John 15:5

am the vine; ye are the branches.

He has already declared (verse 1) that he is the True Vine, but he had not yet declared that every disciple is. branch of the Vine. Had he not declared, "Ye are the branches," they might have concluded when,. little later, separate congregations were organized in various portions of the earth, that these were the branches; or denominationalism might have. little warrant for speaking of "branch churches of Christ;" but the relation is. much nearer, sweeter one. Every Christian is. branch of the Vine. His life is drawn directly from the Vine. If he clings to the Vine, keeps Christ's words, so that Christ abides in him, and has the life of the Vine,

the same bringeth forth much fruit.

But the branch that is severed from the vine is not only fruitless but dies. So the disciple, without Christ,

can do nothing.

Paul declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."