Fruit or Fire?
Cut Off or Cut Back?
John 15.1-8
Some branches are cut off and others are cut back.
The ones that are cut off are thrown into a fire.
The ones that are cut back bear fruit.
It's sort of like the passage in DT where God says,
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Life or Death? Blessing or Curse?
It seems obvious doesn't it? But scripture doesn't want us guessing,
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
As for the branches, the way, the only way, to bear fruit is to remain in Jesus -
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Jn 15.4
HOW do we remain in Him?
John gives us 4 ways in chapters 1, 4, 6, 8, and 15.
- response ... 1.38-42; 4.29, 40
- communion... 6.56
- continuing in the Word... 8.31-32
- keeping his command... 15.9-17
It says in 15.3 that the disciples are clean already - the foot washing from chapter 13. But what about us? HOW are we cleansed?
- by the Word...
- by baptism...
- by fellowship...
- by communion...
- by pruning...
PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS - 1928 Prayer Book
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies maybe made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood
, andthat we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.
Amen.
Blessings to you All,