proper fruitfulness to take place in our lives!
a. Life cannotflow through us if we are not connectedto the source of life
any more than a branch canproduce fruit if it is no longerattached to the
vine!
b. Without Christ, there is no spiritual life!
II. WITHOUT ME - NO LOVE! 15:5-15
A. Producers! 15:5-8
1. Now Jesus turns from the negative -- no life if not attached, to the positive
-- “much fruit” for those who are attached!
a. Jesus now turns attention to the aspectof producing fruit, here He used
the term "MUCH FRUIT."

b. Those who abide in Christ will not only have life, they will have “much
fruit,” and since we know that the fruit of the Spirit is "love" this is what He
means!
2. Jesus'statementof purpose in His teaching comes out here: "WITHOUT
ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING!"
a. Again, His point is about eternal things, without Him we can do nothing of
eternal significance!
b. This point is made clearerby what He says about those branches that are
not attached, they will simply be picked up and burned in a fire, they may give
off a temporary flash of heat and then they will be gone! This is unlike the
branch that stays attachedwhich will give off a continual supply of fruit that
will benefit many over and over again; this has a future to it!
3. Unsaved people always mean well, and indeed they hope one day to
address their spiritual needs, they just don't see why they need to do it now!
They plan to do it someday!
a. The problem with this approachis that they miss out on God's best for
them now!
b. They will miss out on so much by ignoring the presentneed to be in
Christ!

ILLUS: A man and his wife had their first child two months after he had
been shipped overseasona 13 month tour of duty. Shortly after he returned
home his wife suggestedthat he try his hand at changing the baby's diapers.
"I'm busy," he said, "I'll do the next one." The next time the baby was wet
she askedher husband if he was ready to learn how to change diapers. He
lookedpuzzled by her question for a moment and then said, "Oh, I didn't
mean the next diaper, I meant the next baby!" He just kept putting it off! --
Source Unknown
4. It is interesting to note that Jesus ties togetherhere the idea of being "fruit
producers" and asking in prayer what we want and it being done for us! You
will note a similar statement in verse 16!
a. I will come back to this point at the end of the message!
b. Jesus now says that "bearing MUCH FRUIT" shows that we are His
disciples!
c. Jesus had made a similar statementin another passage like this: "by this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples, that you love one another."

B. Passion 15:9-15
1. Jesus now moves to the area of "fruit"-- which is love!
a. “Remaining” in Christ means abiding in His love, which goes out toward
God and others!
b. One cannot be a true disciple of Christ and be without passion!
c. Abiding in Christ breeds passionin our souls!
2. Christ's very nature is that of LOVE, thus to be attached to Him will
create a godly love in us!
3. Those who love Him will keepHis commandments, we tend to do what
others want when we love them!
4. Notice too that this "love" is not without "joy"!
a. Being a Christian and serving in love is not drudgery!
b. Rather, God's joy will be experienced by those who love Him; a joy that
Jesus says will be complete in Him!

5. For those who are saved this joy and love will be so obvious that others
will think that we are like Christ, the very meaning of the name: "Christian!"
a. Our love should be so like Christ's that people will know what Christ is
like by observing us!
b. "Abiding in Him" lets His love flow through us!
ILLUS: When the motion picture GANDHI was being filmed it was done
on locationin India in the same area where Gandhi had lived. The star Ben
Kingsley had spent a greatdeal of time visiting the locals and learning what
Gandhi had been like, how he talked, what he did, he even learnedto spin
thread on a woodenwheeljust as the famous Gandhi had done. The physical
resemblance was so startling to the real Gandhi once he was done up in
makeup, and he had learnedso well to put himself into the realGandhi that
one day after filming a scene in a village south of Delhi, Kingsley stepped out
of the carand an elderly peasantknelt to touch his feet! Embarrassed,
Kingsley explained that he was merely an actorplaying the revered Gandhi.
The villager answered, "We know, but through you he will surely live again!"
The man felt he was in the presence of Gandhi himself Kingsly had done such
a goodjob being him, so should we be of Christ! -- Source Unknown

6. This is the kind of passionwe are to display in our lives, the same kind of
love that Jesus displayedwhile on earth, and if we are truly attachedto His
life we will!
III. WITHOUT ME - NO LEGACY! l5:16-17; I PET. 3:7
A. "Picked" 15:16a
1. Jesus now reverses the usual method of discipleship of that day, normally
you pickeda teacheryou wished to emulate and you followedthat man for
severalyears.
a. Jesus had already reversedthe relationship a few verses back, no longer
calling them "servants" but "friends."
b. Here againJesus adds a twist, they had not chosenHim, He had actually
chosenthem ... chosenthem to go and bearfruit!
c. Jesus had not just chosenthem to benefit them only in this lifetime, but for
eternity ... this is the meaning bearing fruit, something will remain after they
are gone!

2. Jesus had "picked" them to bear eternalfruit, not just follow the course of
this world and live for the moment!
a. It is important to understand how this statementwill fit in with the next
about answeredprayers!
b. Jesus says here, "fruit that will last."
c. Their service will benefit others, they were chosento give something to the
world besides momentary existence, they would serve the world and show it
love much like Christ was about to do!
3. They were to demonstrate to the world what characterGodcalls us to!
ILLUS: Years ago on the stagecoaches inthe old westyou could buy one of
three types of tickets. Youcould either buy “FIRST CLASS, SECOND
CLASS, OR THIRD CLASS” tickets. The difference was discoveredwhen
there was a problem like a breakdownin mud or a broken wheelthat brought
everything to a stop. If you had a "first class" ticketyoucould stay on board
and would have to do absolutelynothing to help, you just satthere until the
problem was solved. If you had a “secondclass”ticketyou were expectedto
get off the coachwhile it was being attended to, you had to simply watchas it
was being fixed but you did have to stand to the side and not be permitted to
sit on the coach. Now if you had the "third class"ticketthings were different,
third class holders had to not only getoff, they were expectedto do whatever

it took to fix the coach, if it meant getting dirty and holding up the coachwhile
a new wheelwas put on, so be it! Third class ticketholders were the workers,
the servants to the others, they got things moving again! God give us “third
class” ticketholders in the church and in the world! -- Source Unknown
B. Petitions! 15:16b-17; I Pet. 3:7
1. Notice please that Jesus'statementhere to "ask the father and He will give
you anything we ask in Jesus'name" follows the statementabout being
fruitful!
a. Jesus here paints the picture that it is not just prayer that God is moved by
but also the fruitful lives who pray!
b. This same principle is found in I Pet. 3:7 where Peterstates that many
men had their prayers hindered from being answeredby God because they
were not in a proper relationship with their wives – asking alone was not
enough in prayer!
c. The Phariseeswere goodabout making many prayers, but they were not
answeredbecause theirlives were unfruitful!
2. This mentioning of prayers being answeredis followedalso by the
command againto "love."

