In the 15th chapter of John’s gospel we find a passage that many find impossible to accept.  The first 10 verses of this very important chapter, if believed and obeyed, will take the salvation seeker to the spiritual heights to which Jesus said very few seekers would aspire to reach (Mat. 7:13,14).  For this reason He lamented that, though many are called to stand with Him and His Father on that holy level, few would be chosen for having reached it.  Those few will spend eternity with Them in New Jerusalem from whence they will rule the universe for eternity.  Read God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe.  Key word–Caretakers.

We will now enter into an open-minded study of one of the Holy Bible’s most thrilling, faith-exalting passages.  As God directs Truth seekers to do in Isaiah 28:9-13, we will study His Scriptures “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”  Isaiah then repeated the Lord’s study rules for emphasis.  To be totally open to the Lord’s written “voice” the seeker must set aside everything he has ever learned in church.  It matters not which church he has been associated with, what he has been taught as “the word of the Lord” is wrong, either partially or wholly.  Through his false prophets, Satan has lied to all who have ever sought the true God in one of his (Satan’s) religious organizations.  As this website is dedicated to proving: GOD IS NOT THERE.  Now we will examine John 15:1-10.

Verse 1– Jesus identifies the Father as THE (only) husbandman (Vine Caretaker/Owner).  Jesus identifies Himself as THE (only) “true Vine.”  The word “true” implies that false vines would arise in the future.  This tells us that any spiritual “truth” we learn must come from Him.  He goes so far as to call Himself “the (only) way, the (only) truth, and the (only) life” (Jn. 14:6).  He is also called “the (only) Word” (Jn 1:1-4) which, He tells us in John 17:17, is the (only) Truth.  These statements tell us that God’s Word and Christ’s Word are one in the same.  He confirms this in John 12:44-50 and Luke 10:16.  Only God can determine spiritual Truth.  Only God’s TRUE VINE can put forth that truth to the branches (saints).  Jesus knew that there would be “many gods” (1 Cor. 8:5) who would try to replace Him by “improving” on His Word.  These would be men and women who would substitute their words for His Word, thereby making themselves gods.  Every Catholic and Protestant minister has, in this way, made himself a god, which is Scripturally labeled IDOLATRY.  By assuming this role for themselves they break Commandment #1.  The Apostle James warns that breaking one commandment makes one guilty of breaking the entire Law (Genesis to Revelation).  Through John, the Lord tells us that: “To transgress the Law is sin, for sin is the transgression of the Law” (1 Jn. 3:4).  Through the Apostle Paul the Lord tells us that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).  By connecting the spiritual dots we know that in order to inherit eternal life one must OBEY GOD’S WORD, and that any deviation from that Word is the work of Satan.

Verses 2,6– A “branch” refers to one who professes Christ as Savior.  All good “fruit” (works of obedience to God’s Word/Law) is produced by branches attached to the True Vine.  Such branches are “pruned” in order to make them more productive.  To spiritually “prune/purge” a branch is to remove all vestiges of man’s religion which is commonly called “church doctrine.”  See the website Introduction page for examples of such “doctrines of devils.”  That all “Christian” branches are reportedly attached to the True Vine is noted in verses 2 and 6.  Note that Jesus refers to every branch “… in Me,” denoting that not all branches that claim to be “in Him” are in fact “in Him.”  Note in verse 6 that Jesus says, “If a man (branch) does not abide (live) “in Me” he is cast forth as a branch ….”  “AS (claiming to be) a branch” means that the branch is a counterfeit Christian that will, at the proper time, be burned.  Counterfeit branches call themselves “Sinners Saved By Grace.”  In verses 1,2 Jesus was speaking in a general sense about all who would become true branches.

Verses 3-5,8– Here Jesus speaks directly to His disciples by using the word “you.”  He tells them that they have been cleansed of sin by the Word He has spoken to them.  His Word, if “consumed” continuously, cleanses the person.  In Ephesians 5:26 Paul writes that God sanctifies (sets aside for holy use) and cleanses His church “by the washing by the water by the Word.”  He tells the disciples that in order for them to bear fruit they must “Abide in Me, and I in you, for you cannot bear fruit on your own.  I am the (True) Vine, you are the branches.  He that abides in Me, and I in him brings forth MUCH FRUIT (works of holiness–obedience).  Without (abiding in) Me, you can do nothing.”  In verse 8 He adds, “Herein is My Father glorified–that you bear much fruit.  Only in this way can you be My disciples.”  Note again that He is speaking to His hand-picked disciples.

Here I will insert a Truth about spiritual fruit.  Not just any fruit (religiosity/churchiosity) will suffice.  Being “active in church” means nothing to God.  In order to qualify for eternal life, God cannot be merely #1; He must be the ONLY ONE.  Everyone and everything else must take a back seat to Him.  Everything we think, say and do must be in concert with His Word–AS WAS THE CASE WITH JESUS OF NAZARETH.  We are commanded to produce GOOD FRUIT.  In several places Jesus refers to a good tree whose branches produce good fruit.  As with the grape vine branches, only a good tree branch can produce good fruit.  Just any religious fruit will not suffice.  Recall that Cain brought an offering to God that was rejected because it was not what He required.  Religiosity is rejected, no matter how many times it is offered to God.  To Him this is tantamount to offering a sick animal as a sacrifice.  Only the best will do.

Verses 9,10– Again, Jesus is speaking to His disciples: “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.  You must CONTINUE IN MY LOVE.”  This implies that one can depart from Christ’s love.  More on this later.  Note verse 10 carefully: IF YOU KEEP (OBEY) MY COMMANDMENTS (LAW/WORDS/GOSPEL) YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY LOVE, EVEN AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER’S COMMANDMENTS AND (THEREFORE) ABIDE IN HIS LOVE.”  Note it: Jesus remained in God’s love (only) BECAUSE HE KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS.  This being true for God’s Son, would it not be true for the rest of us?  Read John 14:15,23.  Jesus professed to His disciples that He would die only for His friends.  He then said: “You (disciples) are my friends IF YOU DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU” (Jn. 15:13,14).  He said to them in John 8:31: “You are My disciples indeed IF YOU OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS.”  When referring to His spiritual brethren, Jesus defined them as: “… THEY WHO DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN” (Mat. 12:46-50).  God’s will is that we keep His commandments/Law.

God has two kinds of love: 1) His love for mankind in general because we are His creation and are His physical children.  2) He has a special love for those who obey Him, who are His spiritual children.  I love the women in my life–family, friends, etc.  But I am married to only one of them.  Obviously, we have two types of love.  God is no different.  Nothing can remove God’s general love from us.  He will love the unrepentant sinner until the moment He casts him into the Lake of Fire.  He has a special (agapeo) love for those who obey Him.  In  Read Psalm 5:4-6.  L.J.