June 7: Trinity Sunday
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” –John 15:1-4
So many times this passage is preached basically to say, “You’d better bear some fruit or you’ll be cut off!” That’s not the gospel! First of all the original audience is not us. It was the true (not Judas) disciples. They are already infallibly his. Second, he says “every branch in me,” thus we know they are already “in him”. Next he says that they are already clean by the word. And finally he says they cannot bear fruit by themselves.
Too often we are worried that we in our strength are not bearing enough fruit. Of course we aren’t! We can’t do it ourselves. Our bearing good fruit is the result of abiding in Jesus. It is not the cause of abiding in Jesus. He gets all the glory, even for our fruit. That’s the gospel!
Come hear it preached and enacted in the Supper this Sunday as we celebrate Trinity Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Come, Thou Almighty King
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
May the Mind of Christ My Savior
Sunday school for children (on Acts and the Early Church) and adults (on Reformed eschatology) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!