a. There is a direct correlationbetweenanswers to prayers and how fruitful
our lives are!
b. Fruitfulness puts us in a place of asking God and having answers!
3. Where there is no legacyof fruitfulness, there will be little evidence of
answeredprayers!
ILLUS: The 9th U.S. circuit court of appeals recently rejectedthe petition
of William JeffersonWalker, sentencedin 1983 to serve 10 years in an
Arizona prison for aggravatedassaultand leaving the scene ofan accident.
Walkerhad argued, as he had in four other petitions filed with state and
federal courts, that he was deprived of a fair trial because no one in his jury
pool had a lastname with either W X Y or Z! Walkerclaimed that people
with surnames late in the alphabet have an increasedtendencytoward,
"ALPHABETIC NEUROSIS"a mental illness brought on by the constant
waiting for one's name to be reachedin the classroomand in other situations!
He lost his petition, his lack of fruitfulness in his life won no sympathy from
the judge! And so it is with us, those who are fruitful have a wonderful legacy
of answeredprayers; their lives have eternalconsequencesfrom abiding in the
vine! -- Source Unknown
4. Without Christ, there is no legacy, no privilege, no eternaldimensions to
our life!

5. It is true, "WITHOUT HIM, WE CAN DO NOTHING!"
a. Are you doing nothing?
b. Are you abiding in the true vine?
c. Is your life “fruitful?”
CONCLUSION: What did Jesus meanwhen He said, “Without me, you can
do nothing!”? Isn't it true that even sinners do goodworks from time to time?
What Jesus was saying was "Without me, you can do nothing of eternal
significance, nothing that affects both time and eternity!" Without Christ we
might live for the moment, but with Him we live forever, our actions have
everlasting consequences whenwe abide in Christ! Nothing like this is done
without Him!
http://nnedaog.org/sermons/SEROUT3.HTM
Tag Archives: without Christ we can do nothing
An Eye Opening Experience
30

MAY
Hello again!
This is what God gave me today in his word today:
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;I will take you by the
hand and keepyou; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the
nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the
dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah42:6-7)
We are supposed to evangelize
will give you as a covenantfor the people, a light for the nations, to open the
eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the
prison those who sit in darkness.
So what are we supposedto do again? Oh, noting much; we just have to free
prisoners from the dungeon of despair, open the eyes of the spiritually blind,
and free people from the prison of self. Should be easy!Now if only we
actually knew how to do it… Well according to Matthew 5:14-16 all we have
to do is just let ourselves shine in the World… Should be easyright? Well
actually yes and no. According to the lastpart of Colossians 1:27 Christ
actually lives in us, and therefore it’s Christ actually doing the work. But once
againaccording to Matthew 5:14-16 it’s us letting ourself be seen(as it were).
So which is right? Well the correctansweris both.
I’ll put it this way; without Christ we can do nothing, much less tell others
about Jesus. Whereas withChrist all things are possible – Including
evangelization. We need Christ in all areas of our life, but we specificallyneed

him in evangelizing. Becausewithout him we won’t so much as glimmer much
less shine with the Glory of God!
God takes us by hand
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;I will take you by the
hand and keepyou;
Alright then, but what does that actually mean? It’s not like God is going to
suddenly going to appeargrab my hand and stay there for the rest of my life.
– So I repeat; what’s it (this part of the verse) mean? Well, I think it means
exactly what it says, only not physically like you and I would think but
Spiritually.
How many times in your life have you felt even the leastbit sad, or
depressed? – you don’t actually have to tell me – Well Christ comes, takesyou
by hand, and walks you through whateverthe trouble your having might be.
Believe me when I say there is no better psychologistthen the very one who
createdthe brain, Jesus.
You are loved!
Joshua Cleveland
You Can Do Nothing

Bible / Our Library / Classics/ The Mystery of the True Vine / You Can Do
Nothing
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Much Fruit Withered Branches
13th Day
You can do Nothing
Apart from Me ye can do nothing.—
Ver. 5.
In everything the life of the Branch is to be the exactcounterpart of that of the
Vine. Of Himself Jesus had said: "The Son can do nothing of Himself." As the
outcome of that entire dependence, He could add: "All that the Father doeth,
doeth the Son also likewise." As Son He did not receive His life from the
Father once for all, but moment by moment. His life was a continual waiting
on the Father for all He was to do. And so Christ says of His disciples: Ye can
do nothing apart from Me. He means it literally. To every one who wants to
live the true disciple life, to bring forth fruit and glorify God, the message
comes:You cando nothing. What had been said: "He that abideth in Me, and
I in him, the same beareth much fruit," is here enforcedby the simplest and
strongestof arguments:Abiding in Me is indispensable, for, you know it, of
yourselves you can do nothing to maintain or act out the heavenly life.
A deep conviction of the truth of this word lies at the very root of a strong
spiritual life. As little as I createdmyself, as little as I could raise a man from
the dead, can I give myself the Divine life. As little as I can give it myself, can I

maintain or increase it: every motion is the work of God through Christ and
His Spirit. It is as a man believes this, that he will take up that position of
entire and continual dependence which is the very essence ofthe life of faith.
With the spiritual eye he sees Christevery moment supplying grace for every
breathing and every deepening of the spiritual life. His whole heart says Amen
to the word: You can do nothing. And just because he does so, he can also say:
"I can do all things in Christ who strengthenethme." The sense of
helplessness, and the abiding to which it compels, leads to true fruitfulness
and diligence in goodworks.
"Apart from Me ye cando nothing." What a plea and what a callevery
moment to abide in Christ! We have only to go back to the vine to see how
true it is. Look againat that little branch, utterly helpless and fruitless except
as it receives sapfrom the vine, and learn that the full conviction of not being
able to do anything apart from Christ is just what you need to teachyou to
abide in your Heavenly Vine. It is this that is the greatmeaning of the pruning
Christ spoke of—allthat is self must be brought low, that our confidence may
be in Christ alone. Abide in Me;much fruit! Apart from Me; nothing!—
ought there to be any doubt as to what we shall choose?
The one lessonof the parable is—as surely, as naturally as the branch abides
in the vine, you can abide in Christ. For this He is the True Vine; for this God
is the Husbandman; for this you are a Branch. Shall we not cry to God to
deliver us for ever from the "apart from Me," and to make the "abide in Me"
an unceasing reality? Let your heart go out to what Christ is, and can do, to
His Divine power and His tender love to eachof His Branches, andyou will
say evermore confidently: Lord! I am abiding; I will bear much fruit. My
impotence is my strength. So be it. Apart from Thee, nothing. In Thee, much
fruit.

