Every Branch in Me
By Sean Morris
Info:
The Lord Jesus said the words, "Every branch in Me", in John 15:2.
In specific, He was referencing two different branches which were in Him and their differing eternal destinies.
Branch #1 - "Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He [the Husbandman] taketh away..."
Branch #2 - "...and every branch that beareth fruit, He [the Husbandman] purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
Certainly, the Lord Jesus was speaking to Christians. Only Christians are in Christ! Fearfully, though, not all Christians do what Jesus Christ is here commanding. He said, "Abide in Me...the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine" (John 15:4). So, what is the difference between the fruitless and fruitful branch (the fruitless and fruitful Christian)? The fruitless Christian does not abide in Christ while the fruitful Christian does, and the former is "cast forth" from the Vine while the other is not! The Lord warned, "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" (John 15:6).
Today, in this woeful hour, the doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security teaches defiance against the simple teaching of John 15:1-6. People claim that once they are in Christ, they can never be severed from Him. Naturally, then, the same people will come to think little of other warnings delivered by the Word of God. If they think little of the warnings of Christ in John 15:1-6 ("He taketh away " & "he is cast forth"), they will certainly think little of other warnings, like:
The Lord Jesus said the words, "Every branch in Me", in John 15:2.
In specific, He was referencing two different branches which were in Him and their differing eternal destinies.
Branch #1 - "Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He [the Husbandman] taketh away..."
Branch #2 - "...and every branch that beareth fruit, He [the Husbandman] purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
Certainly, the Lord Jesus was speaking to Christians. Only Christians are in Christ! Fearfully, though, not all Christians do what Jesus Christ is here commanding. He said, "Abide in Me...the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine" (John 15:4). So, what is the difference between the fruitless and fruitful branch (the fruitless and fruitful Christian)? The fruitless Christian does not abide in Christ while the fruitful Christian does, and the former is "cast forth" from the Vine while the other is not! The Lord warned, "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" (John 15:6).
Today, in this woeful hour, the doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security teaches defiance against the simple teaching of John 15:1-6. People claim that once they are in Christ, they can never be severed from Him. Naturally, then, the same people will come to think little of other warnings delivered by the Word of God. If they think little of the warnings of Christ in John 15:1-6 ("He taketh away " & "he is cast forth"), they will certainly think little of other warnings, like:
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"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." - Romans 8:13
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." - Galatians 5:24 "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." - Romans 11:21-22 |
So what about you, my reader? Do you take these warnings seriously?
God is burdened that righteous men would be warned so that they do not turn from righteousness to sin. The Lord commanded Ezekiel, saying, "warn the righteous man" (Ezek. 3:21, 33:12-20), which means, in other words, "warn the branches that are in Christ". Warn them of what (Isa. 5:1-7, Lk. 13:6-9, Heb. 5:11-6:12)? God said, "warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not" (Ezek. 3:21)! Warn the fruitless Christians! As Christians, we must continue in the goodness of God or else we will be cut off (Rom. 11:21-22).
Note: The content of this sermon does briefly address the doctrine of Babes in Christ in correlation with the backsliders depicted in Romans 7:23 & Galatians 5:17. For a detailed explanation on these two controversial topics, see the associated hyperlinks.
God is burdened that righteous men would be warned so that they do not turn from righteousness to sin. The Lord commanded Ezekiel, saying, "warn the righteous man" (Ezek. 3:21, 33:12-20), which means, in other words, "warn the branches that are in Christ". Warn them of what (Isa. 5:1-7, Lk. 13:6-9, Heb. 5:11-6:12)? God said, "warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not" (Ezek. 3:21)! Warn the fruitless Christians! As Christians, we must continue in the goodness of God or else we will be cut off (Rom. 11:21-22).
Note: The content of this sermon does briefly address the doctrine of Babes in Christ in correlation with the backsliders depicted in Romans 7:23 & Galatians 5:17. For a detailed explanation on these two controversial topics, see the associated hyperlinks.
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