We have been grafted into the vine, for two thousand years we have been used to provoke the Jewish people to jealousy. (Romans 10:19) The Sons of Abraham by birth are the wife of God, we are the bride of Christ, a difficult distinction for some born-again believers, for in this sense we are all children of God, yet there are promises to the children of Abraham, of Isaac, for the promise came through Isaac (Romans 9:7) that are not prevalent to the born-again believer, and these distinctions never exclude Christ.
Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness, (Romans 4:3) we believe and are saved from our sins, they are virtually inseparable, a subject that Paul spent much time on. But here is a verse that many have either deemed as unnecessary for study, or have simply glossed over, we can be removed once we have been grafted in, we can be removed from the branch. Jesus said, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:12) One cannot lose what one does not own, and there must be some form of exertion, some continuing effort to remain in possession of that item.
To be grafted in or out of the vine is left entirely to the discretion of the vine dresser, and we are told quite clearly that those who are not profitable, those who bear no fruit, are they that are removed. We have been blessed to be able to receive grace, we have been chosen (Eph. 1:4) many have not, that too is at the discretion of the Lord, not everyone everywhere, not all who have been born have been given this opportunity to heed the call. “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Romans 9:15) Here then is where you need to begin to look at your life, for it is here in this moment that you are going to find out if you are truly saved, or if you have been deceiving yourself all these years.
Satan is the author of confusion, (1 Cor. 14:33) confusion is meant to produce doubt, but “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Tim 1:12) What you need to do then is this, look back on your life and prove to yourself that you truly are part of the vine, can you see the works of the Holy Spirit in your past. All emotion must be laid aside, facts are all that are relevant here, you must not determine how you feel, for those of us who are born-again feel one emotion almost constantly, unworthiness, we know we are not worthy to be called, much less chosen and used, and it is at these moments when humility can quite easily become pride in some.
These are not the accounts you must concentrate on; you must look at your past, see who you were, and compare that person to who you are today, and why. You must search for verifiable facts, proven instances that can be determined were done by the Holy Spirit of God through you, deeds done for His glory, people brought to the cross, actions taken that served no personal profit. Just because we are not once what we were does not mean we are saved by the grace of God, violent men who are now peacemakers do not always give the Lord Jesus Christ the glory for their transformation, not every ex-drunk or junkie who now lead productive lives know Christ as Savior. My friends, not everyone who exhibits the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) are saved, these traits can be learned, but not applied for the glory of God.
You must search out the Scriptures, you must know for sure, your soul hangs in the balance, where you will spend eternity is in jeopardy if you are mistaken. Christians do not act as children of God, they are children of the Most High, it is impossible for them to behave in any other manner. “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4) “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matt. 7:15) “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4) These maybe the most important thoughts you will ever face, you must be sure, you must be able to see the proof of your salvation.
