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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XXXV, John 15:6 - Lesson 143
Read Verses John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
1 Cor 3:13, Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
What is the warning here?
Self made fruit is not honored by the husbandman.
He is not interested in self made fruit, only vine made fruit.
Vine made fruit is the result of continuous fellowship with Christ.
Vine made fruit will result in glory to the Father.
It will result in fruit which will remain, fruit that is called gold, silver and precious stones in 1st Corinthians.
Fruit that will survive the testing fires of God, the purifying fires of God, the improving fires of God.
This is a solemn warning.
God is in the fruit production business.
He expects fruit from every branch of the vine.
All have the same opportunity to abide and he commands every branch to abide in the vine so that fruit bearing will occur.
Paul was concerned about this very thing when in:
1 Cor 9:27, he said: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The word castaway does not indicate a loss of his salvation but it means unapproved and by implication worthless.
He knew that fruit bearing meant abiding in Christ and that not abiding in Christ was the same as being cast forth as a branch that is withered. |