The Vine and the branches...
Our lives are fruitful only to the extent that we abide in Jesus. Religious rules did not bring us new life and they will not produce abundant fruit in our lives today. The Law does not produce righteousness it is a tutor to bring us to Christ.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (Joh 15:4-5) (MKJV)
The same grace that saved us will also transform us. We do not purge the old baggage from our lives by force of will or by external pressure from religious rules. We are transformed by the Spirit of God as we abide in His Son.
Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? …Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. (1Co 6:9-11) (WEB)
We do not gain more of God’s grace by self effort. We are transformed into the image of Christ as we abide in Him… as we drink from His well of righteousness.
Whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2Co 3:16-18) (WEB)
For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Tit 3:3-6) (WEB)