Apart from Me—you nothing. Lord! I gladly acceptthe arrangement: I
nothing—Thou all. My nothingness is my highestblessing, because Thouart
the Vine, that givestand workestall. So be it, Lord! I, nothing, ever waiting
on Thy fulness. Lord I revealto me the glory of this blessedlife.
Much Fruit Withered Branches
https://www.biblestudytools.com/classics/murray-mystery-true-vine/you-can-
do-nothing.html
Without Jesus, we cando NOTHING. With Jesus, we cando ALL things!
Without Jesus, we cando NOTHING. With Jesus, we cando ALL things!
Praise God! Encouraging Bible Verses, Scriptures, Quotes & Passagesbelow.
DearFriends,
We can’t do anything of substance without Jesus.
We can’t do anything that lasts without Jesus.
We can’t do anything that truly matters without Jesus.

YES. Without Jesus we cando NOTHING!
Jesus says without me you can do nothing:
John 15:4, ESV Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannotbear fruit by
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:5, ESV I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoeverabides in me
and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do
nothing.
On the other hand…
When we’re connectedto Jesus, we cando ALL things that matter.
With Jesus, we canaccomplishinfinitely more than we could ever accomplish
on our own.
With Jesus, we cantruly become who God createdus to be.
With Jesus, we cando ALL things!
Jesus says allthings are possible with God:
Matthew 19:26, NIV Jesus lookedatthem and said, “With man this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Philippians 4:13, NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me.
Related:What can I do through Christ?

Hebrews 12:2, NIV fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecterof faith.
For the joy setbefore him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
DearFriends – Without Jesus, we cando nothing; With Jesus, we cando all
things! Without Jesus, we cannotbear true and lasting fruit. Jesus is the True
Vine, and we are the branches. Jesus wants us to be healthy, fruit producing
branches that glorify God. When we are connectedto Jesus, the Vine, we will
produce fruit – thus blessing others and glorifying God!
John 15:8-9, ESV By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and
so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Abide in my love.
See also:Bible Verses about Being Fruitful; How to be Fruitful in Christ
John 15:10-11, ESVIf you keepmy commandments, you will abide in my
love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things I have spokento you, that my joy may be in you, and that your
joy may be full. See also:Obedience is the proof of faith
John 15:12, ESV This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you.

See also:Bible Verses about Loving Others; Love is not optional – We must
love one another!
DearFriends: When we abide in Jesus, stayin Jesus, and remain in Jesus;we
can do all things to the glory of God! With God, all things are possible: Things
that would be impossible to do in our own powerbecome possible when we
abide and grow in Jesus!
Job 42:2, ESV I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours
can be thwarted.
Luke 1:37, NLT For nothing is impossible with God.
So what’s the takeawayfrom all this?
Let us continue to Trust God daily, Fixing our eyes on Jesus. Maywe always
remember that without Jesus we can do nothing, but with Jesus we can do all
things! Our Mighty God is able!
Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledgehim, and he will make
straight your paths.
https://www.jollynotes.com/joyful-living/without-jesus-we-can-do-nothing-
with-jesus-we-can-do-all-things/
Text: John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you
will bear much fruit;

apart from me you cando nothing.”
Theme: “Without Christ, We Can do Nothing”
July 20, 1969 is a day that anyone, who was living at that time, will never
forget. 500 million
people from throughout the world watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin landed and then
walkedon the moon. It was the greatestfeatof courage and human ingenuity
that we have every
witnessed. The astronauts were able to withstand the incredible G-forces at
lift off and then had
the skillto land their spacecrafton the moon Thousands of people at mission
control and
throughout NASA were instrumental in bringing about this monumental
occasion. 400,000people
in all kinds of industries throughout our nation were involved in the endeavor.
In the last yearI
met a couple of people who workedon the guidance system at the former AC
spark plug plant in
Oak Creek. WhatI find most interesting in reading about severalpeople,
especiallythe astronauts,
in the program, was that this did not cause them to pat themselves on the back
or glory in this great
human achievement. It brought them to praise Godfor His goodnessforus.
They came to see that
without Christ, we cando nothing.
I. That was shownby severalof the acts of the astronauts.

On Christmas Eve 1968 Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill
Anders were the first
people to ever orbit another planet. They were told that they should say
something appropriate for
the occasion. Itwas anticipated that this would be the largesttelevision
audience ever. They chose
to take turns reading the first 10 verses of the book of Genesis.The beautiful
sight of the earth as
it rose over the moon was awe-inspiring and causedthem to praise the
goodness andpower of
God.
When Apollo 11 landed, we know the famous words of Neil Armstrong, “The
Eagle has landed.”
Then as he stepped on the moon he said, “That’s one small stepfor man, one
giant leap for
mankind.” Betweenthose iconic phrases was something that Buzz Aldrin did.
He was an elder at
his church in Houston. His pastorgave him a small chalice and consecrated
bread and wine. The
first thing that he did on the moon was to receive the Lord’s Supper. He said,
“This is the LM
pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever
and wherever
they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past
few hours and to
give thanks in his or her own way.” Then he receivedthe Lord’s Supper and
read John 15:5, our

text. He had wantedto read it over the air, but the reading of Genesis by
Apollo 8 had causeda stir
and brought a lawsuit by Madaline Murrey O’Hare, so NASA would not
allow him to publicly
read from the Bible. He later said, “ I gave thanks for the intelligence and
spirit that had
brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to
think: the
very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eatenthere,
were the
communion elements.” Since that day his church in Houston celebratesa
specialcommunion
service every July 20. The same scrapof paper that contained John 15:5, also
had Psalm8:3,4,
“When I consideryour heaven, the work of your fingers, the moon and the
stars, which you have
setin place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man, that you
care for him?’
Aldrin read that verse on the way home.
2
My favorite quote is from Apollo 15 Astronaut James Irwin who said, “The
earth reminded us
of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness ofspace, As we got
farther and
farther awayit diminished in size. Finally, it shrank to the size of a marble,
the most

