True vine (John 15:1-8)

There is scarcely any one who is ashamed to acknowledge that every thing good which he possesses comes from God; but, after making this acknowledgment, they imagine that universal grace has been given to them, as if it had been implanted in them by nature. But Christ dwells principally on this, that the vital sap — that is, all life and strength — proceeds from himself alone. Hence it follows, that the nature of man is unfruitful and destitute of everything good; because no man has the nature of a vine, till he be implanted in him. But this is given to the elect alone by special grace. So then, the Father is the first Author of all blessings, who plants us with his hand; but the commencement of life is in Christ, since we begin to take root in him. When he calls himself the true vine the meaning is, I am truly the vine, and therefore men toil to no purpose in seeking strength anywhere else, for from none will useful fruit proceed but from the branches which shall be produced by me.

Such members of the church as are united to me only in profession and appearance, without bringing forth the fruits of holiness, he, in his righteous judgment, cuts off as unprofitable and injurious. Such, as being spiritually and vitally united to me by my Spirit and faith, bring forth the fruits of righteousness, he, by various methods of his Word, ordinances, influences, and rods, purges from their remaining corruption, that they may abound more in good works, and have their end everlasting life.

We are by nature dry and fit for nothing but the fire. Therefore, in order that we may live and be fruitful, we must first be grafted into Christ, as it were into a vine, by the Father’s hand: and then be daily moulded with a continual meditation of the word, and the cross: otherwise it will not avail any man at all to have been grafted unless he cleaves fast to the vine, and so draws juice out of it.


- John Calvin, John Brown, The 1599 Geneva Bible.