VINE & BRANCHES

Jesus taught that only a few will be saved. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Mt 7:13-14)

Many of the denominational leaders argue against the words of Jesus. Example: a Lutheran pastor said: “Jesus is the vine and the denominations are all the branches.” He was trying, like so many others, to justify the divided condition among those who profess to believe in Jesus today. Read carefully John 15:5-10. Jesus taught that His individual followers are the branches! He said, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered.”

Christians began to divide in the city of Corinth, starting to follow different men rather than staying unified in the teaching of Christ. Read I Cor 1:10-13: “…all speak the same things … no divisions among you.” Some were beginning to follow men, which is the seed of denominations. Catholics follow the Pope and call him God on earth; Lutherans follow after Martin Luther, Mennonites follow Menno Simons, etc. Baptist churches did not exist prior to 1600 AD (cf. encyclopedias).

Can you imagine a vine with tomatoes, apples or pears, squash, watermelons, beans, onions, etc., all on one vine with all their different names, colors, etc.? What happened in Corinth was the seed of today’s sectarianism and denominational division. See Eph 4:1-5.

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