I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5
In the life of faith, a simple preposition determines the final result: With Jesus, everything is possible. Without Jesus, nothing is possible.
Philippians 4:13 says this positively, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” All things. Through Christ. In Jesus, everything is possible.
In John 15:5, Jesus states this truth negatively: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” The preposition is “apart”...from Jesus. The result is: nothing, not anything, naught, no single thing. Without Jesus, nothing of value is possible!
This is real discipleship—complete dependence on Christ in everything. Our lives should be Christ-sufficient and not self-sufficient. This is the only way to bear fruit as his true disciple.
Living in complete dependence on Christ requires great humility on our part. We must daily humble ourselves before him and acknowledge that apart from him we can do nothing.
Apart from Christ, we do not have the ability to bear fruit; but he has all temporal and spiritual treasures, and can supply everything and anything from his abundant fullness.
May God help us to humble ourselves before him, ask him for help, and see much fruit as we live our lives with Christ, and not apart from him.