Jesus said to his followers, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser….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 15:1,5 ESV).  Jesus calls us to follow him as his disciples, and when we receive him and follow him, we become “in christ,” a healthy branch connected to the life sustaining vine. We live in him, and he lives in us.  We have a new life and identity in Christ as well as freedom from the law of sin and death. When we are in Christ, there is not condemnation, and we are co-heirs with him and share in his glory (Rom 8:17). We receive all the riches and spiritual blessings of Christ.

God created us as contingent human beings who have needs that are intended to be fulfilled through him alone.  We have physical and psychological needs that God intends to satisfy.  When we are “in Christ” all of our needs have already been met, and thus we should grasp this truth and yield to God and not attempt to fulfill our needs solely in our own strength.  God will use all types of means as he provides, and we must trust in his perfect timing.