(John 15:1)
Here we have a symbolic figure of believers being in communion with the Lord in order that their lives should be pleasing and fruitful to God. In order that this may be so, it is necessary that believers should be the possessors of a new life, a spiritual mind, for the carnal mind is enmity against God, and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom. 8:7, 8). We read, "And this is the record, that God bath given to us eternal life, and this life is IN HIS SON." (1 John 5:11).
Every believer has through infinite grace received the gift of eternal life, but this life is in God's Son. So our Lord, who is the life, the Source of life, the inherent Possessor of life, can communicate this Divine life, without which there can be no understanding of Divine things, and no fruit for God. Our Lord said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall LIVE." (John 5:25).
The vine symbolizes our blessed Lord; the branches the believers, and just as the branches bear fruit, as abiding in the vine, so believers bear fruit, as they abide in Christ. Abiding in Him they bear much fruit. This is to the glory and pleasure of the Father, symbolized by the Husbandman, who purgeth every branch that beareth fruit, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2).
The Lord is the true vine in contrast to Israel, the unfruitful vine, that produced no fruit for God. (Psalm 80:17). Turning away from the fruitless vine we get the prayer, "Let Thy hand be upon the Man of Thy right hand, upon the Son of Man, whom Thou madest strong for Thyself." (Psalm 80:17)
This prayer was answered in our Lord Jesus Christ. There can be no union with sinners. Divine life could not be communicated save as the atoning death of our Lord satisfied all the claims of God's holiness as to the whole question of sin. Only by a new and Divine life imparted to believers could the symbolism of the vine and the branches be fulfilled.