beautiful marble you canimagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked
so fragile, so
delicate that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart.
Seeing this has
to change a man, has to make a man appreciate the creationof God and the
love of God.”
After his 1998 SpaceShuttle mission John Glenn told reporters, "To look out
at this kind of
creationand not believe in God is to me impossible… It just strengthens my
faith."
These men all expressedthe truth of Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the
glory of God; the skies
proclaim the work of his hands.” Without the blessing of God, none of the
people who workedon
the Apollo mission could have done anything.
II. It is He who continues to bless the work of our hands today.
He does this first by giving us new life. We think of the fact that God invites us
to come to Him in
prayer, calling Him, “Our Father.” We marvel at the eternal inheritance that
He has store for us in
Heaven, which will never perish, spoil or fade. We have the peace and
confidence that all things
work for the goodof those who love God. The amazing thing is that God’s
gives us all of these
gifts by grace, His undeserved love. It is as Jesus says, “WithoutHim, we can
do nothing.” We do

not deserve the love of God, no can we do anything good. But Christ has found
us. He loved us
even though we were dead in sin. He grafted us into Himself through faith in
Him, and He has
given us new life. He is the vine. All the blessings that we have been given are
gifts of His grace
and mercy. It is He who gives us life, blesses us with goodthings, forgives our
sins, defends us
from all evil, and gives us the gift of eternal life.
By the powerof God, we are able to bear fruit in our lives. There are people
who try to make a
name for themselves. Thatis what the people tried to do who built the tower
of Babel. In the end
their work came to a screeching halt, and they have been a target of ridicule
ever since that day.
We have all known people who want the glory. They want people to look up to
them and praise
them. A lot of people even do good things so that other people will see them.
Politicians will show
up to serve at a homeless shelteras long as the cameras are rolling. People will
serve on Boards of
organizations or have their name connectedto organizations in the hope that
it will be a stepping
stone to greaterthings, but it is all show. History is full of people who desired
to be great, but God
humbled them in the end.

As Christians we want everything that we do to be to the praise and glory of
God. Paul writes of
that in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eator drink of whateveryou do,
do it all for the glory
of God.” I think of the Psalm of Moses,Psalm90, which ends, “May the favor
of the Lord our
God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes establishthe
work of our hands.”
(Ps 90:31)The hymn “With the Lord begin Thy Task” ends with these words:
Thus, Lord Jesus, everytask Be to You Commended;
May Your will be done I ask, Until life is ended.
Jesus, in Your name begun Be the day’s endeavor;
Grant that it may well be done To Your praise forever. (LSB 869)
3
As Christians we commend every task to our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s doesn’t
matter if we are flying
people to the moon or maybe one day to Mars. It is the most mundane things,
such as changing a
baby’s diaper. It is preaching a sermonto thousands of people or comforting a
friend who has just
lost a loved one. When we commend our tasks to Jesus, we will bear fruit. We
will be amazed at
God’s goodness, mercy, and grace for us, that He could even work through us.
Just like so many
of the Apollo astronauts we will be driven to praise God for His goodness and
mercy. Our boasting

will be in what He has accomplishedthrough us, not in what we have done.
Let that sink in for a moment. A man lands on the moon, and he wants to be
reminded us Jesus’
words, “You can do nothing without me.” Buzz Aldrin belonged to an
exclusive club of 12 men
who walkedthe surface of the moon. So many of them gave glory to God for
that experience. May
it be a reminder to us of humility when we accomplishsomething that seems
greatto the world
and of thankfulness for what God can even do through our weak, trembling
hands.
Amen.
PastorDonHougard
BenedictionLutheran Church
Milwaukee, WI
July 21, 2019
Without Christ
"You were without Christ" (Eph. 2:12).
The text which heads this messagedescribes the state of the Ephesians before
they became Christians. But that is not all. It describes the state of every man

and woman in England who is not yet converted to God. A more miserable
state cannot be conceived!It is bad enough to be without money or without
health or without home or without friends. But it is far worse to be "without
Christ."
Let us examine the text this day, and see what it contains. Who cantell but it
may prove a message fromGod to some readerof this message?
1. Let us considerwhen it can be said of a man that he is "without Christ."
The expression"without Christ," is not one of my owninvention. The words
were not first coined by me, but were written under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. They were used by Paul when he was reminding the Ephesian
Christians what their former condition was, before they heard the gospeland
believed. Ignorant and dark no doubt they had been, buried in idolatry and
heathenism, worshipers of the false goddess Diana. But all this he passes over
completely. He seems to think that this would only partially describe their
state. So he draws a picture, of which the very first feature is the expression
before us: "At that time you were without Christ" (Eph. 2:12). Now what does
the expressionmean?
a. A man is "without Christ" when be has no head–knowledgeofHim.
Millions, no doubt, are in this condition. They neither know who Christ is, nor
what He has done, nor what He taught, nor why He was crucified, nor where
He is now, nor what He is to mankind. In short, they are entirely ignorant of
Him. The heathen, of course, who never yet heard the gospel, come first under
this description. But unhappily they do not stand alone. There are thousands
of people living in England at this very day, who have hardly any clearerideas
about Christ than the very heathen. Ask them what they know about Jesus
Christ, and you will be astoundedat the gross darkness whichcovers their

minds. Visit them on their deathbeds, and you will find that they cantell you
no more about Christ than about Mohammed. Thousands are in this state in
country parishes, and thousands in towns. And about all such people but one
accountcan be given. They are "without Christ."
I am aware that some modern divines do not take the view which I have just
stated. They tell us that all mankind have a part and interest in Christ,
whether they know Him or not. They saythat all men and women, however
ignorant while they live, shall be takenby Christ’s mercy to heaven when they
die! Such views, I firmly believe, cannot be reconciledwith God’s Word. It is
written "This is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom You have sent" (John 17:3). It is one of the marks of the
wicked, on whom God shall take vengeance atthe last day, that they "know
not God" (2 Thess. 1:8). An unknown Christ is no Savior. What shall be the
state of the heathen after death; how the savage who neverheard the gospel
shall be judged; in what manner Godwill deal with the helplesslyignorant
and uneducated—allthese are questions which we may safelylet alone. We
may rest assuredthat "the Judge of all the earth will do right" (Gen. 18:25).
But we must not fly in the face of Scripture. If Bible words mean anything, to
be ignorant of Christ is to be "without Christ."
b. But this is not all. A man is "without Christ" when he has no heart–faith in
Him as his Savior. It is quite possible to know all about Christ, and yet not to
put our trust in Him. There are multitudes who know every article of the
belief, and cantell you glibly that Christ was "born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried." They learned
it at school. They have it sticking fastin their memories. But they make no
practicaluse of their knowledge. Theyput their trust in something which is
not Christ. They hope to go to heavenbecause they are moral and well–
conducted, because they say their prayers and go to church, because they have
been baptized and go to the Lord’s table. But as to a lively faith in God’s
mercy through Christ—a real, intelligent confidence in Christ’s blood and

