The Vine: March 31, 2025

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

— 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Our text today begins with the words, “So from now on…”. The obvious question becomes, “What came before this verse? What is the context of ‘so from now on’?” In verses 14 and 15 Paul wrote: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore, all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.”

Paul’s message is clear – the basis for our becoming new creations in Christ is because Christ died for all and was raised for all. If you and I really believe that Christ died for us, was raised for us, and loves us, then that would naturally affect how we think about God, ourselves, and others.

Paul continued with a message about reconciliation. The reconciliation Paul writes about concerns God’s reconciling the world to God. It is not the kind of reconciliation we think about regarding “getting along with others.” While getting along with others is something we should seek and want in our world, the real message in this text is that even in our brokenness and sin, God decided to reconcile with humanity through Christ. While that is amazing, good news in and of itself, it is remarkable that God “entrusts the message of reconciliation to us.” According to Paul, “We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.”

Being an “ambassador” for Christ does not mean we take it upon ourselves to judge others or think that God has left the work of saving the world to us. An ambassador for Christ simply shares the message that God has already reconciled with humanity and invites us to receive grace, forgiveness, and life in Christ.

Prayer:

Loving God, we thank you that we can become new creations in Christ. We understand that this can only come from you and your Spirit at work within us. Our prayer today is that we will be receptive to the new things you are establishing in us. Thank you for loving us and reconciling with us through Christ, even in our sin. Help us to be faithful ambassadors in the ministry of reconciliation. Amen.

Questions for Reflection:

How does a proper understanding of our relationship with Christ affect how we treat others?
In what ways has God created something new in you? Becoming a new creation is difficult. We can be resistant to change – even a positive change. How have you adapted to living into the new creation God has worked in your life through Christ?
Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” How does this verse help you understand the message of God’s reconciliation?

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