Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. ~ HOSEA 10:1
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The image of the vine and the branch is evident in this scripture. Israel has used the life of the Vine (Christ) to produce fruit for themselves. Perhaps they gave away their excess in order to justify their condition, but those works were not accepted by God because they were done out of duty instead of nature. The Spirit of God, as we see in Melchisedec, serves Communion to anyone who desires it. THAT is why the wine represents the life. It is the extending of life. The Lord’s Supper doesn’t just represent that WE are partakers, but also that we have in us that same life of the Vine for the purpose of producing fruit for others.