righteousness andintercession—theyare things of which they know nothing
at all. And of all such people I can see but one true account. Theyare
"without Christ."
I am aware that many do not admit the truth of what I have just said. Some
tell us that all baptized people are members of Christ by virtue of their
baptism. Others tell us that where there is a head knowledge we have no right
to question a person’s interest in Christ. To these views I have only one plain
answer. The Bible forbids us to saythat any man is joined to Christ until he
believes. Baptism is no proof that we are joined to Christ. Simon Magus was
baptized, and yet was distinctly told that he had "no part or lot in this
matter" (Acts 8:21). Head–knowledgeis no proof that we are joined to Christ.
The devils know Christ well enough, but have no portion in Him. God knows,
no doubt, who are His from all eternity. But man knows nothing of anyone’s
justification until he believes. The grand question is: "Do we believe?" It is
written, "He that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abides on him." "He that believes not shall be damned" (John 3:36; Mark
16:16). If Bible words mean anything, to be without faith is to be "without
Christ."
c. But I have yet one thing more to say. A man is "without Christ" when the
Holy Spirit’s work cannot be seenin his life. Who can avoid seeing, if he uses
his eyes, that myriads of professing Christians know nothing of inward
conversionof heart? They will tell you that they believe the Christian religion;
they go to their places ofworship with tolerable regularity; they think it a
proper thing to be married and buried with all the ceremonies ofthe church;
they would be much offended if their Christianity were doubted. But where is
the Holy Spirit to be seenin their lives? What are their hearts and affections
setupon? Whose is the image and superscription that stands out in their tastes
and habits and ways? Alas, there can only be one reply! They know nothing
experimentally of the renewing, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. They are

yet dead to God. And of all such only one accountcanbe given. They are
"without Christ."
I am wellaware that few will admit this. The vastmajority will tell you that it
is extreme and wild and extravagantto require so much in Christians, and to
press on everyone conversion. Theywill say that it is impossible to keepup the
high standard which I have just referred to, without going out of the world,
and that we may surely go to heaven without being such very greatsaints. To
all this, I canonly reply, "What says the Scripture? What says the Lord?" It
is written, "Excepta man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"Exceptyou be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter
into the kingdom of heaven." "He that says he abides in Christ, ought himself
also so to walk, even as He walked." "Ifany man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of His" (John 3:3; Matt 18:3;1 John 2:6; Rom. 8:9). The Scripture
cannot be broken. If Bible words mean anything, to be without the Spirit is to
be "without Christ."
I commend the three propositions I have just laid down to your serious and
prayerful consideration. Mark well what they come to. Examine them
carefully on every side. In order to have a saving interestin Christ,
knowledge, faithand the grace ofthe Holy Spirit are absolutelynecessary. He
that is without them is "without Christ."
How painfully ignorant are many! They know literally nothing about religion.
Christ and the Holy Spirit and faith and grace and conversionand
sanctificationare mere "words and names" to them. They could not explain
what they mean, if it were to save their lives. And cansuch ignorance as this
take anyone to heaven? Impossible! Without knowledge, "withoutChrist!"

How painfully self–righteous are many! They can talk complacentlyabout
having "done their duty," and being "kind to everybody," and having always
"keptto their church," and having "neverbeen so very bad" as some, and
therefore they seemto think they must go to heaven! And as to deep sense of
sin and simple faith in Christ’s blood and sacrifice, it seems to have no place
in their religion. Their talk is all of doing and never of believing. And will such
self–righteousnessas this land anyone in heaven? Never!Without faith,
"without Christ!"
How painfully ungodly are many! They live in the habitual neglectof God’s
Sabbath, God’s Bible, God’s ordinances and God’s sacraments. Theythink
nothing of doing things which God has flatly forbidden. They are constantly
living in ways which are directly contrary to God’s commandments. And can
such ungodliness end in salvation? Impossible! Without the Holy Spirit,
"without Christ!"
I know well that at first sight these statements seemhard and sharp and
rough and severe. But after all, are they not God’s truth as revealedto us in
Scripture? If truth, ought they not to be made known? If necessaryto be
known, ought they not to be plainly laid down? If I know anything of my own
heart, I desire above all things to magnify the riches of God’s love to sinners. I
long to tell all mankind what a wealth of mercy and loving-kindness there is
laid up in God’s heart for all who will seek it. But I cannotfind anywhere that
ignorant and unbelieving and unconverted people have any part in Christ! If I
am wrong, I shall be thankful to anyone who will show me a more excellent
way. But until I am shownit, I must stand fast on the positions I have already
laid down. I dare not forsake them, lestI be found guilty of handling God’s
Word deceitfully. I dare not be silent about them, lest the blood of souls be
required at my hands. The man without knowledge,without faith, and
without the Holy Spirit, is a man without Christ!

2. What is the actualcondition of a man without Christ? This is a branch of
our presentsubject that demands very specialattention. Thankful indeed
should I be if I could exhibit it in its true colors. I can easilyimagine some
reader saying to himself, "Well, suppose I am without Christ, where is the
mighty harm? I hope God will be merciful. I am no worse than many others. I
trust all will be right at last." Listen to me and, by God’s help, I will try to
show that you are sadly deceived. "Without Christ," all will not be right, but
all desperatelywrong.
a. Forone thing, to be "without Christ" is to be without God. The Apostle St.
Paul told the Ephesians as much as this in plain words. He ends the famous
sentence whichbegins, "You were without Christ," by saying, "You were
without God in the world." And who that thinks can wonder? That man can
have very low ideas of God who does not conceive Him a most pure and holy
and glorious and spiritual Being. That man must be very blind who does not
see that human nature is corrupt and sinful and defiled. How then cansuch a
worm as man draw near to God with comfort? How can he look up to Him
with confidence and not feel afraid? How canhe speak to Him, have dealings
with Him, look forwardto dwelling with Him, without dread and alarm?
There must be a mediator betweenGod and man, and there is but one that
can fill the office. That One is Christ.
Who are you to talk of God’s mercy and God’s love separate from and
independent of Christ? There is no such love and mercy recordedin
Scripture. Know this day that God out of Christ is "a consuming fire" (Heb.
12:29). Merciful He is, beyond all question rich in mercy, plenteous in mercy.
But His mercy is inseparably connectedwith the mediation of His belovedSon
Jesus Christ. It must flow through Him as the appointed channel, or it cannot
flow at all. It is written "He that honors not the Son, honors not the Father
which has sent Him." "I am the way, the truth and the life no man comes unto

