Not By Works
- Thread starter dcontroversal
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John 15
1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.This scripture tells plainly that we live because we're attached to Jesus, the true vine.
Being "thrown away" plainly means to be separated from Christ. No Christ, no life.
Being thrown in the fire means thrown into Hell. Again, it's plain.
Bearing fruit is mandatory. Those bearing fruit are empowered to bear more. This shows the christian is expected to grow & mature spiritually, bearing more fruit as they grow.
This scripture is much more important than these others quoted above. Here's why:
1. Jesus taught it. That makes it absolute truth.
2. Jesus teaches Abiding in its completeness. No pieces, or one-verse wonders.
3. It teaches the truth about fruit bearing. It states fruitfulness is mandatory & what happens when you do & what happens if you don't.
4. It leaves no room for twisting its symbolism nor its message. That's why false teachers won't use it.
5. It states plainly that obedience is the fruit & proves we're abiding in Him.
6. It proves we glorify God by bearing much fruit, & in doing this, prove to the world we're Christ's disciples.
7. It locks in the meaning to properly interpret other teachings about abiding in Christ, so we know what the other authors are really saying, keeping others from twisting them to their advantage.
It's a wonderful scripture, showing us that God makes us able to bear fruit, & multiplies our ability to do so when we live by faith & walk in loving obedience to Him.
I didn't miss it..... you did.
A
I believe that when we become mature in Christ, He calls us His friends. Isn't that an awesome thought.
*****
John 15
12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants,a for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
*****
John 15
12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants,a for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
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I think hating someone leads to not wanting to forgive someone, which leads to not wanting forgiveness to be available to all, which leads to leading astray with the works based salvation false teaching. 
