Catholic Verse? Part 8

In the first part, I explained that Marcus Grodi, a convert to the Roman church (RC) and host on The Journey Home, has a list of ten verses that influenced him to consider conversion to the RC.  The eight verse is John 15:4, which he ties to John 6:56.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Again, for both John 15 and 6, you have to read it in context.  There is one main RC issue that Marcus feels this verse touches upon; the issue of transubstantiation.  I’ve already covered transubstantiation and John 6 quite thoroughly, and John 15 backs up my interpretation even more.  Please read my posts on Transubstantiation here: John 6 and Transubstantiation, and Transubstantiation part 2.  Again, the focus here is on faithing in Christ, and the words that He brings and shares.

I personally think that 1 John speaks to these same ideas; we abide in Christ by faithing on Him, being sealed by the Holy Spirit, and living by faith.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. ^F1

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

In 1 John we see a clear contrast between those who do not abide in Christ (nor He in them); the Christ deniers.  Anyone who reject Jesus has rejected the Father as well; those who believe on Christ abides in Him.  Notice what else is clearly tied in here; the anointing of the Holy Spirit…that indwelling, and that sealing.

Our doing righteousness is contingent on being born again; which ties in once more with that indwelling of the Spirit.  We acknowledge Christ in all of His righteousness, and acknowledge our lack of righteousness…by doing so we become righteous through Him. Hence, the vine analogy.  Note the metaphorical language clearly present, as it is in John 6.

That is the idea of abiding in the vine, and also Paul’s idea of yielding to righteousness; faithing in/on Christ and yielding to the Holy Spirit, Who will and does guide us and change us.