the Father, but by Me" (John 5:23; 14:6). "Without Christ" we are without
God.
b. Moreover, to be "without Christ" is to be without peace. Everyman has a
consciencewithin him, which must be satisfiedbefore he can be truly happy.
So long as this conscienceis asleepor half dead, so long, no doubt, he gets
along pretty well. But as soonas a man’s consciencewakesup, and he begins
to think of past sins and present failings and future judgment, at once he finds
out that he needs something to give him inward rest. But what cando it?
Repenting and praying and Bible reading, and church going, and sacrament
receiving, and self–mortificationmay be tried, and tried in vain. They never
yet took off the burden from anyone’s conscience.And yet peace must be had!
There is only one thing can give peace to the conscience, andthat is the blood
of Jesus Christ sprinkled on it. A clearunderstanding that Christ’s death was
an actual payment of our debt to God, and that the merit of that death is
made over to man when he believes, is the grand secretofinward peace. It
meets every craving of conscience.It answers everyaccusation. It calms every
fear. It is written "These things I have spokenunto you, that in Me you might
have peace." "He is our peace." "Being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (John 16:33; Eph. 2:14; Rom. 5:1). We
have peace through the blood of His cross:peace like a deep mine—peace like
an ever–flowing stream. But "without Christ" we are without peace.
c. To be "without Christ" is to be without hope. Hope of some sort or other
almost everyone thinks he possesses. Rarelyindeed will you find a man who
will boldly tell you that he has no hope at all about his soul. But how few there
are that can give "a reasonof the hope that is in them"! (1 Pet. 3:15). How few
can explain it, describe it and show its foundations! How many a hope is
nothing better than a vague empty feeling, which the day of sickness andthe

hour of death will prove to be utterly useless,impotent alike to comfort or to
save.
There is but one hope that has roots, life, strength and solidity, and that is the
hope which is built on the greatrock of Christ’s work and office as man’s
Redeemer. "Otherfoundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11). He that builds on this corner–stone "shall not be
confounded." About this hope there is reality. It will bear looking at and
handling. It will meet every enquiry. Searchit through and through, and you
will find no flaw whateverin it. All other hopes beside this are worthless. Like
summer–dried fountains, they fail man just when his need is the sorest. They
are like unsound ships, which look well so long as they lie quiet in harbor, but
when the winds and the waves ofoceanbegin to try them, their rotten
condition is discoveredand they sink beneath the waters. There is no such
thing as a good hope without Christ, and "without Christ" is to have "no
hope" (Eph. 2:12).
d. To be "without Christ" is to be without heaven. In saying this I do not
merely mean that there is no entrance into heaven, but that "without Christ"
there could be no happiness in being there. A man without a Savior and
Redeemercould never feel at home in heaven. He would feelthat he had no
lawful right or title to be there; boldness and confidence and ease ofheart
would be impossible. Amid pure and holy angels, under the eyes of a pure and
holy God, he could not hold up his head; he would feelconfounded and
ashamed. It is the very essence ofall true views of heaven that Christ is there.
Who are you that dreams of a heaven in which Christ has no place? Awake to
know your folly. Know that in every descriptionof heavenwhich the Bible
contains, the presence of Christ is one essentialfeature. "In the midst of the
throne," says St. John, "stooda Lamb as it had been slain." The very throne
of heaven is calledthe "throne of God and of the Lamb." "The Lamb is the

light of heaven, and the temple of it." The saints who dwell in heaven are to be
"fed by the Lamb," and "led to living fountains of waters." The meeting of
the saints in heaven is called"the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev. 5:6;
22:3; 21:22, 23; 7:17; 19:9). A heaven"without Christ" would not be the
heaven of the Bible. To be "without Christ" is to be without heaven.
I might easily add to these things. I might tell you that to be "without Christ"
is to be without life, without strength, without safety, without foundation,
without a friend in heaven, without righteousness.None so badly off as those
that are without Christ!
What the ark was to Noah, what the Passoverlamb was to Israel in Egypt,
what the manna, the smitten rock, the bronze serpent, the pillar of cloud and
fire, the scapegoat, were to the tribes in the wilderness—allthis the Lord
Jesus is meant to be to man’s soul. None so destitute as those that are without
Christ!
What the root is to the branches, what the air is to our lungs, what food and
waterare to our bodies, what the sun is to creation—allthis and much more
Christ is intended to be to us. None so helpless, none so pitiable as those that
are without Christ!
I grant that if there were no such things as sickness anddeath, if men and
women never grew old and lived on this earth forever, the subjectof this
messagewouldbe of no importance. But you must know that sickness, death
and the grave are sad realities.
If this life were all—if there were no judgment, no heaven, no hell, no
eternity—it would be mere waste oftime to trouble yourself with such

inquiries as this tract suggests.But you have got a conscience. Youknow well
that there is a reckoning day beyond the grave. There is a judgment yet to
come.
Surely the subject of this messageis no light matter. It is not a small thing,
and one that does not signify. It demands the attention of every sensible
person. It lies at the very root of that all–important question, the salvationof
our souls. To be "without Christ" is to be most miserable.
1. And now I ask every one who has readthis message throughto examine
himself and find out his ownprecise condition. Are you without Christ?
Do not allow life to pass awaywithout some serious thoughts and self–inquiry.
You cannot always go on as you do now. A day must come when eating and
drinking and sleeping and dressing and making merry and spending money
will have an end. There will be a day when your place will be empty, and you
will be only spokenof as one dead and gone. And where will you be then, if
you have lived and died without thought about your soul, without God, and
without Christ? Oh, remember, it is better a thousand times to be without
money and health and friends and company and goodcheerthan to be
without Christ!
2. If you have lived without Christ hitherto, I invite you in all affectionto
change your course without delay. Seek the Lord Jesus while He canbe found.
Call upon Him while He is near. He is sitting at God’s right hand, able to save
to the uttermost everyone who comes to Him, howeversinful and carelesshe
may have been. He is sitting at God’s right hand, willing to hear the prayer of
everyone who feels that his past life has been all wrong, and wants to be set
right. Seek Christ, seek Christwithout delay. Acquaint yourself with Him Do

not be ashamedto apply to Him. Only become one of Christ’s friends this
year, and you will sayone day, it was the happiest year that you everhad.
3. If you have become one of Christ’s friends already, I exhort you to be a
thankful man. Awake to a deepersense of the infinite mercy of having an
almighty Savior, a title to heaven, a home that is eternal, a Friend that never
dies! A few more years and all our family gatherings will be over. What a
comfort to think that we have in Christ something that we can never lose!
Awake to a deepersense of the sorrowful state of those who are "without
Christ." We are often reminded of the many who are without food or clothing
or schoolor church. Let us pity them, and help them, as far as we can. But let
us never forgetthat there are people whose state is far more pitiable. Who are
they? The people "without Christ!"
Have we relatives without Christ? Let us feel for them, pray for them, speak
to the King about them, strive to recommend the gospelto them. Let us leave
no stone unturned in our efforts to bring them to Christ.
Have we neighbors without Christ? Let us labor in every wayfor their soul’s
salvation. The night comes when none canwork. Happy is he who lives under
the abiding conviction that to be in Christ is peace, safety, and happiness; and
that to be "without Christ" is to be on the brink of destruction.
Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing?
January 8, 2015 by Ben Sternke 4 Comments

During a very important conversationJesus is having with his disciples only a
few hours before he is crucified, he drops this bomb:
“Apart from me you can do nothing.”
This doesn’t sound very empowering, doesn’t it? It grates againstour modern
conceptions ofencouragementand positivity.
[tweet“Apart from me you can do nothing. That doesn’t sound very
empowering, does it?”]
I find that Jesus does this a lot. He finds ways to confound and frustrate our
attempts at figuring out life on our own.
Nothing Wrong With Empowerment, Of Course
The thing is, I do actually appreciate the “empowerment” culture. I think it’s
a healthy antidote to the disempowering culture that Christians can tend to
create. Its message essentiallyboils down to, “You’re doing it wrong.”
So it’s not that empowerment is bad. Empowerment is actually what God is
seeking to do for us. He wants to share his powerwith us and form us as
trusted and significantpartners with him in his work. That’s incredibly
empowering to see God in this way!

How Much Nothing Would You Like To Do?
So why does Jesus tell us, “You can’t do anything without me.” Well, because
We can’t, and
We CAN do a whole lot of nothing in our own strength.
We are so accustomedto relying on our ownintelligence and ability that the
only way to really come to a place of relying on God and his empowering
grace is for us to repeatedly fail in our attempts to make life “work” onour
own terms.
Jesus is telling us here that the only way to actually be empoweredfor the
work is to abide in him. He isn’t the magicalguide that gives us advice at
crucial junctures along a journey that is primarily ours.
Branch Life
A branch doesn’t occasionallyseek wisdomfrom the vine. No! A branch
dwells in the vine, relies on the vine for its very life. A branch can’t really even
be a branch without the vine. It quickly becomes a mere kindling, greatfor
starting a fire but not for bearing fruit.
A branch abides in the vine constantly, so the life of the vine can flow
constantly into the branch, resulting in abundant fruit. That’s why Jesus
seems to repeatthis point over and over:
You can bear fruit only if you abide in me.

If you don’t abide in me, you won’t bear fruit.
Apart from me, you can do nothing.
Abiding in Christ isn’t “extra” powerfor God’s work, it’s the ONLY power
for God’s work. If you’re not abiding, you’re not doing God’s work.
[tweet“Abiding in Christ isn’t “extra” power for God’s work, it’s the ONLY
powerfor God’s work.”]
And that’s a big part of our problem. There’s a whole lot of “nothing” we can
end up doing apart from Christ before realizing that we really aren’t bearing
kingdom fruit. There’s a lot of “work” out there with the name “Christian”
on it that isn’t really God’s work. It’s not “fruit that will last,” because it
wasn’t empoweredby God’s grace, but by human ingenuity and willpower.
That’s why, even though it’s painful in the moment, I’ve come to appreciate
Jesus sabotaging my efforts at self-reliance. The truth is that if we learn to
abide in Christ, will simply bear fruit as a matter of course. We won’t bring
forth real, lasting fruit through herculean effort or ingenious technology, but
simply through staying properly connectedto the Source.
It’s a bit of a blow to our pride to find this out, actually. We like to take credit
for a job well-done, but Jesus is training us to be content with being
connected. Ironically, when simply being a branch is enough, we find that our
doing becomes much more effective and eternalin scope!

WITHOUT JESUS YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
WITHOUT JESUS YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
JOHN15:5
JOHN 15 :1-5
“I AM the true vine , and My Father is the vinedresser.
Vs2 “Everybranch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;and every
branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Vs3 “You are alreadyclean because ofthe word which I have spokento you.
Vs 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannotbear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Vs5 “I am the vine you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
HE PRUNES THAT YOU BEAR MORE FRUIT.
JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE THE FATHER THE VINEDRESSER.
Job function of the Father:
The Bible says every branch that does not bear fruit He takes away.
Generally this has been understood to be a purging away of dead branches in
preciselythe same sense that branches are said to be “castforth” and “burned
“ in verse 6.
The Greek wordairo has four basic meaning.
To lift up or pick up. This meaning is the exactmeaning what the Greek
scholars meant.

The FatherLifts up.
Every Branch that does not bear fruit He lifts up.
When the branch is falling and the father lifts up the branch.
This branch will bear much fruit.
The FatherGod is loving, caring, considerate, patient, slow to anger,
forgiving.
He wants to lift you up
The minute He lifts you up. You will bear fruit.
Psalm145:14 The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are
bowed down.
WHEN ARE YOU BEING PRUNED?
When you bear fruit.
Pruning in our Christian life sometimes it is very painful.
It just like a potter who beats the clayso that every pebbles, every fragments
are removed.
But during the time of beating the clay. If the clay cantalk it will sayenough.
It is painful.
So is pruning.
The vine will not be happy.
Whom God loves He chastens. Proverb 3:11&12
WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES. Proverb3: 11&12

Vs 11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resenthis
rebuke,
Vs12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, the father the son he delights
in.
Sometimes it blows my mind. Why me Lord? This is the question I ask the
Lord.
You know Lord it is painful.
When you prune me. I am bearing fruit. But, look those who are doing
nothing. There is no pain in them. They are just enjoying life.
Then the Lord remind me WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES.
YOU ARE ALREADY CLEAN.
You are already cleanbecause of the word which I have spokento you.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
New King James Version(NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciledus to Himself through Jesus
Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespassesto
them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are
ambassadors forChrist, as though God were pleading through us: we implore
you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciledto God. 21 For He made Him who knew
no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousnessofGod in Him.
ABIDE IN ME.
There is a Hymn being sung in funeral services in the main line Churches.
Abide in Me.
It is a goodHymn. But the problem is only on funeral service they sing this
Hymn.
But Jesus saidAbide in Me and I in you.

He never said I will leave you. I am in You.
But He wants us to Abide in Him.
Why.? Becauseyou canbear fruit.
WIHTOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
COL 3:11
“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcisionnor un circumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ in all, and in all.”
If you are Sick- He is the GreatPhysician.
If you are Poor- He is your Riches.
If you are weak-He is your Strength.
If you are in Trouble- He is your Deliverer.
If you are Fearful- He is your Peace.
WITHOUT HIM WE ARE HELPLESS,HOPELESS, &POWERLESS.
WHAT IS LIFE WITHOUT JESUS. Ecclesiastes1:1-3
New International Version (NIV) 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of
David, king in Jerusalem. 1 The words of the Teacher, sonofDavid, king in
Jerusalem:2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher;"Vanity of vanities, all
is vanity." 2 "Meaningless!Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly
meaningless!Everything is meaningless." 3 What profit has a man from all
his labor In which he toils under the sun? 3 What does man gain from all his
labor at which he toils under the sun?
LIFE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT JESUS.
EVERYTHING WILL COME TO END.

WITHOUT HIM WE ARE NOTHING BUT WITH CHRIST I CAN DO ALL
THINGS.
Phil 4:13
“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The Apostle Paul receiveda revelationfrom God.
“I can do all things……..throughChrist.”
Say after me I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.(3 Times)
DO NOT PUT LIMITATIONS ON YOURSELF.
We have the habit of putting limitations on ourselves and upon God……….
When we say….
I can’t do that because:
I don’t have the education…….
I’m not smart enough…….
I don’t have enough money……..
I’m too young………
I’m too old………
Our problem is we all put limitations on ourselves
and God. Its time for us to take the limits off of ourselves
And off of God.
LET JESUS BE YOUR MASTER
Surrender to Jesus everything- Our Pride, Our Guilt, Our Dreams, Our
vision. And Take Him by the hand.
Let go of our Self Righteousness andbe clothedin His Righteousness.

Wait upon Him daily and speak to Him. He wants to hear you talking. If the
son or daughter talks He listens.
BUT WITH JESUS YOU CAN DO EVERYHTING.
Psalm41:2 Jesus will preserve him and keephim alive, and he will be blessed
on the earth. Jesus will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
Jesus has delivered us from the power of darkness and has given us the
forgiveness ofsin.
Jesus will bless your barns and it will be filled.
Jesus will bless the fruit of your bodies.
Jesus will bless your going out and your coming in.
Amen.
Postedby JoelChristie Isaiahat 9:08 PM
MAHALIA JACKSON
Without God I Could Do Nothing Lyrics
Yes,
Without God, I could do nothing, Oh Lord
Without God, You know all my life would fail
Without God, My life would be rugged, Oh Lord,
Yes, Just like a ship, (just like a ship)
Without a sail (Without a sail)

Mmmmm
Without a doubt, he is my Savior,
Yes, my strength, alone, alone life's waves
Yes, In deep waters, my God, he is my anchor
Lord, through faith he'll keepme unaway
Yeah, Without God, I could do nothing, Praise God
Without God, you know my life would fail hmmm
Without God, Life would be rugged, Oh Lord
It be like a ship (like a ship)
Without a sail (without a sail)
Mmmmm
I'm leaning and depending on Jesus
And I'm trusting in him everyday
I'm waiting, I'm just waiting for my savior
Becauseone of these old days he gonna dry all my tears
away
Yeah, yeah,
Without God, I could do nothing, Praise the Lord

Without him, do you know my life would fail, Ummm Lord
Without God, My life would be rugged, Oh Lord
Just like a ship (like a ship)
Without (without a sail) a sail
WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING (3 OF 7)
by Ernest Easley
Without Me, You Can Do Nothing (3 of 7)
THE "WITHOUT" SERIES
Dennis Marquardt
John 15:1-17;I Peter3:7
INTRO:Without Christ, you can do nothing ... just what does this mean
exactly? Isn't it true that there are non-Christians that have done great things,
and if so, then what does this verse really mean?
What is meant in this verse is that "without Jesus we can do nothing of eternal
significance."We are powerless without Christ to build eternalthings, we are
spiritually poor and without power outside of Christ! But with Christ we are
rich in every way, we now have the powerto affect eternalthings and leave a
legacythat will impact eternity and last into eternity.

ILLUS: A very poor woman workedfor a very wealthy man. She acted as a
maid as well as took care of their only sonwhom she grew to love as her own.
One day the wealthy man's wife passedawayunexpectedly. When the boy
reachedhis teens he became ill one day and died. The father was heartbroken,
as was the maid who workedfor him. He was so grieved that he passedawaya
short time after his sondid. There were no known living relatives and no will
was ever found so the state decided to auction off all the belongings. The maid
who had nothing but her memories of devotion to this fattier and son all those
years scrapedtogetherall the money she had and went and bought a picture
of the boy that had been displayed in the family room of the mansion. She had
loved and nurtured this son for 15 years and to her it was worth the price to
have his picture. Once home, she decidedto cleanthe frame and picture, and
she noticeda lump behind the cardboard backing ... it was the lostwill! In the
will it stated, "All my wealth should go to the one who loved my son enoughto
claim this portrait of him!" Her devotion and love for this father's son
brought her untold wealth and power... she could now do all things! And so it
is with us in giving ourselves to Christ! -- Source Unknown
https://www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-outlines/24305/without-me-you-can-
do-nothing-3-of-7/

Jesus was sure, without me you can do nothing

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Jesus was sure, without me you can do nothing